On 4th March 1908 disaster was to strike Hamstead Colliery. Fire Broke out around 5 P.M. in number No. 1 pit. When the fire broke out there were 31 miners working in the pit 6 managed to escape before poisonous fume blocked the escape route. A rescue party was set up and many vain attempts made to reach the entombed men. It took a week to clear the mine of the fumes and on 11th March the first 14 bodies were brought to the surface, the next day 6 more bodies were recovered. These 6 realizing the chances of survival were slim had chalked their own epitaph on a nearby door: ' THE LORD PRESERVE US. FOR WE ARE TRUSTING IN CHRIST'. Over the next 2 days more bodies were recovered bringing the final toll to 25