The pit appears to have been gassy and in the days before safety lamps were introduced there were a number of fatal explosions. Sixty lives were recorded as having been lost in 1727, a further 31 lost in an explosion on 11 April 1797.[9] On 11 October 1799 a "violent explosion took place in Lumley colliery ... by which ... thirty-nine human beings were launched into eternity".[10] The following century saw more explosions.