Morfa Colliery, Swansea

A Haunted Pit.

The Morfa Colliery, six years ago the scene of an explosion, has been deserted in superstitious terror by the miners and for some days past they have been gathered about the pit bank, deaf to all persuasions to resume work. Some of them have heard, or think they have heard, strange sounds in the workings, cries, groans, and a "twittering music," a heavy door in one of the roadways has been seen to open and shut of its own accord; and, direst sign of all, on Sunday night a dove was found perched on a coal truck in the weigh-house.

It is conceivable that a seismic tremor, or a settling of strata over the older workings, caused the sounds and movements thus described; and in either case there might be danger. Such sounds were heard a little while before the disaster of 1889. But the Welshmen will not have it so; they say that at such times the pit is haunted; and in proof of this they tell a gruesome story.

Before the last explosion an apparition, dressed in a black oilskin suit, ascended from the shaft by the side of a tram of coal on the cage, and walked across the yard to a building that was to be afterwards used as a deadhouse; and immediately after the explosion one of the officials of the colliery, dressed in the same manner, did exactly as the apparition had done.

By way of reassuring them, Mr. Robson, the Government Inspector, Mr. Grey, the chief manager, and a small party of men went into the mine on Tuesday to make a strict examination; but as the explorers found nothing changed, the scare continues.

Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, 13th December 1895.


 The Superstitious Miners At Morfa Colliery.
Everything at the pit was at a standstill on Tuesday. Mr Robson (the mines inspector) and Mr Isaac Evans  are making a careful and minute inspection of the workings, which are so extensive that it will take several days to accomplish. Meanwhile the colliers meet with a good deal of ridicule for their superstitious notions.

South Wales Daily News, Wednesday 11th December 1895.