A Corporation nightwatchman, Mr Hodgkiss, employed to warn passing pedestrians of the underground burning coal holes, near to the Old Park pit in Wednesbury (Staffordshire) himself fell into one of the burning voids on the Old Park Road quite near to the Black Horse public house and died.

A Police Constable Richard Goldby bravely climbed down into the 15 foot deep crater to recover the workman's charred body - he later received a commendation from Queen Victoria.