On 31st July, 1902, the coal mine at Mount Kembla exploded when gas and coal dust was accidentally ignited. The mine was afterwards said to be haunted by the ghost of the one miner whose body was never recovered.
When the mine was closed for good the ghost took up a new residence.
When the mine was closed for good the ghost took up a new residence.
The Disaster
Mt Kembla Colliery. In 1865, the first buckets of coal were mined at Mt Kembla, New South Wales, Australia. The coal was used to fire machinery at the nearby 'Pioneer Kerosene Mine' but by 1883 kerosene had become uneconomical and the mining of kerosene was all but halted. A new company was formed; 'Mount Kembla Coal & Oil Co' and the full scale mining of coal was begun. 110 men were initially employed and by 1901, 336 men were employed to mine the coal seam.
At 2:00pm on the 31st July, 1902, the days mining shift change was in swing. At this time there are more men in and around the mine than any other part of the day. 275 mine workers were either entering or leaving the mine. At 2:03pm the mine exploded and the greatest mining tragedy in Australia's history took place.
At 2:00pm on the 31st July, 1902, the days mining shift change was in swing. At this time there are more men in and around the mine than any other part of the day. 275 mine workers were either entering or leaving the mine. At 2:03pm the mine exploded and the greatest mining tragedy in Australia's history took place.
Rescue efforts after the explosion. Eight miles away, a arbitration hearing into mine safety in Wollongong was halted as the explosion was heard. People from all the regions surrounding Kembla rushed to the scene to give aid, while some nefarious types took opportunity to loot the homes of Kembla residents, as the town was emptied with people adding their strength and support to those at the mines.
Although some miners came staggering out of the smoke and dust, they talked about the tunnels being littered with bodies. Not all of the miners were afforded a quick death, some may have lingered for hours, eventually succumbing to afterdamp (a mixture of noxious gases caused by mine fires or explosions). Some miners had time to scratch farewell messages into the tucker tins or other objects and a few of the miners managed to hold on until rescue workers made it to them, only to die after uttering a few words.
Although some miners came staggering out of the smoke and dust, they talked about the tunnels being littered with bodies. Not all of the miners were afforded a quick death, some may have lingered for hours, eventually succumbing to afterdamp (a mixture of noxious gases caused by mine fires or explosions). Some miners had time to scratch farewell messages into the tucker tins or other objects and a few of the miners managed to hold on until rescue workers made it to them, only to die after uttering a few words.
Damage to the workings. By the end of the day there was a reported 96 deaths, including the deaths of two of the rescue workers. More men and boys were to die later from injury widowing 33 women and leaving behind 120 now fatherless children. Every family in the town lost a member, with one woman having lost fourteen members of her family to the mine. The shock of the explosion and resulting grief caused more than one miscarriage. It took several weeks for all of the bodies to be removed from the debris of the collapsed mine... well all but one.
Micky Brennan's Ghost
Hundreds of people fled to the scene - for good and ill. Michael 'Mickey' Brennan's body was never recovered. His father John searched for the body of his son for two years as his sons coffin laying empty in a machining shed. On 12th May, 1904, John Brennan's body was found in Wollongong Harbour, some say the grief drove him to commit suicide by drowning.
The mine resumed operations in September 1902. The cause of the explosion, as found through an inquiry, was the ignition of gases by the naked flames of the miners torches. No single person was held accountable for the disaster.
Mickey Brennan's ghost haunted the mine for nearly seventy years. His voice heard calling for his body to be found. Other strange noises had been reported by workers, as well as the apparition of a man seen in the dark. When the mine closed in 1970, it is said Mickey's ghost began to haunt the cellar of the Mt Kembla Hotel. Publicans and other staff tell of seeing the apparition of a man in the cellar.
The mine resumed operations in September 1902. The cause of the explosion, as found through an inquiry, was the ignition of gases by the naked flames of the miners torches. No single person was held accountable for the disaster.
Mickey Brennan's ghost haunted the mine for nearly seventy years. His voice heard calling for his body to be found. Other strange noises had been reported by workers, as well as the apparition of a man seen in the dark. When the mine closed in 1970, it is said Mickey's ghost began to haunt the cellar of the Mt Kembla Hotel. Publicans and other staff tell of seeing the apparition of a man in the cellar.
The Poem of Mickey Brennan's Ghost
Back in nineteen hundred and two after the Mt Kembla mineshaft blew
And men went back under working in the panels
One body was never found and remains underground
Entombed forever in Mt Kembla's history annals.
Winning coal was their mission, but there was always suspicion
Of any noise from a pit prop or post
Any timber creek or groan was interpreted as a moan
And attributed to Mickey Brennan's ghost.
Mickey loved it down there the mine and to while away the time
He wandered through the tunnels, his favourite haunt
He thought it was a lark that the pit was always dark
And there was always lots of men down there to taunt
But around sixty nine productions slowed down at the mine
And Mickey's ghost could see the writing on the wall
When they closed the bugger down he'd be stuck there underground
All alone, with no one there to haunt at all
Well he was not the type to roam so he had to find another home
A place where people gathered, a social hub
And he thought of just the place, there'd be people there to chase
So he left the pit and moved down to the pub.
He now lives happily in the cellar, a very contented fella
And comes out only sometimes, late at night
When it's dark and bleak he might illuminate and speak
Just to give the publican a fright
So if you're ever in Mt Kembla with a taste for liquid amber
And you're greeted by an ashen faced mine host
If he's still decidedly pale by the time you drink your ale
Chances are he's just encountered Mickey's ghost.
"Alan Tubman 2002, written for the centenary anniversary of the disaster"
And men went back under working in the panels
One body was never found and remains underground
Entombed forever in Mt Kembla's history annals.
Winning coal was their mission, but there was always suspicion
Of any noise from a pit prop or post
Any timber creek or groan was interpreted as a moan
And attributed to Mickey Brennan's ghost.
Mickey loved it down there the mine and to while away the time
He wandered through the tunnels, his favourite haunt
He thought it was a lark that the pit was always dark
And there was always lots of men down there to taunt
But around sixty nine productions slowed down at the mine
And Mickey's ghost could see the writing on the wall
When they closed the bugger down he'd be stuck there underground
All alone, with no one there to haunt at all
Well he was not the type to roam so he had to find another home
A place where people gathered, a social hub
And he thought of just the place, there'd be people there to chase
So he left the pit and moved down to the pub.
He now lives happily in the cellar, a very contented fella
And comes out only sometimes, late at night
When it's dark and bleak he might illuminate and speak
Just to give the publican a fright
So if you're ever in Mt Kembla with a taste for liquid amber
And you're greeted by an ashen faced mine host
If he's still decidedly pale by the time you drink your ale
Chances are he's just encountered Mickey's ghost.
"Alan Tubman 2002, written for the centenary anniversary of the disaster"
Ashley Hall 2013
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