'THE canvas stretchers were laid near, and the bearers stood ready for their mournful duty," reported The Northern Echo 125 years ago.

"In a little while the cage ascended, and the eager crowd gazed curiously at the shaftsman, seated on the top of the cage, supporting in his arms something swathed in canvas.

"This was announced to be the body of Robert Maitland, a hewer, who leaves a widow and three children to mourn the loss of their bread- winner."

Robert, 40, was one of 74 who were killed at about 2.30pm on Thursday, February 16, 1882, in Trimdon Grange Colliery.

Eight of them were boys aged 13 or less; five of them were would-be rescuers who went searching down the Kelloe end of the pit and were suffocated by afterdamp. Three of them were Mrs Burnett's sons - James, George and Joseph.

The explosion was caused when "a fall in the goaf", or roof, caused a rush of gas so fast that it pushed through the gauze around a Davy lamp and ignited on the flame.

"Patrick Durkin's skull was severely fractured and his face so badly scorched with fire as to quite disfigure the features," said the Durham County Advertiser. "His father was sent for, and the poor man was quite frantic with grief when he recognised the remains of his body. Identity was proved by means of the boots or clothing."

Patrick was 12.

Most of the funerals were held over the weekend. A continuous line of corteges, each leaving from a house next to another house with the blinds half down in mourning, weaving through the warren of unmade streets to the chapel. Hymns were sung en route.

"Several of the deceased being Welshmen, the hymns in these instances were sung in Welsh, with even more sorrowful effect," said the Advertiser.

The Echo estimated that 15,000 visitors filled the small village: some relatives, some helpers, most sightseers.

"Brakes and vehicles of all descriptions brought spectators to the scene, and several special trains were run by the railway company," said the Advertiser.

One funeral was halted when the victim's fiancee "while the corpse was in the church, requested the minister to marry her to the deceased man". She carried the wedding ring he had already bought. She said the date had already been fixed for a fortnight hence.

"The minister said as the banns had not been published the marriage could not take place," said the Advertiser. So she took her place in a pew for her intended's funeral.

Other stories emerged. Dominc O'Donnel escaped. He had been apprehended in the pityard on his way to join the fated shift by Sergeant Burrell for non-payment of a fine. That afternoon, as the explosion killed his two marrers, he appeared before the County Police Court and, still unable to pay, was sent to prison for one month.

Another victim, a father of two, died on his last shift before he was to emigrate with his family to a new life in the US.

"If ever a body of men deserved public sympathy, it is the miners," said the Echo. "They are a much tried race. Their daily labour is arduous, difficult and dangerous. In the pursuit of their calling they are ever face to face with death. In the sunless recesses of the mine, they toil together for a pittance that hardly keeps body and soul together.

"A whole district has in an instant been thrown into mourning; but long after the first bitterness of grief has abated the pinch of poverty will be felt by those whom a hard fate has robbed of their bread-winners and protectors."