The Wellington Pit explosion and fire at Whitehaven on 11th May 1910 was one of Britain's worst mining disasters in which 136 men and boys lost their lives. After a rescue operation when it was felt that no-one could have survived, the mine was sealed off to starve the fire of oxygen. Several months later it was re-opened and chalked messages were found indicating that for a time there were some still alive. This message was found written on an old wooden sleeper: "all's well in this airway at ? o'clock, 35 men and boys. J Moore."