About two o’clock on Wednesday morning (14th) an explosion occurred at a pit belonging to the Messrs. Charlesworth at Higham, near Barnsley.

The shock soon brought a number of men belonging to the pit to the spot, who, on descending under the guidance of Mr. Ainsworth, the Agent, found the fireman lying insensible close to the stables, whilst all the horses, nine in number, were killed. Luckily, Wednesday - the day of the incident - the usual number of nightmen were not in the pit.