The Express.
London, England, 1862-04-18 00:00:00

-coilaiiira:

An inquest was held on Wednesday on the bodies
of six miners, whit were killed by an explosion of fire-damp
in the Westwood Colliery, near Sheffield. The Westwood
Colliery, whisk at toe property of Messrs. Newton, Cham-
bers, end Co., is a eery extensive ors, and on the morn-
ing of the explosion, a few days ago, there were nearly 200
men and boys working in it. About eight o'clock in the
morning, a loud report was heard in one of the extreme
workings se the south ads of the colliery, sod
it was found that an explosion of fire-drip had taken
place. Adjeisieg the workings, at the extreme south of
the mine, sad mining, in fact, parallel with the roads
along whisk the bunters and Unman", 000staatly
miassel, was a large "pet," or pines whom thermal has bees
excavated. Fells of reef were if frogman emiserenee in
this goal, and from the nature of the ms, tie goof being
unveatilated and the mine "dory," an explosion might rea-
souably have been apprehended when any fall took place.
Yet it seems that I. the "banks," immediately adjoining
this megasine of explosive gas, the colliers were in the habit
d working with naked candles. The explosion was caused
by a sudden and extensive fall of the roof of the goat. The
accumulated firedamp was driven out into the workings,
and it of course exploded immediately on coming in cootace
with the asked stadia of the men. Six of the colliers
were killed. Their want are Thomism Chtheroe, John Cli-
theroe, his sofa, and William Morton his nephew who were
all working in the tame bank ; Walter Rodger, " tram-
mel," Thomas Layaock, sad A. Hemingway.
Mr. C. Morton, the government inspector of mine., who
WAS present at the inquest, closely omit-examined the
witnesses, with a view to show that there were no proper
regulations enforcing the use of safety lamps in the
mill*, and that the 'ripply of air in the workings was
greatly deficient. The assistant viewer admitted that naked
candles were regularly used, although the mine wee a
" fiery" mine, and in emend of the divisions he could find
inflammable gas at any time. On the morning of the ex-
plosion, before the men want to work, be examined the work-
rugs, and found gas (fire damp) is them, yet he did not con.
shier there was anything to render it undesirable for the
Men to work with naked lights. He also admitted that the
air of the pit on that morning was in its usual state, and
that it was the same as when beexamined the mine in cum-
poly with the government inspector after the explosion.
To this statement the government inspector added the ex-
traordinary fact, that on that morning one of tfie main air-
ways of the mine was so badly ventilated that the Ilnelino.
meter (or air measurer) would not turn rimed. That was
in the narrowest part of one of the principal air passages,
where it might he expected the current would be strongest.
The agent of the colliery, Mr. Edward Beecher, was ex-
amined at great length. He commenced by asserting that
on the day before there were from 2,000 to 3,000 cubic fest
of air per minute passing through the workings when the
explosion had taken place, and he believed that the ahem-
rent was as brisk on the morning of the accident. He ad-
mitted that Mr. Norton's anemometer would not move in
the current, and that no alteration bad been made in the
ventilating arrangerneatt before or since the explosion,
but he &filmed that the air passed at the rate of
180 feet per minute through the working. He admitted
that the extensive goal which has been spoken of was not
ventilated, and that he allowed men to work alongside it
with naked candle*. There was always gas in some
'ernsof the mine, but heconsidered the col-
could safely work with naked candles. At the
conclusion of a lengthy examination, in the course
of which the witness had been frequently re-
buked for fencing and quibbling with the questions, it came
out by accident that his evidence se to the state of the ven-
tilation was mere hammy—that, in fact, what he had for
two hours led the jury to believe was founded on his per-
soma observation had merely been related to him by others.
The Coroner told the witness that his conduct was per-
fectly disgraceful, and be could not believe a word he bad
said.

The Goveroment Inspector said he had received numerous
letters from pitmen, who did not sign their names, com-
plaining of the state of the pit. He added, from hi■ owe
examination, that he was oonvinced the mine wan not a safe
one to work with naked lights, and that the ventilation was
almost worthies&

The Coroner said there had been great negligence on the
part of Belo:her, and, although it might not amount to
manslaughter, he considered the deaths of these sir unfortu•
nate men lay at his door. 11 it depended on him, he would
commit Beecher.

After a long deliberation the jury returned a verdict of
" Accidental death," coupled with the expression of oploion
that it was nut safe to work the mine with naked lights
near the large goat.

ANOTHER FATAL ROCK OIL ACCIDENT.—An in-
HAs held a few days throe at the Court-house,
rerigS bley, before Mr. Thomas Brown, coroner, on the death
of William Gill, a retired factory operative, whose death
was caused by the ignition of some American oil which was
being stored for use at Mr. Bugden's mill. William Bar-
rett, of Keighley, factory operative, departed—On Friday
week, at eight, I was to the cellar of Mr. Burlses old mill,
is ICeighley. I had taken in some yarn. Two young men
took a cask into an adjoining room. I was told it was oil.
They pumped it out into a cistern. I had closed the
room I was in. I went through the room when the
oil was. The men had a lighted lamp I went to look
at the oil, which they said was like water, taking the lamp
In my hand. When I bad got ithin about two
yards of the oil it exploded. and burst into a flame,
reaching the top of the room. One of the young men ran
for an engine. I ran for wet sheets. When I came back
the cistern had been pulled over. The oil covered the floor.
I saw the deceased come out of the room sadly burned about
the face. Mr. Angus Cameron, of Keighley, surgeon, mid—
i was called to see the deceased on the seeping of last
Friday week. He was very severely tanned in the fees,
neck, and hands. I saw little hope of his recovery. I con-
tinued to attend him till his death. He died from the
effects of burning. The fury returned a verdict that " De.
rased died from accidental burning, from the ignition and
burning a quantity of rock oil." The jury recommended
that great care should be taken in thing this oil or Marla(
it In an unpurteed Mete.