Bob Spiers
LostCousins Superstar
My Great x 3 (maternal) Grandfather Henry Witts was one of the 5 killed in this terrible disaster which was widely reported in local and national newpapers. More poignant to the family because Henry was employed on the site as a jobbing bricklayer working in the plant. He was one of 3 bystanders who went to the rescue of two Distillery workers overcome by fumes in one of the deep Grain Vats.
It was the practice to flush out the 18000 gallon distilled grain liquor Vats at intervals by using copious amounts of water. Two men were assigned the task; one would descend from the top into the Vat and the other would stay at the top to take action and call for help should the descending workmen discover toxic fumes from the liquor residue.
At around 4pm Henry working nearby heard a shout from the lookout, calling for help to rescue his fellow worker trapped in the Vat. He and another responded to the call and by the time they reached the top of the Vat the lookout too was in the Vat and overcome by the fumes. Both would-be rescuers, unaware of the toxicity of the fumes, also descended in the Vat and were similarly overcome. The same fate befell another rescuer and soon all 5 were unconscious.
The alarm had spread through the works and other unsuccessful attempts were made but all had to be abandoned because the fumes were so toxic. A hole was cut into the bottom of the Vat and air was pumped with a large pair of bellows. Eventually each man was brought out and Doctors & a Surgeon summoned to the plant attempted to resuscitate each; but all to no effect. Soon all 5 men were pronounced dead.
The tragedy made local and national newspapers (I have extracts from the Worcester Journal) and the Coroner brought in verdicts of accidental death due to suffocation by carbonic acid gas.
All 5 coffins were carried through the streets witnessed by over 2500 onlookers. Shops and businesses were closed for the day. They were buried in a joint grave in St Clements Churchyard and a stained glass window* was made to commemorate the tragedy.
*The stained glass window was eventually replaced after extensive refurbishment in the 1900’s.
It was the practice to flush out the 18000 gallon distilled grain liquor Vats at intervals by using copious amounts of water. Two men were assigned the task; one would descend from the top into the Vat and the other would stay at the top to take action and call for help should the descending workmen discover toxic fumes from the liquor residue.
At around 4pm Henry working nearby heard a shout from the lookout, calling for help to rescue his fellow worker trapped in the Vat. He and another responded to the call and by the time they reached the top of the Vat the lookout too was in the Vat and overcome by the fumes. Both would-be rescuers, unaware of the toxicity of the fumes, also descended in the Vat and were similarly overcome. The same fate befell another rescuer and soon all 5 were unconscious.
The alarm had spread through the works and other unsuccessful attempts were made but all had to be abandoned because the fumes were so toxic. A hole was cut into the bottom of the Vat and air was pumped with a large pair of bellows. Eventually each man was brought out and Doctors & a Surgeon summoned to the plant attempted to resuscitate each; but all to no effect. Soon all 5 men were pronounced dead.
The tragedy made local and national newspapers (I have extracts from the Worcester Journal) and the Coroner brought in verdicts of accidental death due to suffocation by carbonic acid gas.
All 5 coffins were carried through the streets witnessed by over 2500 onlookers. Shops and businesses were closed for the day. They were buried in a joint grave in St Clements Churchyard and a stained glass window* was made to commemorate the tragedy.
*The stained glass window was eventually replaced after extensive refurbishment in the 1900’s.
