Story
Joseph Backhouse was born in 1839 in Garforth, and was the fifth of ten children born to Thomas Backhouse (1803-1865), an engineman and coal miner, and Harriet Hewitt (1804-1864) who had married 19th June 1827 in Garforth. Joseph was a coal miner living in Garforth with his parents until he married Ann Marshall (1842-1898) in Hunslet 20th August 1860, and they moved to Seacroft. Joseph and Ann seven children in Seacroft and then moved to 24 East View, Micklefield in 1890. Joseph was 57 years-old at the time of the disaster, and along with George Hopkinson and Joseph Lillyman, he was one of the night deputies who had conducted their usual safety inspection of the pit hours before the explosion
On 20th May 1896, Joseph was invited to the Micklefield Coal & Lime Company’s Workmen’s Institute to give his account of the events. He stated: “I live at No.24 East View and am night deputy at Beeston Bed. I have been there about 5 years in the Old North and 1st Rise Bord. I went down with George Hopkinson on the night of the 29th ult. I found all right and safe and on the following morning about 20 minutes to 7 o’clock I came up with him. I received the Ventilation Record Book. I had a Clanny lamp. I discovered gas twice. Once was in Old North in Robertshaw’s bank from a fault. I stopped the place and reported to the Day Deputy and at night all had been cleared. About 6 months before I had found an escape of gas and removed it by bratticing at the time. The fallen coal and dust is cleared away as soon as seen.”
The three night deputies had returned to the pit top as soon as they heard the explosion. Although their shifts had finished, they formed the first rescue party at 8:30am, and tried again in the second party, with William Ball. The deputies found the bodies of William Radford and John Wallis in the office, which they reported “was a complete wreck. A large square box had been blown out through the doorway. At the bottom of the shaft, the hauling gear was practically in ribbons, and the thick wire ropes were twisted as though they had been made of twine.” Their exploring party also found the bodies of John Sutton outside the office, Charles Shepherd inside the stable, and George Simpson, the engine man, lifeless at his post.
The rescue party encountered a wave of after damp gas in the No.3 airway, after Joseph Lillyman had similarly suffered, and he had to be carried out of the pit. Although they bent low in an effort to continue on their way, they were forced to retreat. Joseph Backhouse then fell to the ground, overcome with the poisonous gas, so his companions held him by the shoulders and had to drag him a considerable distance, as he was unable to walk. Eventually reaching a safe place, Ball and Hopkinson left Backhouse with another party, and made their way to the pit top. Joseph Backhouse was brought to the surface shortly after, and was carried to the joiner’s shop, given medical assistance, and was then taken home at 2pm in a trap. However, the three deputies helped get the first batch of survivors out of the pit (George Hicks, Robert Henry Nevins, Edward Simpson, Thomas Grimbley and Fred Nutton).
Joseph’s wife, Ann, passed away in March 1898, and Joseph died later the same year, aged 59.
30th April 1896. The Peckfield Colliery Disaster at Micklefield 