Back in 1910,

On that fateful day,

7:50am, so they say

Just four days before Christmas,

There was one gigantic blast,

It rocked houses slow and fast.

The women asked in horror:

Could it really be?

We'll have to go and see.

The pit shaft all aglow,

The fire raged below.

They came from far and wide,

To see if their husband, son, father, brother had died.

Altogether 344 men and boys lost their lives,

Leaving their mothers, sisters, children

And wives.

The Pretoria Pit Disaster.

Mrs Frances J Brazier,

Manchester Road,

Westhoughton.