The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-04-10 00:00:00

,4;

SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1875,

By Mr. Baker: Both were on the side of the
arch, under the dam, nearest to the shaft.
By the Coroner: Davis took the water pipe to
the place, and then explosion took place, knocking
them over.

By Mr. Baker: Parkes turned the water on, and
flame and smoke came, throwing witness and
others up the heading. The flame came when the
rock fell. Knew the rock had fallen, because he
had to help to get it off the place to bring up the
the men's bodies.

Mr. Baker here explained to the witness to have
it cleared up whether the accident happened from
an explosion of fire-damp or%a heavy fall of rock'
Witness said the heavy fall of rock drove the
flame and gas and vapour through the unfinished
part of the darn. He believed that an explosion
of fire-damp occured. When he and the others
went into the arch they had done all they intended
to do at the dam, and were resting a little. Mason
did not give the other survivors any orders, but
Mr. Wright told them to be careful of the fire. It
was after nine o'clock before they reached the men.
They were hindered by there being no airway.
Mason's orders to him to commence the headway
was, he supposed, to " thirl " into another headway
somewere. Tha men, when nearly reached, were
alive, and called out, "make a road over," and
witnessimswered, "We are making a road as fast
as we can." That was the last he heard from
them. Immediately after the matter happened
they ran to the bottom and called for assistance.
It was not many minutes before they were an-
swered—he believed, by the watchman. So far
as he knew, no one told the imprisoned men how
to act. Mr. Wright was there, but he was busy
in providing working materials. There was no
door, and no "damp '' sheet. There was always
good air in the back, but he did not know where
it came from. There was fire in the pit, and wit-
ness had se en it many times. It was always
dammed up, and then disappeared. The men
when found were dead, lying on their faces.

By Mr. Clulow : Worked for Mr. Wright now.
Had seen fire in the pit. Had never heard Mr.
Wright tell anyone it was unsafe whore the dam
was.

David Parkes, a collier, in the employ of Messrs.
Jones, was the next witness. He said he was
working at the dam until a few moments before
the accident. He gave a description of the oc-
currence exactly as Slater had done.
By Mr. Baker: Mr. Wright was at the place
part of the time, and worked at it. Witness saw
on Tuesday a little fire by where the dam was to
be put. He presumed they tried to put out the
fire with water.

Mr. Baker: What! before they put in the dam?
Witness: I don't know as they put in the water.
I was busy at my own work.
Examination continued: Did not know how the
pit was ventilated. The air came in one way and
went out the same. (Laughter.) Had often
asked where the return air way was, but nobody
could tell him. Could not mention more than one
man whom he had asked. They had such funny
names he could not tell the real ones. (More
laughter.) The stuff that fell was red hot, ornear
enough, but he could not tell whether it was rock
or coal. It was about a boat load (20 to 25 tons).
Sometimes when the rescuers were approaching
the men the stuff kept running in.
By Mr. Underhill: The dam was put on the
arch, and when the explosion occured the dam was
blown out, and then the rock gob forming the roof
began to run in.
John Davies, collier, said he had worked for Messrs.
Jones for two years, and at the time of the fatal ac-
cident he was at work at the dam. It was he who
held the water-pipe, and when the explosion occurred
he and the others were blown down. Witness ran
away for help, and Mr. Wright and his two sons,
Samuel and William, were down in ten minutes.
By Mr. Baker: The other side of the dam was on
fire, and witness often watered it. He saw the fire
over where the dam was five or six weeks before the
dam was put in: It was sometimes watered every
half-hour. There was a deal of fire, and Mr. Crew
had told him to water it. There was no watering
before the arch was put in. There were eight men
employed at the building of the dam, but they had
to work in shifts of four, on account of the great
heat. Mr. Wright had given orders that the dam
was to be finished up to the top, but it was left
twelve rows of bricks off, so that the hot steam
could escape.
A discussion here arose among the solicitors as to
whether the dam was supposed to have been finished
or not when the twelve rows of brichs were wanting.
Mr. Clulow argued that it was complete without the
bricks, according to the evidence of Slater. Mr.
Stokes, Mr. Sheldon, and Mr. Underhill argued that
the dam was to be carried to the top. The space was
left for the escape of the hot steam, and before the
space could be filled up the explosion occurred, and
brought it all down.
By Mr. Clulow : A day or two days before the ac-
cident witness smelt burnt timber. Because it was
so hot Mr. Wright asked Mr. Crew for an air-head-
ing, but Mr. Crew said he saw no necessity for it.
That was some time before the accident.
Mr. Clulow : Was there any back air-head thirled ?
No; or the men would have been got out.
James Slater, re-called, said the bricks at the top
of the dam were left out for air—so they told him.
Had heard no instructions from anyone as to the
filling up of the remainder of the brickwork. •
By Mr. Baker: The dam was put in to prevent
fire. Mr. Baker: What use would it have been if
there was room left for air? No answer.
In reply to other questions witness said he heard
Mason say it was to be left for air. It was usual for
dams to be made air-tight.
By Mr. Clulow : They had finished at the dam.
Heard Mr. Wright speak to Mr. Crew about an air-
head* at the place, and the heading he went to
drive—after leaving the dam—he supposed was to
come round to that place.
Mr. James Crew, the certified manager of the col-
liery: On the Friday previous to the accident he dis-
covered fire in the main road—in an air passage,
which was the return. He began to put an arch in
as soon as possible, and work was continued without
intermission untill the following Tuesday morning,
when it was so fur completed that the dam was begun
It was necessary to stop up the air-passage, and wit-
ness gave orders to drive another.
By Mr. Baker There was plenty of air, and the
ventilation was, to all intents, perfect. k manager
ought to know the course of his ingoing and outcom-
ing air.

-Mr. Baker.: Has the ehartermaster even asked

you to have air-headings put in? Witnese : Never,
except in the case of from a point to a point shown
O n the map. He (Mr. Crew) gave positive instruc-
tions to Wright to see the work of building the dam
done, and when Wright went away his (Mr. Crew's)
instructions were not carried out. The dam should
have been carried to the top. Witness held William
Wright responsible for the neglect of his orders.
Had ordered him to drive the heading mentioned by
Slater some time before. Believed that Wright had
authority to depute Mason to do the work and give
orders, because Mason was the doggy and controller'
of the men in Wright's absence. The " competent '
person mentioned in the Act of Parliament was, in
that instance, William Wright. On Monday, during
the absence of Mr. Wright, witness gave Barnes,the
day doggy. certain instructions as to management,
which, had Wright been present, would have been
delivered to him, tile butty. In the absence of Mr.
Wright, at night, he (witness) should give similar
instructions to Mason.

By Mr. Sheldon; Believed -that Wright was a
thoroughly.competent man, and that he did all in
his power to have the dam done according to his (wit-
netess's) directions.
_ _

By Mr. Ciulow : Considered Wright was respon-
sible to him. There would have been a chance for
the men had an air-way marked on the plan been
thirled. Considered in quite safe to block up the air
passage with the dam, because there was an air-
pabsage further Oh.
By Mr. Underhill Had ordered the with drawal
of the men.

At this point the Coroner asked Mr Sheldon if it
was true that Mr. Wright was ill, and Mr. Sheldon
replied in the affirmative.

kr. Watts then put it to the jury whether they
would finish the enquiry that night or not. If Mr.
Wright were present ho could please himself whether
he gave evidence or not, but he the (Coroner) under-
stood that Mr. Wright would give evidence.
Mr. Baker said he shonld prefer an adjournment,
because it might give them an opportunity of getting
down the pit.
A Juryman said he had not heared whether the
men who were dead ought to have be n on the side
of the dam where they were.
The Coroner said they had no right to be there.
Mr. Crew had ordered all the men to withdraw.

A long discussion then took place as to the length
of the adjournment, which was ultimately fixed for
May 12.
The proceedings lasted six hours.

- -
The PRIVATION OF THE USE OF
.ONEStril Lrtss whas_di
ether functions of Nature are intaci itv4 serous moirtign,
Lion to the act vely disrsed. Such, howevor, is the CO
dition of the v(ainis of rheumatism or put. To wow
without enduring at.!ony is impossible, to tee the ettull;
free from excruciating pain, is equally imoractiesixle. A
feeling of gratitude therefore pervades Us frame w 1166
the means are afforded of using all the manbers without
judicious and frequent aprlicvion of POVELL'a Itusll'
MATTO EMBROCATION. it ,srasP all douti the grandest
spetific for she evi:s we 1,,1•e inmed, Jul others of I
character. May I, vll Chemist.'
Price is Lid. ~ud 2s 91. Lbn ex.), : 114 aid 116 south"
ampton-row, Loneon.

IF THERE ARE ANY LADIES who hive not ret used the
GLENFIELD STARCH, they are respectfutly solicited
give it a than and carefully follow out the directioria
printed an every package, and if this is dose, they will
say, like the Queen's Laundress, it is the filest Starch
they ever used. When you ask for GLENFIE.D STAttog,
see that you get it, as inferior kinds are oftertsubstituted
for the sake of extra profit. Beware therefcre of spat'
ous imitations.'

1

CURES OF CONSUMPTION, ASTHMA, COUGHSi&C., by De'
LOCOCK'S PULMONIC WAFERS.—From Mr. VittliatsetTe
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Bronchitis, Coughs, Colds, Rheumatism, and 011
Hysterical and nerrous eorn2l2ints, and taste pleasant*
Sold by all Druggests at 23. 9d., 4s. Or., and 11e
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THAT COMPLEXION has alwar,s been held to be the MO
lovely in which the rose and the lily contend for master.
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etch Nature The only arrazigemett that can be made 0
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freely use HAGAN'S MAGNOLIA BALM. It preserves to."'
skin from premature wrinkles ant, farrows—renders le
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faded through illness, exposure to noxious atmospher-
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tained of all Chemists and Perfumers throughout thg• '
world. Price 3s. 6d. European Depot: 114 and 11"
Southampton-row, London.
HollowaY's. OiWnient and Pills.—lneurnatiern, Nel
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'
these diseases is afflicting the sufferer, but such neat
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They alleviate and cure all muscular and nervous Pail
In hereditary rheumatism, after bathing the affect°
part with warm salt water, Holloways Ointment ober
e well rubbed upon the spot that it may penetrate -
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on mercury, and colchicum practice formerly scler
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RAPID CURES OF SEVERE COUGH AND ASTHMA by t
LOCOCK'S PULMONIC WAFERS.—Fr BM Mr.
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s "
THROAT IRRITATI)N.—The throat and windpiPe rea
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healing, 61 and is. packets (by post 8 or 15 stan2,
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p

oda
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.Hor.LowAY's PILLS.—The Greatest Wonder of Moder.
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'VALUABLE DISOoTERT FOR TEE TrAHL-111700711111,,,h
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Certificate from Dr. Versmann on every bottlet_ist
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CAN HAM RENEwza," prepared byHenry 0. Gautisvi
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THROAT APPEcTIONS AND Honszsusse.--An
tering from irritation of the throat and •
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relief afforded by the use of "Brown's Broils '
Troches." These famous " lozenges " are noW '
by most respectable chemists in this Gann
is lid per box. People troubled with a "
cough,, a "slight cold," or bronchial affection'', ,407
not try them too soon, as similar troubles if allootsgaii
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each box.—Manufactured by JOHN I. BROWN & 13°P
Boston, United States. Depot, 493 Oxford4tr# -
London.
Amos To MOTHRINI—Are you broken in
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Winslow's Soothing Syrup is sold by Medicine de" A
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FLORILINE I—FOR THE TEETH AND BREATS•
few drops of the liquid " Floriline " sprinkled 011 '"r.•
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••
tobacco smoke. "The Fragrant Flo e,u
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Prepared by Henry 0. GALLUP, 493
Loudon.

4

....

.111014
Printed and Published by the Sole Proprietor. '
FIELD, at ni.. , dices, 92, High-street, Stourbrio•)7
the County oi ...roester: LO wnion plane oil letteto
thEr •eumt be alai-14441.
Saturday. April 10 1875

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