Walk the Pit Road

by Meg Foster

  The Salvation Army had erected a large tent equipped with chairs. Alice was sitting by herself when Joe’s father arrived. He placed his arm round the young girl’s shoulders and as they clung together in despair Alice finally gave in and let the tears she had been holding back flow from her eyes

  Grace went up to the table and got a cup of tea for Ellen, who felt that tea was coming out her ears but knew it was a kindly gesture from someone who didn’t know what else to do.

  The families of Andrew Pyke and Albert Jones were sitting in a huddle, the two men were from a village five miles south and many of their friends who worked in other pits were among the men involved in the rescue.

  Sitting in the circle of her sister’s arms Annie Fell shuddered with emotion while her twelve year old Bobby stood stony faced at her shoulder.

  *****

  After the second cage went up Alex and Drew began their exploration of the tunnels. At first the smoke was not too bad but as they went deeper in they found more pockets of fire. At the heading of tunnel four they were driven back by the acrid fumes and increased smoke. Alex, realizing the seriousness of the situation, sent word to the top that there was no hope of farther exploratory work without the use of breathing apparatus.

  Drew went to the surface with instructions to send Bill Calder down with the two asbestos fire fighting suits and the breathing gear. Drew had been down since the start of shift at 5:00am that morning, it was now after 5:00pm and Alex insisted he take a break. Bill was a capable man and Alex had confidence in him as a trained member of his team.

  Wearing the protective gear the two men attempted to follow the rail tracks along past the entrance to number four. They knew the air would only last an hour so they had to find out as much as possible in that time. There had been a few falls but the fires were the big problem. There was a lot of fire damp about and spontaneous fires were breaking out when this ignited.

  The one positive hope was that the fires seemed to be in tunnels three and four, and the missing men had been working in tunnel number six. However Alex knew that until the fires were quelled there was no hope of reaching number six.

  Equipped with goggles and breathing masks, the first team descended to the bottom. The sumps were going full blast as the water was relayed to the areas where the flames were the worst. On the surface water had been diverted from the village mains and pumped down in gallons.

  For over twenty hours the three teams of men fought the heat and smoke, taking it in turns to spell each other. All except Alex and Bill, they stayed down the whole time. At some point during the long night they had managed to reach the heading of tunnel six.

  A few yards in there had been a massive fall. This could mean one of several things. The men had been caught under the cave in, or they could be trapped behind it. If trapped behind there was a slim chance they had found a pocket of air and had survived. Or, as was sadly more likely, the deadly fumes and gas would have ended their lives.

  The last team before they broke through the final fall, included Jim Ford, and Drew Wells, both of whom had returned to help after a short rest.

  On the surface, the rescue teams, officials and volunteers, along with the families and friends of the missing miners still waited with desperate hope that the men would be found safe.

  The newspaper reporters had arrived but with great respect did not intrude on the anxiety of the people waiting.

  John still sat with stoic bearing, while Maggie had surrendered to lying on a makeshift bunk staring into nothingness. Her meeting with Nancy from the bus had been all she feared.

  Nancy’s visit to the specialist, although inconclusive, was promising. The examination had been very uncomfortable and the questions had caused Nancy some embarrassment.

  The upshot was that Doctor Melville thought there may have been some trauma at the time of Elsie’s birth but would need farther tests to confirm this. It would mean a day or two in hospital, but, if it was as the doctor suspected, a minor operation would fix things and Nancy could have as many babies as she wished.

  This had set her to worrying, people would want to know what was wrong if it became known she was in hospital and she did not want it to be public knowledge she was seeking advice on her fertility. Still it sounded like good news and Jim would be over the moon.

  As Nancy left the hospital in fairly high spirits and headed down Rimmer Street to Thompson’s tea rooms situated above the famous bakery she failed to notice the ambulance men carrying the wounded miners into the emergency department.

  After a warming cuppa and a luscious cream cake she wandered around the shops gazing at baby clothes on display in the smarter stores. When Elsie was born there had not been much of a choice and it was pleasing to see the beautiful things that were available these days. All going well Maggie would be getting the knitting needles out before too long.

  Still on cloud nine she boarded the bus heading back home thinking all the time what the future might hold.

  When the bus passed through an unnaturally quite village and drew up at the stop at the foot of the rows Nancy rose to alight and saw her mother waiting at the bus stop. One look at Maggie's face told her something dreadful had happened. Immediately her heart started pounding, where was Elsie? Had something happened to her? Or was it dad?

  The bus drew away and Maggie took hold of her daughter's arm. In a flat dull voice she told her the frightening news of her husband and brother.

  Nancy’s legs gave way as everything went black and she slid slowly to the ground. James Long who had been watching Maggie from his window across the street rushed over and helped her to her feet. Saying nothing, he placed his arm around her shoulders, and taking Maggie on the other side, he walked mother and daughter up the hill, back to the pithead.

  Now, as Maggie rested quietly on a makeshift bed Nancy sat like her father, putting on as brave a face as she could manage. There could be no repeat of the incident at the bus stop; she must be in complete control, she told herself.

  *****

  The task facing the men at the entrance to number six was enormous. The fall had been significant and had sealed the heading completely. Alex sent word back for props to be brought in and they started to clear the way. It was a delicate task, one wrong move could bring the whole lot down on top of them. “Make haste slowly” was the order of the day.

  It was Jim Ford who made the first breakthrough, a small hole that was quickly shored up as the men worked to enlarge it. When it was of a size to allow access they moved in one at a time.

  Alex was first through and his worse fears were confirmed. About sixteen feet in lay the still bodies of their six workmates. Joe and Peter sat with their backs to the wall, their right hands in a handshake that showed the respect and friendship these men had for each other. Albert and Andrew lay stretched out face down, each had removed his shirt and covered his head. Chappie Chapman had both arms tightly locked around young Billy Fells, the boy’s head resting on Chappie's rough flannel shirt front. Chappie’s head had fallen forward and his lips were brushing the top of the young boy’s hair.

  They had all perished from the effects of the poisonous gasses. There was not a blemish on them.

  Jim Ford fell to his knees and sobbed like a baby.

  Alex contacted the engine room for stretchers and relayed word to the surface to have the ambulances standing by. The rescue team was bringing the fallen men out.

  In the tent the reverend Mr Dodds, accompanied by the mine manager and an official from the recently formed coal board, broke the news to the small group huddled around John Wilson.

  Annie Fells collapsed in a sobbing heap and Doctor Craig gave her an injection to help her through this dreadful time. She had never lost faith that her son would be saved. Young Bobby who had tried so hard to be strong for his mother, forgot to be brave and became again the child he was, and wept for his brother.

  The rest of the families had, in all truth given up hope. Grace w
ho had spent the last twenty four hours going between home and the pit head, put her arms round Ellen and led her out of the tent to wait at the top of the shaft for the cage coming up.

  Alice’s father had come from the city to be with his daughter. Standing here now Alan couldn’t help but wonder ‘if people had any idea, as they sit in comfort by their blazing fires, what these men went through to make it possible.’

  Nancy and John with Maggie between them followed the others out and they all stood in silence as the wheel started to turn, bringing six brave men to the surface for the last time.

  *****

  Three ambulances were waiting, one to take Andrew and Albert the five miles to their home village and the other two to transport the four local men to the miner’s welfare hall in on the west side of the village. Preparations had been made to turn the hall into a temporary mortuary.

  This is the hall where the miners played dominos and draughts, card games and pool while sharing a beer with mates. Where they had Saturday night sing songs, and held social dances. It was where the children had their Christmas party, and a gala on the first of May. The youth had their amateur boxing and the local pigeon fanciers held their meetings. Weddings, and yes, funeral teas. In fact all things pertaining to village life went on in this hall.

  And now a Mortuary.

  The co-op provided the trestles and boards to lay out the bodies. Women from all over the rows came with pails of warm water, clothes and towels. When the ambulance men had lain the men on the boards their women folk came forward to do the cleansing.

  As Maggie stood by her son she became aware of Alice at her side. The girl's eyes were red and held a haunted empty look. Dipping her hands in the water Maggie squeezed out a soft flannel and handed it to Alice then together his mother and the girl who would have been his wife proceeded to wash Joe's body.

  Annie’s sister Jenny was on hand to care for the nephew she had helped bring into the world fourteen years ago. Her pain for her sister was a tangible thing. She had watched as Annie struggled bravely with William’s death but would she survive the cruelty of this savage blow, it was enough to break your heart.

  Ellen’s new friend Enid stood by her side as they gazed down on Chappie. Ellen had long since ceased to love this man but she could still remember the lad she had been enthralled with when she was young and starry eyed. She would never have wished to see him like this.

  As Ellen's memories rolled back the years she realised someone else was standing gazing on Chappie. Others watched as Annie Fells lifted his, as yet, unwashed hand and pressed it to her lips. “God bless you laddie” she murmured. In the eyes of many Chappie Chapman had redeemed himself. Ellen’s children would remember their father as the man who had comforted young Billy Fells in his last frightening hours.

  Unsure how she would be received, Grace approached Nancy, who, with a grateful nod handed her a flannel cloth. Nancy herself was using a large sea sponge of such delicate softness, one which she had purchased that day in town in the hope it would be needed for a new baby. Never had she dreamed it would be put to the use of something so terrible as washing the still body of her beloved husband. Now she would never be able to tell Peter that their dreams of having a son might really have happened.

  *******

  The whole town turned out the morning of the funeral. The schools remained closed as did every shop in the village.

  Farmer McKenzie, with the help of his farmhands, had spread straw all the way from the rows to the cemetery. There were no horse drawn carriages with iron wheels to muffle but this mark of respect from the farming community was recognised by the villagers.

  Alice came with her parents Alan and Jane. She had returned to the city the day after the men were brought up. Jane had never seen her daughter look so sad, her heart ached for the young girl, and though she could not imagine the pain of the families who had lost their men what she did feel was hard enough to bear.

  Two young soldiers on compassionate leave stood to attention as their older brother’s coffin was lowered down.

  It was ironic that the cemetery was situated above the workings of the very pit where the men had died.

  Many officials and politicians from the local, and county councils were there. The government and national coal board were also represented.

  The three men were buried in graves side by side. The boy, Billy Fells, went in beside his father, leading Annie to think that when her time came to join them he would be tucked safe between them just as he had been when, as a toddler, he would squeeze in beside them in their old feather bed.

  The service was taken by both the Reverend Dodds and Father Kelly. All sectarian differences forgotten as a village mourned.

  One person was not at the cemetery. Isobel Ford had been delivered of a fine healthy son in the early hours of the morning. The joy of his son was marred by the sad proceedings now taking place, and Jim knew that every birthday his boy had would bring back the anguish of this week. Isobel looked at it differently, she explained to Jim that the baby was like a monument to his friends and as such was a remembrance to be thankful for. He could see the truth in her words.

  That evening as the sun dropped behind the hill on which the pit head stood Grace wondered how long it would take the village to heal.

  Ten Years Later

  *************

  Nancy

  *****

  After the funeral the county council had offered the widows a council house on the new estate being built to the west of the village. Nancy had a very pretty three bedroom place, everywhere, except the kitchen, boasted wall to wall carpets.

  Maggie had come to stay when John died and was now an old lady in her seventies. She found Nancy’s house very comfortable with all the modern conveniences, and Elsie was still as charming company as ever. Maggie still had a stubborn streak of independence and insisted on helping with the housework. After all how hard could it be for a woman who had beaten rugs over a fence and scrubbed clothes on a washboard, to run the vacuum cleaner over the carpets or turn on the new fangled automatic washing machine.

  Nancy had returned to work; Mr Jones was as good as his word and had soon found a place for her. She was now the manageress of a large branch which had opened in the new town being built fifteen miles to the east. She was the first woman from the rows to pass her driving test, and now owned a smart little blue car. She had many of the things she thought about that day, sitting in the hospital waiting room. She would give them all up if she could just have Peter back.

  Elsie was now a young lady of eighteen, working in an exclusive leather goods store in the city. Her training included accompanying the elderly owner on buying trips with the view of her becoming the main buyer and taking over from her boss in the near future. Yes a daughter to be proud of.

  Ellen

  *****

  Ellen had been given a four bedroom place; it was comfortable like Nancy’s although not so ‘pretentious.’ Best of all Ellen loved her twin tub. Leaning over the wash board and struggling with the huge mangle was only a memory now.

  The three youngest girls Lizzy, Jenny, and Nelly, had the big front room. For some years one big double bed had held all three girls but more recently a single bed had been bought for Nelly.

  Lizzy and Jenny, were ‘Irish Twins,’ both born in the same year, one at the beginning and one at the end. They had always been very dependent on each other and inclined to be nervy. Ellen wondered if it went back to the day their father died and their mother seemed to have deserted them. However at twelve and thirteen they had recently joined the guides and their confidence seemed to be growing. They loved to visit their Auntie Enid who had a soft spot for them and spoiled them rotten.

  Dick and David, who shared the largest of the back rooms, were a different story, both good looking boys in the Chapman tradition. Dick at sixteen was already turning the girl’s heads, and David would not be far behind. Ellen didn’t worry too much about the
m they were good boys and with their mothers encouragement determined to do well.

  Dick was serving an apprenticeship as a motor mechanic and couldn’t wait to get his licence. David’s head teacher had advised Ellen to let him stay on to take his highers. He had university potential, and, much to Ellen's relief, neither would ever have to go near a pit.

  Agnes worked in the local grocery store and was walking out with Robert Graham, eldest son of Grace and Alex. If Agnes recalled how her father was not all he should have been she never mentioned it. Like her mother she kept her own counsel. Ellen had no worries about Agnes.

  All in all Ellen was happy with her life, especially since Brian Cook had come into it. Brian had been in the army with Chappie’s younger brothers and had visited with them when they were home on leave. Two years ago he had left the army and settled in the village. He opened a small repair garage which was steadily growing. It was to Brian that Dick was apprenticed. He treated Ellen with a respect and tenderness she had never known and she glowed as their friendship grew into a gentle love.

  Annie

  *****

  Up at Mile End Annie spent her time caring for any stray cats or dogs that came her way. Not only cats and dogs but any hurt or lost animal. She had a way with them. She had turned down the house offered by the council preferring to stay in the home she had known with her husband and family. Some said she was a bit touched but most village people remembered and understood. She still did a bit of cleaning for the reverend Dodds and farmer McKenzie, although it was more out of the goodness of their hearts that they kept her on.

  Much like Ellen in the old days, the villagers kept an eye on Annie. Bobby had done well for himself at school and was now well on his way to being an architect. He had his own flat in the city. His future looked bright but he would never forget what he owed to his brother and hoped Billy would have been proud of him.