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East Pool Mine, Illogan, Cornwall. 1912
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Royal Cornwall Museum
East Pool Mine, Illogan, Cornwall. 1912
Mine Shift Bosses, William Kemp and Albert Opie (left). Kemp and Opie were awarded Edward Medal awards for their bravery during the mining incident recounted here. Three men were descending the shaft in a skip when they were dropped into water, which unknown to everyone, had risen from its previous level. Two men jumped off the skip but the other man was drowned. One man grabbed a ladder and climbed to safety. The other man was afraid to jump across an open space to the ladder and held on to an air pipe. Opie descended the shaft to try and rescue the man, but failed to reach him. Opie and Kemp then descended another shaft, to travel via a cross-cut to reach the frightened man. The cross-cut had water in it, which was rising all the time. At one place it was touching the roof. Opie went under the water, reached the other side, then proceeded to the shaft where the man was hanging to the air pipe. He dragged the man through the water in the cross-cut to save him. Kemp waited at other side of the water, in considerable danger, to keep a light for when the man was brought out. Photographer: Arthur William Jordan
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TRURI : MIeap.16
Media ID 12082514
© From the collection of the RIC
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print from 1912 showcases the brave mine shift bosses, William Kemp and Albert Opie, who were awarded Edward Medal honors for their extraordinary courage during a harrowing mining incident. The image transports us to East Pool Mine in Illogan, Cornwall, where these two remarkable individuals stood tall amidst adversity. The story behind this photograph unfolds as three men descended into the treacherous depths of the mine shaft in a skip, only to be unexpectedly plunged into rising water. In a desperate bid for survival, two of them managed to leap off the skip while one tragically drowned. Amidst chaos and fear, one man clung onto an air pipe instead of risking a jump across open space towards safety. Undeterred by danger and driven by compassion, Albert Opie valiantly descended into the perilous shaft in an attempt to rescue the stranded man but was unable to reach him. Determined not to give up on saving a life, Opie and his courageous companion Kemp embarked on another daring descent through an alternate route via cross-cut. As they traversed through water-filled passages with levels continuously rising - at times even brushing against the ceiling - Opie submerged himself underwater before emerging on the other side. With unwavering determination etched upon his face, he proceeded towards where the trapped man desperately clung onto dear life by an air pipe. Incredibly defying all odds and battling against time itself, Opie successfully pulled the terrified individual through waist-deep water within that treacherous cross-cut passage. Meanwhile, Kemp patiently waited on high alert at a safe distance with nothing but his light illuminating hope for their triumphant return. This awe-inspiring photograph captured by Arthur William Jordan immortalizes bravery beyond measure – showcasing how ordinary individuals can become heroes when faced with unimaginable circumstances.
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