Jack Bates closed the door quietly behind him and headed off down Pit Lane in the direction of Smallwood Colliery. He had promised Jenny that when he finished his shift later today he would come straight home, and this time, unlike all the others, he mean't it. Jack had worked down the pits in Newcastle since he was 11 but he had made enemies there because, according to the mine owners, he was a "trouble maker". Jack's only crime had been to point out that safety was being ignored whilst at the same time they had been expected to increase output. The men, led by Jack, had gone on strike but on there return, weeks later, Jack had been sacked, and he, Jenny and the twins had left Newcastle looking for a better life.
Arriving at Smallwood and getting a job at the pit had given them that new start and along with the job came a small terraced cottage which Jenny had fallen in love with immediately. Being an extremely good needle-woman, Jenny soon became known in the village and would take in mending for several of the better-off families which brought in a few extra pennies.
All had gone well for the first few months but then Jack had started going to the Inn every Friday after being paid. Jenny had pleaded with him to come home but to no avail, if anything, it had got even worse lately with him arriving home late most nights. But what Jenny didn't know was that Jack had a problem with which he was wrestling and he didn't know how to deal with it.
It had started a month ago when a new pit manager had been brought in and to Jack it was like Newcastle all over again. The first thing Jack had noticed were the pit props, they were substandard and unfit for the job they were meant to do and last night at the Inn a few of the other colliers had been discussing it - but Jack held his tongue, he didn't want to be sacked again. However, unbeknown to them all, Doctor Elliott had overheard them and he felt sure that Tobias Smallwood must be unaware of what was going on and he determined there and then to call on Tobias first thing in the morning and inform him.
Now Jack went through the colliery gates and over to the tally board where he was given a tally, then he joined the others waiting for the cage to take them down. When it arrived they entered, each carrying their snap tin, tally, pickaxe and safety lamp. Jack had branded the handle of his pickaxe with his initials using the poker which he had heated up to red hot in the fire. As the cage started its descent they became enveloped in total darkness, the cold air rushing past them, the noise of the cage and steel cable deafening and their eardrums felt they would burst. Thirty seconds later and they were at the bottom, Jack pinched his nose and blew hard to reduce the pain in his ears; now all they had to do was walk over a mile to the coal face.
Jack's job was shot-firer. He and his gang would cut into the coal seam making a line of slots which would then be packed with explosives. The men would all take cover as Jack set it off, then they would shovel up the coal and put it into coal tubs which were sent to the surface in the cage.
Once at coal face they set to work and when all was ready Jack shouted "Take cover you lot", and he fired the explosives before running to join the others behind the pit props. They covered their ears as a loud blast rang out around them, then total silence, the coal hadn't moved.
"Wait a few minutes lads, give it time." They waited, but there was no movement in the coal, Jack hated it when this happened. "Let's take a look then, but remember, keep quiet and if you hear anything dive for cover."
The men moved gingerly forward after Jack but as they reached the coal face there was a sudden rumbling and the coal started to crack. "Run for it" he shouted and they all ran back towards the pit props for safety. But the coal followed and the pit props gave way under the strain and Jack was trapped beneath tons of large coal slabs where he lost consciousness.
At this precise moment Doctor Elliott was informing Lord Smallwood of the conversation he had overheard between the pit workers and, as he had suspected Tobias, was furious. "How dare he put the men's lives at risk like that. I'll make sure he never gets another job in these parts ................. My God, it's the pit siren, something's happened. We need to get down there immediately."
"I'm on my way Tobias, I'll pick up young Bridgewater and meet you down there." And without further ado they headed off in the direction of the siren.
When Tobias arrived at the pit head they were already bringing the men up to the surface. "How many are still down there," he asked the manager.
"Three trapped and about twenty helping clear away the coal to get at them. Also the young doctor's just gone down there." Tobias glared at him. "He insisted - I tried to stop him but he insisted," he stuttered.
Doctor Elliott arrived with both his wife and Lizzie. "Couldn't find Bridgewater anywhere Tobias."
"He's already here, gone down the mine to help the men. Don't worry Lizzie," he said to his daughter who looked as though she would burst into tears at any moment.
Just then the cage started to come up. When it reached the surface Doctor Bridgewater was there with Jack, both were covered in coal dust. Jenny, who was amongst the gathering crowd, let out a wail and fainted to the ground. "Quick, help me get him somewhere more comfortable." Several of the men jumped forward and carried the still unconscious Jack into one of the sheds where the doctor could make a better examination. "I need to get him up to the hospital as soon as possible," he said looking at Tobias and Doctor Elliott, "he's took some very heavy blows to his head and body which probably happend when the pit props collapsed." One of the men handed a blanket to him and he placed it over Jack.
They looked around the pit head yard which must have contained every single villager and there amongst them was Old Tom. "Tom," called Tobias, "have you got your cart?"
"Aye m'lud."
"Then bring it over here will you?."
Old Tom brought his cart and Jack was loaded carefully into it. Doctor Bridgewater climbed on with him and much to everyone's surprise, Lizzie heaved herself up next to Old Tom and they all set off to the new cottage hospital.
It was several hours later when a very dishevelled Tobias and Lizzie finally returned home to the Hall.
"Young Bridgewater did a good job today Lizzie."
"Yes Papa, he did, didn't he?"
He put his arm around her saying, "He's a fine young man, don't you think?"
Lizzie looked up at her father, "I think so Papa."
"And you Lizzie, you certainly surprised me the way you worked alongside Prudence Elliott like that, anyone would think you were training to be a doctor's wife yourself," he cajoled her.
"Who knows Papa," she smiled.
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