Rescue men leaving the colliery after recovering the last of the victims of the gas explosion. Their operations were hampered by the presence of poisonous gases in the underground workings.

The men of the first rescue party to enter the workings found they had an extremely difficult task ahead of them as a very high accumulation of poisonous gases was preventing them from getting anywhere close to the actual scene of the firedamp explosion. Several canaries had been taken underground, as any sign of distress from a canary was a clear signal that conditions in the workings were not safe. [Canaries were particularly sensitive to toxic gases such as carbon monoxide which is difficult to detect due to it being colourless, odourless and tasteless.] It is thought that all but one canary taken down the pit died, the deaths of the birds indicating excessive levels of harmful gases such that there would be no hope for the ten men.