The Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1861-01-11 00:00:00

THE RISCA COLLIERY EXPLOSION:

TAB MOIRA' ki.-Tti t IF eAuSts OP TtlE
DISASTER.

After various delays, rendered neccss'iry in conse-
quence of the difficulty in recovering the bodies of the
unfortunate men who lost their lives by the fearful
explosion which took place in the flack Vein Pit,
belbtigittis; tb the Risen, Ceal and Iron Company, on
Satiirday, the Ist Of 13etieri;.Pei density-Co.finnei
resumed the inquiry on Wednesday !noir-ring, iiitli ri
view of bringing it to a conclusion. •
The total number of deaths bad been 142, 139 of
which occurred in the pit, and three " above ground,"
from the effects of injuries revived by the explosion.
The body of one man only now remains under ground,
and finite nitasitro are being taken to recotser it.
The inquiry excited rittfelf irftef.Cat hi the ffeighbottr-
hnedi MrinY of the ikcifkolo r4l ut the
deceased Ni•ere also Present. A plan of the undergrotifin
workings was laid on the table to facilitate the inquiry.
The first witness caeil vas
Charles Anderson Hartisnn, wise said--I am genepl
viewer of the 41161 e of ti 1
'tleilieiY, On the ist
of December, a little after six o'clock in the morning,
descended No. 1 Black Vein Pit, and I examined the
" in take air" with my lamp, and found a good air
going. I then went through the double doors to the
east side return, and found the return air good. I
then proceeded up the east return to what we call the
1210 m twin side bitisS headitig; where the west return
reaChed /theft proceeded
up the return to the np-cast pit, and fot.iid afl,, was
right. I returned again down the west side of the
shaft, and came through the two separation doors
on the west side to the pit. I then crossed the pit to
the east side, and there I met the overman, Evan Bed-
dow. I asked him how all was going on that morning,
and he said, " All is right.." I then measured the air
in the main in-take, and then came out of the pit with
my son. The quantity of air when I measured was
37,500 cubic feet per minute. After I came up the pit
I went to breakfast, and then went to the Rock Vein
Pit to examine the working there, and my son descended
the Black Vein Pit again. A man, named Coker, came
to me at the Rock Vein Pit and told me that the sulphur
had gone off in the Black Vein Pit, and I immediately
came down to the Black Vein Pit, saying to Coker,
"I cannot believe it." I tossed off my coat and
trousers, got a lamp, and descended the pit imme-
diately, and went to the west side separation doors;
which I found all fight. I then fan to the east side
sepaiation doorg end found theta all fight. I then Went to
the top of the slope, where I met d man, who told me
that two men had gone into the first cast. I then went
to examine the separation doors of the first west, and
having found them all right went to the regulator,
which I also found right. I then went down to the
second east, where I found my own son. He was alive.
I lifted him up so that he could gat fresh wind, and
then I left him. I next found David Jenkins, three
or four yards off, dead. Then I came upon George
Lewis and Lewis Thomas alive, and afterwards Wm.
Thomas, a "dickey" man, as he is called on the books. I
went to the second West, and fettrid the tNo doors gone.
I got the sheet piit up, to throNi• the Wind further down.
As soon as that, was done I directed some of the men to
go in there, and I ran down to the third west over the
small fall till I got up to the big fall. I tried to get
over, but I could not, there being no room. I then
went round and endeavoured to get into the fourth east,
but I could not, because of another fall. I them came
up the slope again to the second east, and went along
there to try to get down the return to the fourth east,
but could not, because of falls, I came up the slope
once more, and sent three men up to the old pit to see
about a man and boy who were working there. They
were both brought clown, and I then went down the
slope again and assisted in getting the bodies out, which
occupied several days. When I went rotind the pit in
the morning I found the air particularly good, coming
from each side in the returns. The amount of air was
sufficient, in my opinion. We sometimes have more air
going, and two or three months ago we had 42,000 feet
going. Our ventilator would have to go about 6f
strokes per minute to produce the amount of air that
was in the pit op the morning of the explosion.
Our means of ventilation are by machinery. The
diameter of each cylinder is 18 feet 6 inches, working on
a 6-feet stroke. It will go 8 strokes per minute, which
should produce 48,858 cubic feet per minute. We
generally get from 37,000 to 38,000 cubic feet of'air per
minute. That is a difference of 10,000 to 11,000 feet,
and is caused by leakage in the valves of the machinery.
I do not think any of the difference is caused by the
"drag" on the east side. Some weeks or months since
never a man complained to me of danger, and refused to
go in. The faces of the levels, headings, and stalls were
always bratticed right up within six yards of the face.
The men lit their lamps, when blewn out by any chance.
at the slope. We had naked lights in the slope, accor-
ding to the official rules laid down by government. The
rule that epplies to this is No. 42 in our book, and is
sanctioned by the Secretary of state. There could not
have been a supplementary furnace for ventilation in
the ihil pit, because that part is nearly run together,
and the air would have baffled the furnace. A furnace
was suggested at the bottom of the bottom of the
present up-cast pit by myself when Mr. Dobson was
our consulting viewer. We talked the matter over, but
he decided in favour of the machine, as being able
to produce more wind. I did not consider it neces-
sary to have more splits on the east side, because
it would not be possible to put in crossing by reason
of the bad top and " pucking bottom." Crossings and
air bridges could not have been put in. I did intend to
shut up the east side workings at the recommendation
of Mr. Brough, and the day on which the accident hap-
pened was the last they would have been worked. I
fixed on that particular day because we had other places
to put the men who had been working there. The Black
Vein Pit would not, have been ventilated better by means
of a furnace at the present pumping pit. We tried it
many years ago, but we could not get a sufficient amount
of air. It only produced 10,000 feet of air. The dia-
meter of the pumping pit is nine feet. We had two wood
doors, and a cloth door in the headings, and there were
sheets between the double doors and the cross-headings.
We had regular frame doors in the stalls, which were
opened by door boys, one of whom went with each
" haulyer." We did not depend upon self-closing doors
—that was the reason we had the boys there ; and by
rule 25, every person passing through a door must shut
it after him. The largest quantity of air I ever measured
before the explosion was 42,000 feet, but since the acci-
dent I have measured 43,000. Before the introduction
of the ventilator we ventilated by a furnace at the bottom
of the Hill Pit, and then we got from 15,000 to 18,000
feet. There has not been a single explosion, fatal or other-
wise. excepting the present, in the Illeelt Voin Pit, during
the fours and three months that I have been there.
The air was good on Friday night, the 30th Novem-
ber. There is a night man, whose duty is to examine
the workings, and report to me or to the day over-
man, 'William Derrick ; and two other surviving firemen
can testify to the state of the pit on the morning of
December 1. Ido not doubt that a new pit, 280 yards
deep, would be an improvement to the colliery, as it
would enable us to get coals in larger quantities and
cheaper, and no doubt it would also improve the venti-
lation. A " blower" in Sage's stalls on the morning
of the explosion was no doubt the cause of the accumu-
lation of gas. I think the pit fired down between the
third and fourth east. I have not found any lamps
with the gauze off. There are thirty-three lamps to
find yet., We have found four lamps, unlocked, all
good, not bulged or smashed. There is no doubt that
the explosion was caused by an accident to a lamp, or by
a naked light being exposed. We found one lamp with
a mandrill hole in it. The four unlocked lamps were
not found at the suspected place of explosion, but in the
first east level. The one with the mandrill hole was
found in No. 4 cross-heading of No. 4 east level, near
the body of Richard Jenkins. It was his own lamp, as
will be sworn to by the lamp man.
By the Jury—William Thomas found this lamp. (A
policeman was directed to fetch all the lamps found since
the explosion.)
By Mr. Brough—l do not think one man was burnt to
death. I saw most of them as they were brought up.
I should think all in the third and second west were
killed by the falls, and about seventy died from after
damp. I have tried for fire damp upon the " gobs," but
have only discovered black damp.
You had no suspicion of danger on the morning of
the explosion ?

Witness—Not the slightest. I would just as soon
have gone in the pit to sleep as in my own bed. Ido
believe a " blower" would have occasioned the accumu-
lation of gas. I saw no occasion that morning to
remove all the men, boys, and horses out of the pit. We
had enough of ventilation that morning for ordinary
purposes to satisfy the first general rule, and I believe,
had the lamps held good, the men could have retreated,
and the ventilation would have swept away the gas.

.
By Mr. Evans, government inspector for Glamorgan-
shire (assisted by Mr. Brough).—The air has to travel
about three miles from the bottom of the down-east,
through the east district to the up-east. Three miles is
not a long distance for the air to travel—many collieries
have a much greater distance for the air to ti avel. The
distance would have nothing to do with the drag.' I
think it is better to ventilate the eastern side of the
Itisca colliery by one current of air as at present, than
by dividing it, as division would diminish the amount of
air.

Mr. Brough.—l could not hear that " blower," Mr.
Harrison, and I was then in the stall with you. It
could not have been the cause of the explosion. You
ranst give another opinion as far as you can. That
" blower" is a fresh one.
The inquiry was then adjourned.

ANOTHER BATCH OF ARMSTRONG GUNS FOR THE
NAVY.—AnOther batch of 100-pounder Armstrong guns
for the naval service, manufactured at the Royal Arsenal
on the improved system recently introduced, have been
proved at the Government practice-range with complete
success. A complete battery of twelve-pounders has just
been forwarded for the service of the Royal Artillery, in
exchange for a battery of the old service guns, which
have been returned into store.

TOE LONDON
PARKS:

ANOTHER EXTRAORDINARY NIGHT SCENE
ON THE SERPENTINE.—AN EXPRESS
SKATING TRAIN.
The scene in Hyde-park on Wednesday night was
again one of a most extraordinary character, the whole
Of the froien stitfrite of the Serpentine beirg crowded
thqsAdi ifutet4Fivd slillersi while from one end
to the °did': tiniVer ;f Wer:;' the
whole having the appearance of a tane'7
The tents were each illuminated by festoons of crystal
lamps and Chinese lanterns, while at various points
were stationed bands of
.music, to which skating quad-
rilles and other dances were kept up to a late hour.
Abottt seVen o'clock filet% iliac upwards of 10,000
persons tipori tire Anrfa6e, iiiriefr Mirth? if da tefy
/Hell In;,`:ro3af.Vl Vella. At this aide a
brilliant display ot` ga,l.:C; Cryd the
effect of the coloured fires was most btigrYla4;
lighting up the whole scene in a most brilliant
zranner. Notwithstanding ;the amusement afforded
'y skating and sliding; varipUs other, paStimes were
resorted to upon fro4rY sqrf4e„:,,tqUeplice a tent
was erected, under the name of the "14.'.0'-gaY
Alley," where the game of nine pins was carried on iot
several hours with the utmost vigour, which "Cheap
Jacks" sold their wares, most of which were described as
being of patent design, at the most fabulous prices. The
vendors of hot coffee, ginger beer, hot fried sausages,
baked potatoes, and other articles of this kind, made a
g•h'Ofl tiuslfiss. The teats erected for the sale of French
wines, porter, &c., also drthe dreti trade amongst the
countless numbers that were in the , Ncdrttie
whole length of the west bank was fringed by stalls for
the sale of all kinds of viands, while " quiet parties"
assembled around the large fires ignited in the
" skeletons" placed upon the surface of the ice. Shortly
after eight o'clock a grand procession was formed by
several hundred torchbearers, headed by a hand of music,
to the enlivening strains of which a march was made
along the ice amidst a further display of pyrotechnics.
A large number of persons entered the several skating
matches, which were contested with the greatest spirit,
while at intervals the " express train skating train " was
formed, and travelled nearly the entire length of the
Serpentine with very great speed. The banks on .either
side of the river lined with thousands of spectators, and
the whole scene was one that almost defies description,
and, in the language of the shoitman, " must be seen to
be belieted." Throughout the entire day upwards of
10,000 persons visited the park, a greater pottion of
whom amused themselves upon the froien surface, while
at night more than that number were upon the ice, most
of whom were bearers of lighted torches. The festivi-
ties of Tuesday night were kept up until a very late hour,
and unfortunately a very large number of accidents took
place between eleven and twelve o'clock. Up to mid-
night more than twenty persons were brought into the
Receiving House, having received severe cut heads and
contusions. Shortly after another alarm was raised, and
the icemen at once went to the south shore, when they
discovered Mr. George Newman, of 19, New-street,
Golden-square, a member of the London Scottish Rifle
Volunteers, immersed in about eight feet''of water. The
icemen, with the utmost difficult r, got the unfortunate
gentleman out of the water, and he *as conveyed In a
very exhausted condition to the receiving-house. Seves
ral other accidents occurred, and it was not until long
after midnight that the park was cleared.
The scene enacted on Wednesday night was quite as
brilliant, but again many accidents took place. It is
understood that a fair, on an extensive scale, will take
place on Monday next, if the frost holds, and prepara-
tions are in progress for the event, which it is antici-
pated will be of a most extraordinary and brilliant
character, the usual adjuncts of the fairs held in London
being expected to be'present. The immense number of
visitors to Hyde-park kept up the festivities until a late
hour, evidently enjoying the amusement placed at their
disposal.