Story
George Daniel Edwin Taylor, known as Dan, was born in Garforth, and was the fourth child of George Taylor (1842-1911) and Margaret Limbert (1842-1918), who married 7th February 1863 in Castleford. The family moved to 17 East View, but Dan returned to Garforth to marry Ann Jackson on 1st December 1894. They then set up home in Newthorpe, but had no children at the time of the Colliery disaster.
Dan was 25 years-old on 30th April 1896. He descended the main shaft as usual in the morning, made his way up the West Level, and turned up New North Road. He walked passed John Goodall’s Gate which, minutes later, was the scene of the explosion. He turned right and was 120 metres away from Goodall’s Gate when the explosion happened. The majority of the blast made its way back down New North Road and the West Level, but a section of the blast moved North, burning three miners, and killing four in roof falls. Dan survived the blast, but as a result of the extensive roof falls, he had no means of escape. The blast had destroyed New North Road, and Old North Road, cutting off both ways out. Dan was with some experienced miners in Joseph Wilson, David Shillito and Samuel James, but although they had time to get together, they quickly succumbed to afterdamp poisoning.
On Saturday 2nd May, Dan’s body was found and recovered by Robert Routledge, who wrote in his diary: “I came out to report at 11 am. Saw Mr Wardell and Mr C Houfton and arranged with them for some more men to descend and help to carry the bodies out. Took Dr Griesbach down with us and left him at the bottom of the new bord. Going forward up the bord, found Mr J L Routledge, Halliday and F Wilson. Mr Routledge, Halliday and Wilson stayed at end of crossgate. Mr Wilson (Inspector) and I went on the crossgate and found five men at the bottom of James’ gate. Their names were Joseph Wilson 39, Dan Taylor 40, Sam James 41, David Shillito 42, and James Wilson 43.”
Dan’s body was recovered on 2nd May 1896. He was identified by his sister-in-law Mary Taylor (née Smales), the wife of his older brother William Benjamin Taylor, of 10 Quarry Hill. She described Dan as being very pale, but without any mark of injury. Dan was buried at Micklefield on 3rd May, and the epitaph on his gravestone reads: “Farewell dear wife, relations all, I could no longer stay, But look to Christ, make no delay, For no-one knows their dying day.”
Dan’s widow, Ann Jackson, also lost two brothers in the disaster: Joseph and Walter Jackson.
On the 5th Anniversary of the disaster, Dan’s parents, George and Margaret, paid tribute to their son in the local press:
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 