The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-01-18 00:00:00

THE HOMER HILL COLLIERY 1

'lle ~,,,,, alone No. 1 read, killing the hero. end so• er
wish intering the ihiver that he died in a day ontwo
after. Another skip was torrid .4 the req. ha No. *
g ote•rell 410 co,l, nearet the pit shaft. Judgine flout
Ile at ote of the mine, he woe of opinion that • large.
ADJOURNED INQUEST. I quatitltv of eta wee limited. end that had it not been tie
' the mivernnus eondition of the openiog already alluded
The adjourned inquest touching the deaths of ,Tolin
ta, the workmen and the pit would have been ribattered
Edwards, William Westwood, George Griffith°. Willi."' ' to atoms. The thick coal is rearthed by two shah§ about
Jordan, Eland Barehreek, Jesse Thomas Heatherrek, 150 yards in depth, front the bottom of which two pare
Francis Barrel, Darnel Dart, and William Battleton. wite 1 „et gate-reeds. of large Eseti,,,nat area, aeg so yards
at the Maypole Ina.
held on Tuesday List, before R. Docker, Esq., Coroner, i
I
apart, have been made, extending to the colliery hound.
Mr. J. Baker, her Majesty's Mining Inspector, was a"'
present, aa Isere also Messy,. J. E. Swindell. see., J. E. The volume of air in the pit Varied from alma!
9.000 to In 530 eul, lc feet per minute. Of that quantity
Swindell, jun.. and Frank E about 1,500 feet were Foraged off for the meth levelvers, (the proprietors ef the workings. which were rely limited; and the residuum
colliery), Mr. Foley (the manager). Mr. Foley (the sue.
tavellel along No. 2 gate-road to the north workings.
veyor), and Mews. Breakwell surd Tetlow (of the Miners'
National As.ociation). where It was at tile time of the explosion distributed
'
The inquest was appointed for eleven o'clock, but the over the lower or nine foot workings, and eventually re.
Coroner slid not arrive until after twelve ; the Jury List . united and riturned, an it did now. along No.l gate-road
having beegencalled by the Penis-officer. to the upeast shaft. The only artificial means employed
Mr. Docker said Gentlemen, the inquest was ad.to ald the ventilation was a very small fire-place in the
: upemt shaft. about forty yards from the surfeae, which
jouriacil of tar hearing the evidence of one of the men. only tended to keep the ventilating Gelman in one ante-
yes thior it necessary. and I will read over the evidence taken at that time if tioo. The average amount of air moving through the
north workings, allowing for leakage, was about S.OOO
The jury did not think it necessary, and the first wit.
nese culled was cubic feet per minute, by no means a large quantity;
, Edward Dewey, who deposed: I was at work to the and as the workings were inentSlllll2 it should be consid.
erably anemeuted. Still, after deflecting • reasonable
colliery at the time of the explosion. Iwo, at down No. amount for the horses, there would be at the Bum of the
a pit, at work in the lower, or 9.ft. pit. I was loadiug. accident about 200 cubic feet per man per minute; end
About half-past seven I felt • rush of air, alli SSW inn where the current of air now travelled it appeared to
candles blarring. I thought something hail happened.
sad threw myself down, aud the fire came over use. I sweep the mine clear of gas. A mush Luger qttantity
might be got, and colliery managers should be careful
did not hear any explosion. I lay down about a minute,
and afterwat de walked to the mouth of the pit was not to regulate the quentity of air to the bare limier of
I
burnt on the face and hands. Ido not know. where it safety. There was no dou.t • fall of 260 or 300 tome
from the roof of the book opening on the morning in
fired. I had been at work in the opening, and coutinued queetion. an I that no doubt forced the air in various dit-
to work there, until a month previous to the explosion.
actions, the air and gas then existing at the top of the
'The coal was worked out. I have seen gas by the long
opening. and which unfortunately reached and fired at
pillar in the hole, and have helped to brush it out. The one of the candles of the workmen in the adjoining
gas was in the pot holes. There has been plenty of yen.
stalls on the nine-foot workiaits. Boppoeinit there was
tibiae's. I have never worked in pits where there wae
no gm in the opening. it was probable that the breaking
gas in pot holm If a shut fell it would bring the up of the shut might release gee. His opinion was
gas down, mid would tire. After the roe hail been re. thats Were was gun in the roof of the opening On the
moved, and the work abandoned, I went in the hole to
fetch timber oat if it was wanted, morning of the 11th. He regarded the pit as well man.
aged end well yentilatedd. Every facility bad been
John Andrews deposed: I live at Q tarry Bank, and
afforded to him by the owners and managers in the in.
am a collier. I woo at work in the pit at the time of the
vestigation of the accident. The plant was one of the
explosion, loading. I wee the first in the pit after it had
been tried by the lamp. The first thing IMN was the beet in the country.
By the Coroner: My opinion is that gas existed in the
fire, which caught me before I got down. It was coming opening before the fall ; that when the shut took place a
from the back opening. I got d rem, and the fire did not
quantity of gas was liberated which came dawn with the
catch isle twain. On one occasion I have seen gas in the
: fall. Have no doubt that the exploeion was owned be
openiug at the top. I hail bean at work three weeks in
the fall of shut, which would bring down any gas that
the opening previous to the explosion. Never saw gas
existed. The ventilstlon of the lower welling* of the
there but orlon Did not work in the beak opening every
pit sweep the gas out. I have not been able to find way
day. There wan a good Lit of gas in the No. hi real. ea. gam Have been down the pit several times sines
Isaiah Harbileton tried the gas on the 4th of November, "
the etplosion. Have found no gas. The pits were wen
which would ba a week before the accident, Haddleton
said there was snore gas than then could lamb out and
0 , the country. Every !agility has been afforded to me by
the band did not work that day.
Tiallirt" trl" all —l- the proprietors and managers to examine the pit,.
managed so far as I could see, and the plant the finest le
pits that morning, because Mr. Edward Foley was not F,Osverd Moline deposed : / sin a wenn, reehling at
there le time. Hadilleton got up on the coal, and tried
Cralley Heath. 'The whole of the men bane been under
the pit with the lamp. I don't know the reason the
m care since the accident. Most of the men were suf.
band did soot work that day. Do not know whether lIal•
feyrine from borne on the face, hande, arms, and body. I
Brion reported that there was gas. I knew it was don'
eontinued to attend them all Quill death. They died
gernes, end if a "ghat" had fallen It woold drive the The
from barns received at the time of the accident.
gas de on. I heard the shat fell before the fire. The comm. of death was not so much from otter-damp ; bit
flame , 4 111.C4 lIIC in about half & minute after. Idan't from the shook to the eyetent.
kuory whether anything was done to got rid of the gas.
By Mr. Baker: I have never seen it tried before. The 'lists icing all the evidence.
lamp would be three or four yards from the top. I did The Coroner proceeded to sum up, and went throught
the evidence, which went to show that it was one of those
not name it to spy one. Never heard any one complain
accidents which eomstimee occur, which there is no
that there was gar. That was the only time I saw the
centre! over. The explosion appears to have taken piece
pit tried. The pit was not tried with a lamp stick that
morning. When the gas was brushed out it would go
at the beck neenieg, which has been desoribed by several
into the air. witnemen Yoe have no difficulty as to finding the muse
of the seeldent. Next comes the enquiry, was any OHO
Mr. Baker remarked that brushing out gas was a very
dangerous practice. to blame ? The Coroner here poiuted out the law if
there was any blame attached to any person, and re.
In answer to the deputation preterit witness said : marked that the colliery rules were visy stringent, and
Pikomen were at work Within 20 yards of the place where
the gas was found, applied both to the master and the men. It would Le a
gni stion for the jury to decide whether they thought
By Mr. Baker; Edward Foley came down the pit the , ..
had not been complied with, and to what extent.
sanie morning shout sin o'clock. Do not know who set they
the men oa to work. The men would continue to work The room was clearest,After some other remarks,
until the day wag finished. I left et dinner time. The
which lasted about half an hour.
men were working at holing. There was a good deal et and the jury left to deliberate.
shut down. Oa entering the room, the Coroner asked if they bad
Edward agreed? Andrews deposed: I live at Quarry Bank, and Mr. (1e.,. the - foreman, rose and said; We find a
am a collier. I was at work in tire pit at the time of the
verdiet et "Accidental death," sad we think that great
aecident, but was not injured. I was going to work at
blame is at:Relied to Edward Foley, jun., for not having
the Wee se a piketnait, in the fivelard opening. I had daily mai., a
proper
eaaatiaetion a the had, opening,
been et work in the pit three ocelot. I was at work on
and Ala for havieg deputed his duty to a man PO ignite-
the etli of November. Was not down tile pit when it
was tried. I went down soon after six oi'eloidt. Edward aet so Igeieh Iledgleton.
Mr. J. E. Swindell, den.. rose and said be beefed to
Foley Net me on to work. 1 was II hobo pia .0 of a
thank the Coroner. Mr. Baker, and the Jury for the very
pillar on the left Merit side. I woe at work on the lower
, diligent euquiay they had made. They litel speut a COoa
si.h. of the pillar with another UAL OM there ware two
deal of time over the enquiry. and Lie could only regret
others on the other side of the pillar. Did nut know
. the cleanest:ince that lied nolo:red It neete.sary It had
there WAS ivy gas there. Bid not near anything about it. Did not see Iladdleten there that mornine. been a SOUITO of grist anxiety to himself and partneri,
and no one emit,' regret the unfortunate •ceurreueo
By Mr. Biker '. Never heard of any gas being there.
There woo plenty of air there. Ou the 11th, it id not find iii ro than himself.
Mr Besskivell also Umpired the Coroner, Inspector.
soy gas. I had no reasou to complaiu or vontiletion.
There was plenty of air where I was at work Pr the
and Jury, for being allowed to attend the migniry on be.
cross-roada.
half of the Aseeoeiation ; their only object beiug to see
that everything was June for the safety of the men thatßy the Coroucr : The air was out off from the back
...op he „
one.
opening. If it bad not been exit off there, B "
oer° would i
Mr. Baker Wee thanked the proprietors and the 1111111.-
not hove been any necuinalatiou of sulpliiir.
m,,,, : agers of the pit, for the courteoue way in which lie load
~„,t,l,Yot„lilo'' odfe,T:,ttaltie'd"o:olre Rae; eehe'n'temae'vleydo. f etbledith-; I beer mei heel on each occasion thet he had crawls:led
pit heinous., I found aulplour in .
the vit. Every Ninety had been afforded him to make
IL
Lam, Haddlston deposed : I live at Cradley Denth, the fullest lure itigetion.
, Tie Cormier mole a few remarks thanking the Jury.
tatti'ed .I'.'tai Na ocvoelleulrier, lanwirtri cis; iris:ill:4ol'one ihf'iety'l'ir'rinnip".g ;I t.he Governenent Inepector, and the Deputation iif tins
miners' Associetion. for the assistance they lied Riven ii•
wonl.l be about half-past live. Edward Yodel, and Join, ~.,,
~....ry.
i With reference to the Mineral Uniou lie
Andrews were wills me a portion of the time. IDP .1 `"'
acid that properly conducted it was a grand institution;
the bad( 1111011in,', iis the eLut hole. There was but little a
amid. repra.ente I with SO much propriety Ca
it hail been
ge., and we brusheol it out, mod went ep with the prieliel
which is hour or five yards long. OH that enquiry, it could not fail to have been a YOUrell
of essistame The Coroner also remarked that the way
By Mr. Holier: Andrews woos with me when I exam. of
colliery had beau condor:Mi. and the way the plait
Mod the pit. Til yes! was can behind the pillar. and ion
the monolog of the lth November, Edward Foley nssie-
te Ito brush the sem out. The gas was shoat two feet hood been laid down, went to sh.ow that the proprietors
were anxious to do all they eoulil for the workmen,
thielt four or fiie yards lung, and nine feet wide.
Edward Foley deposed : I live at Cradley, slid am
doggy at Hamer Hill colliery. I remember the nen:eine
of the:lth Novemlier. I went down the pit not six ..'elooek
with several others. I asked Haddleton if lie had found
airy gas. Ile replied that he had i's the Inch epeniug
I helped to blush it out. I could reach the L oundery
rib at the Lack opening with the pricker stim. There
had been a fell of shut, which had been drawn out be.
tween the morning of the 4th and the Ilth.
Ily Mr. Bake,: There has boeu no ,9::01 since the morn-
ing of the :lib motil the time of the fali of shut on the
lltli. Its hilidon exanitual the pit during the whole of
the week, he lie said, which was authorised by Mr. Foley,
the manager.

By the Coroner : Wax in the seermd opening whet.
the explosion took place. I went down the pit at troll.
post five o'clock, and tried it with the pricker /1 far as I
could reach the back opening. I 6,1 not reach the top.
The first thing I beard wee the repurt. After I felt •
suction going through my ears. land saw the Arnie. a
threw myself down, and the tire .10,44,1 itself into Nos.
1 and 19, two Teals. The pit is generally properly vow
Waled. There never war any suspicion of gas after the
bark opening had been abandoned, except ou the morn.
tag of the 4th.
lip Mr. linker: I could not rPBOII the top with the
pucker. The roof was a coal top three or four feet
thick. Oa the Saturday morning I toll my uncle that
the latup.stick was broken. Ira said that lie had not any
longer sticks. I sent the tw.) please of stisk up Ulu pit
and tried the pit with the pricker stele.
By the Coroner: On the marring of the 11th I beaud
something crack, and attar the explosi us quantity of
coal fell. If a q witty of shut fell, gas would follow.
lip Mr. Baker I d:d send four men to do some holing
by the pillar, oa the 4th. I went down in the find cage
with William Haden and the horse driver. They went
to the stasbles, nut 1 went to ezamine the pit.
Josiah Chiming deposes!: I live at Lowey Town, and
am a collier. I was trot at with at the time of the explo-
sion. Was loot down the pit on Gels Olin. I have been
in the back opening, and seen a little gar. I saw gar
there the last time on the Zatli of October, in a pot liol
, in the back opeuing. The gar Woo a,mut two feet thick
in the raisin pot hole, and from four to ties yards square.
I leave not seen gas where area were at work. When I
go round the work I have a safety lamp with me. I
always try it for my own safety. I try it iu other places
besides where I work.
By Mr. Baker : I am not acqnninted with the special
rules. Have not been furnished with the rules. Have
never had the rules read over to ore. I have sometimes
eceu the rake by the hovel.
Mr. Docker read the roles over to witness, which pro-
hibited any man from going about the pit except where
he was et work. A man might blow up a pit. It wan
equally wrong for a man to engage a workman and allow
him to work without first reading the rules.
The Coroner here remarked that t, Ungar had made
Limes If lipble to a penalty of £2; in default three
months imprisonment.
By the deputation My brother-in-law liaddleton, did
not say to me that he wax afraid an accident would
occur. I never was afraid of an accident. I have MIL:
out a plan of the workings. Haddletgli toll no that in
the middle opening there was a quantity of gas and it
was not destroyed; and that lie told Edward Foley, the
doggy, who told Edward Foley, the manager, and he said
they were to be very careful.
Fladdleton was than metalled, gad said that he told
Chivers that there was gag on the lth of November, and
dant it WAS brushed out.
By the deputation: Chivers said that he hal expressed
dissatisfaction at the management of some of the work.
lugs. lie said so from information lie received from
Edward Worrell, Edward Downing, and Abraham Sher.
wood. They said that Edward Foley went and tried the
lamp after the necident where there was gas, awl said it
war safe for the men to work.
Mr. J. S. Baker, Government Inspector of Mines, WI3
next examined. Ife read a report to the effect that he
visited the Homer Hill Colliery on Wednesday, the 131.11
of November, the day after lie received the intimation
of the explosion. After travelling along the gate-road
about 160 yards-200 of which were beyond the circuits.
tion of air—he reached the back opening, where the fall
of roof had occurred, which, according to the evidence,
took place on the morning of the xplosion. The open-
ing then contained a large quantity of explosive gas
evidently healing from a fissured and very soft part of
the coal seam, and from which the gas that brought throat
the explosion on the 11th of November was undoubtedly
discharged. For nearly a whole week prior to the ex.
ploeion the barometer WWI steady ; but on the morning
of the explosion it indicated a depression of about one.
fifth of an inch. This fall in the premiere of the atmos-
phere would bring about an expansion of any confined
air and gas then existing in the wine in addition to the
ordinary emission of gas. The thermometer was also
falling, sad indicated a temperature about 10 degrees
below the average of several days before the acciale4.;
(Stich instruments should not only be employed, but'
frequently coneulted). He found nearly all the doors in
the cross headings deranged or broken, and the ventila.
tion destroyed ; but little or no damage appeared to have
been done to any other part of the workings or machin.
cry, except that the cage and wire rope had been fe:ced
by the blast some seventy or eighty feet up the up-cut
shaft. A subsequeat examination enabled him to &Uri.
Mite this fortunate circumstance to the large dimensions
of the back opening, in which there was immense space
for the expansion of the ignited fire damp. Fortunetely
the workmen were sheltered from the fearful blast by
one of the long pillars, otherwise no porton would have
been left alive to tell the tale. The forms nsf tire explm
lion drove a loaded skip, the horse, and the driver some

Printed and Publimbed by the Sole Proprietor. SIMEON
FIELD, M hie (Alcoa, 92, High-etreet, Ittourbridge,
the County of Woreeeter towhine place en WWI NW
other communientione mut be addressed.
Saturday, Jauuttry 18, lOW