The Express.
London, England, 1852-02-26 00:00:00

THE HOLMFIRTH INUNDATION.

ADJOURNED INQUEST.
TIIIIESDATII EVIDENCE CONCLUDED.
Mr. Juo. Ilint, of Saddleworth, said ho had lived at
Digley Mills, to within 16 months of the present time, 4:1
his lite, being part owner of the mill propirty, but he never
qualified as a commissioner. Ile corroborated the last two
witnesses as to three leakages in the reservoir embankment,
but be said there were five leakages altogether. Ile con-
tinued-1 believe there were three tailings on the top of
the embankment,over the puddle-bank, one near the centre,
on the smith sole, and the others further on the same side. '
I new. r considered the reservoir site. l told my late brother,
one of the commissioners, that it was unsafe. 1 cannot say
if it was generally Lucian to be unsate, but in the neigh-
bourhood of the reservoir it was generally considered unsafe.
By Mr. Jacomb—The house in which 1 hied up to 1100
lo one of theses swept away by the bursting of the reeer-

Toil.
Joseph Sharpe, etonenusan, of Dewsbury, sworn—My
father was on: of the contracture for making the Bilberry
rettervoir. IMU 31 Yeats el age. 1 weekcel at the Bilberry
reeervuir when waking In the puddle trench, when we
got to the depth required by the epocilhation, there was •
bottom formed of nht, or sowshur, or shale. It was dry wea-
ther. When we got to the bottom we waited for Mr.
Leather about a week. There was • weft place in the middle
of the puddle dike, or trench. and by eimeboily's order--1
don't know whet!ar by Mr. Leather's
—this soft place was
sunk down four feet Lower' where we found • epring of
water as thick as my leg. We employed is 3.inch syphon
for three weeks to work the water out. We gut the
water out, but the spring continued, and during
the three weeks the water et the reservoir bunt in. When
we got all clear, we started to puddle, thinking the weight
of the puddle wined push the water back him its own
coune. 'fhe sprout hallowed us up as we peddled, but 1
cannot say to w hat height. Wheu the weight of the puddle
came on it. and it could uo longer get up, it worked its way
out at the lower side of the embauement. The next thing
was by soul • 1/1161 0f411.11-- 01 don't know whose) —a
piece was Liken out of the embankrueut to the stabil, and a
circular piece of puddle wa. put in. It was outside the
puddle trench, mid we puddle.' Wick to the puddle wall
through the circular opening. We newer saw any more of
the spring duriug the time we were there. I should say
the spriog followed us about 29 fret above the solid, or Mira
face of the ground. This wise near the centre. When we
left the workethe einbaukruent was up ti feet high above the
waste pipe. I did use otb. r leeks, but when the reservoir
was full there were always leaks, or when there was any
weight of water. Wheu the reservoir was full I have seen
water go down the %ante pit. Before we finished there
was a solid nous of ru.oonry put down by the silo of the
culvert into the bottom of the puddle trench. I believe that
was to stop another run of water. I did not think there
was danger from the leakage. 'f he water from the leakages
in frrehets If JO yellow.
By Mr Jamul's—We began the reservoir in 15.38, and
remained tall lel2. The engineer was Mr. Leather, and I
'splitter lie had toe unnagenieut, and Mr. Tait inspected
the works. I Saw Mr. Leather over, during the four years,
ail or seven time*. I did nut see him several times each
year. Ido not know that Mr. Leather refused to certify
that my lather's work was properly done.
Mr. David Fetter, of Far 'town, near Iludditnfteld,
sworn. I was a e.ntraetar, iti Iteld, to pull down pert of the
unreel, embankment, and make tat good, and to take out
part of the culvert, and rebuild it. We had a drift to
drive from the bottom of the embankment near the byevresh
to take any water from an while repairing the bank. At
the cad cal the drift we had a piece of masonry to pat in, ,
10 feet Wag and 6 feet square, and there was an aperture
through the middle to take the water. The drift was about
19 feet below the culvert bottom, where we came to the
rock. We did this in consequence of the sinking of the
embankment 15 feet, and we hail to heel the water and get
it eat. When we got to the bottom there was shale, and
we took that out and put in • solid piece id ashlar masonry.
1 don't know that I got instruction. from Mr. Leather, but
1 think 1 saw him oue day. This was extra, and not con-
tract work. It was • wall 19 Ifeet high and 100 long,
against the pastel* bank. The commissioners paid about
Loin/. for these repairs. We had instructions to extend
the drift to • hollow place iu the embankment, tram Mr.
Leather, I believe, by Jonathan Thorpe, but:the order was
sounteetnaiieleel hy,JunathaaCreiwther. After this the water
went away through the shale and came out at the aperture,
end the inspector got two or three barrels of cement to fill
up the aperture between the shale and memory. The
cement was inure injury than good. 'there came • time
when we had to till up between the masonry and paddle,
and there was ea sown water in the place 1 would not 111 it
up. of the evailinisabuntes estate up and employed my
bun to ull it up, and it wow tided up. 1 told them it would
never stand. The puddle was nut proper puddle, it .was
sludge. There was so math water came in, that instead of
a stuff puddle the men worked up to their knees in sludge.
About a week after that, Mr. Leather was fetched. lie
said they were freshet% tor sending fur lean ; what they had
dime was of Nowa lie was not the engineer. Littlimood
was the eeginier, and not him. 'they did not work to
his orders. I never saw him before or after that at the
thestruir. When the was doing I went to complain
to Mr. Ilarpin, one of the cononensioners, but he said
muse attend to Jonathan 'fluorite's orders. Ile had been
Leather. d bard enough. (A laugh.) After thbi the em-
heaknunt sunk two or three inches every morning. If
they hail let ue go on, we should have had it tight enough;
bet the puddle was being washed away every morning
lima the cod of the masonry.
By Mr. Jacumb—l finise.ed my work in July, 1845. I
fogad the works imperfect in September, 1843, and left
them imperfect in Jay, 11441. It they would nut let as do
the work right, we could not help it.
By the Coroner-1f we hail been allowed to carryout Mr.
Leather's directions, to carry on the drift, I believe the
embankment would have been sale. That Was not carried
cut, in coesequence of the interference of the nine com-
missioners. I know some of them. There was John 'lu-
pin, John Bast, George lhnt, two of the Butterworth',
Joseph BearelselL I believe also Mr. Littlewood was one of
them. but I'll nut be sure. That part of the embankment
we did is tin-math, of it standing now. 1 believe the
theithett would nut have happened if the water had gone
ever the waste pit, and hail nut ovirtlowed the embank-
Meat
Julia Tait sworn—l am a mason, and was clerk of the
weeks of the Buberry Itesersoir in 1838, and remained so
to the gad of the contract. I was employed by Mr. Leather,
sod was paid my wages by the commissioners. We had two
both while I was there. During the progress of the works
there was a spring discovered about the centre of the puddle
trench, and a constant rile of water before the puddle was
put in. There ass an additional strength of puddle pat in,
in the form of • crescent, for the purpose of throwing the
water runts. This was done by direction of Mr. Falshaw,
agent to Mr. Leather. We added cloy till we lost sight of
the water, bet their was always a run under the embank-
ment, it was never stopped entirely. I left in the
spring of 1643. 1
eight or sine months since, when I saw two sunken places,
one os the part gone, and the otheron the part now stand-
ing. The one on the put which has burst had about 20
feet of surface, and wes two yards deep. 1 thought the top
of the waste-pit higher than the embankment, and thought
the embankment very unsafe. I believe the sinking was in
consequence of the run of water through the embankment.
I believe the works were done properly, so far as we were
concerned.
By Mr. Jacomb—Every fortnight I made • report to Mr.
Loather, end I communicated with him when I found the
water in the trench. The puddling to stop the spring was
by direction of Mr. Fulshaw, I suppose on the part of Mr.
Leather. Ido not know if Mr. Leather thought it would
be effecteal. No other mode, either by pipes or otherwise,
was suggested, of conveying the water there. The inten-
tion was that the water should force itself through the clay
into the inside of the reservoir. I should say that was not
likely to endanger the embankment. We did not leave any
hole or aperture for the water.
By the Coroner—l mean that the object was to force the
water back by its own channel.
The inquiry was adjourned at 20 minutes to six o'clock to
FRIDAY.

Some application to the cironer was made at the close of
the proceedings this day, as we underdood, to give his order
to prevent the publication of the evidence for a few days.
This the coroner declined to du, but he addressed the repre-
sentatives tit the pieoi, expressing a hope that the press
would refrain from the publication of any comments on the
evidence as it now stood, and till the inquiry was eomplete.
On Friday morning the proceedings were mimed.
John Wioteley said he was at the reservoir at 9 o'clock
on the night the embankment burst, and the water was
about a yard from the top of the embankment, near the
again settling. The water was also about a yard of the
hip, at the settling opposite the waste pd. Mr. Roebuck,
who was in the field near it, said he was afrai I it would
band. I remained there till after 12 o'clock, and Mr. Roc-
beck was mail there. I heard hint my several times alter
9 o'clock he thought it would burst. The water began to
ran over into the sunk part of the embankment about IL
o'clock. It began about half-an-hour, or rather more, to
low over the outside of the embankment. I remained
there about an hour, and saw it wash MIT the
embankment As soon as it began, it washed the
outer face of the embankment in small pieces. It run over
slowly sad increased to a broad stream, and the outer face
of the embankment came away in large pieces. After it
had ran over for some time the stream hunt out at the bot-
tom of the embankment. I dill nut stay (or the washing
away the bank till st showed the puddle wall ; I saw it
heave a large piece away from the embankment after it
burst through the bottom, and I ran off. I did not stay
till the whole burst. As I was away. I did not hear the
lead report caused by the berating of the water. It might
be about twelve o'clock when I west away, and I ran
down towards Holatilrth, and gave the best notice I could
that it was baretiag. It first overtook me at Vittoria Mills
(near Malaita).
B Mr. imumb-1 am a for Mr. Roebuck. Mr.
slid it would burst If the wet conthmed. No con-
tromedem teak plree as to warning tie below. It
Mimi a good deal that night, bat was =fair ease or
Wee. harp!' Whitely and Benjamin Bray wont whims
when I went to give the warning. He aim" end sad pm
the alarm all the way. At Ildmekrt.e, Bev Said me to
go ow owl give the alarm at sled be would go
to the mill then. [The witness d Theesis Mile send
sewed ease mills that he eel hi elopmisei Om mg
int melee to as they ran dews the "Om] I twee sew
1116 sessaalmatibe het hews se g figthst *ft_
Mr. lobos Littieweed NMI (a hie wen tegoil
• eseinlwieser. and quelled ea the Baas At=
mkt the set. The Web at the When, NM
hog bees going e• 12 mouths blame I was en the epee. I
viewed the reserve& frequently after I hood It was is a
bed Moe tram bele. I think the time was &beet 1141,
when • shaft was soak and I gave my *mks to tie am-

miesioners. I thought then the reservoir was going to be a
troublesome one. In IEI3 I was employed to measure the
work for Messrs. l'orter, but Jonathan Thorpe was em-
ployed to see the work properly done, and to report to Mr.
Leather and say whether he found the works deficient or not.
This was it cutting down into Sharpe's work, to see If it
was properly dime—whether it was defective, and if so,
whether it caused the giving way of the embankment. The
work was let by the yard, and I was to certify that the
work was done. I don't know that Mr. Leather was ever
called upon to certify uto the quality of the work. 1
don't know that any one else ever certified. After that
contract had been completed we found another leakage.
As to the drift made by Mr. Porter, at the order of Mr.
Leather, I deal know but everything was done that he
ordered. I was not one of the commissioners who helped
to fill up the extended drift way with cement. I was there
when it was filled up, but I suppose it was done at Mr.
Lesthet'e order. Everything was dose under his orders
till we had spent all our mosey. At a meeting of
the eemmiseioners in 1846 an order was made
that an opening should be made into the waste
pit eighteen feet above the shuttle. I wers the
person who recommended it, and was requeskei N •
it carried out. I was many times up to the neer,* WM
noise to that, and thought it would be very danyeeereeffill
did or could fill. I told that to the :awing an Itull near
sion. The opening into the waste pit, as to dinuselm•mes
left to my men discretion. I thought it would boaffipelelle
' higher than 30 to 35 feet if a heavy flood came eller flat
height, b,eauee it might he filled before it could run et I
gave instructions to Jonathan Thorpe and Co., masons, to go
to the reservoir, and ascertain what scaffolding would be no-
cceeiry for the cutting of this opening. I entered him toile, it,
and told tutu as soon as he hail laid hie scaffolding, I would
direct him as to the rise of the opening. Thorpe undertook
to du the work, but I afterwards saw him and asked when
he would be ready, and he informed me that when he
went up he met with some of the commissioners, and they
told him the opening should not be made.
The Coroner—Did he tell you anything?
Mr. Littlewoud (who here became powerfully affected,
and could not answer for some moment,, till tears had
burst from his eyed said—He said if he attempted to
make it, they I,ad told him they would resist him by force.
Hsi said they were parties he had done work for, and he did
II net like lei have anything to do with it.
Cron-examined by Mr. Jacomb, law clerk to the
Commissioners of the Ilolme Reservoir—lt was ori.
'Willy stated that the making of the Bilberry
rvoir would cost 1,6001. The rate was to be levied
b (out of fall. The undertaking when first promoted
wee a popular one, and supported generally by miliowners.
Alter the {moiler of the act I took en active part, and have
matiumd to do so up to this time. To the best of nip
WWI I have never been a member of the Sluice (or draw.
leeo Cessittee. After the act pasall, the commissioners
Iselt ineeteillate steps to make four of the eight reserweire
ter which the act was obtained. It was tuought bur
might be enough for the purposes of the existing milk. Ws
only mails, three, seeing that we hod a difficulty about *egos.
chase of land fur one. By the contract, Sharpie were he
have 9,324/. for making the Bilberry reservoir, hat ether
work was to be done besides at certain prices. The end a
1811, or beginning of 1812, was the first time I ever Intl.
feud in the work. I understood they were digging a shaft
to rectify some leakage or deficiency in the work. I went one
of curiosity. I thought it would be a difficult job, because
I saw there were open rocks on each side, and I thought
there would be always a run through. The waste pit wee
completed, except a bridge which they were to have erected
by Sharpe. Mr. Leather refused to certify that Sharpe's
work was doss properly. I believe that the settling down
of the embankment hail showed before they professed tr.
have completed their contract ; but I don't know of my
own knowledp. Messrs. Porter contracted to make good
the work which Mews. Sharpe had not made good. After
Porters had finished, the embankment was still found to be
incomplete or leaky, and Mr. Leather was consulted, and
directed • puddle to be laid on certain parts of the bottom
of the resersoir neat the centre, where there was dead
water, He also ordered trenches to be cut in the rocks at
the side and puddle!, and all this wu done except the
puddling at the bottom, which was tumid to be impossible.
It would have been necessary for this to pump out the
water; en attempt was made, but it was found imprac-
ticable.
ily the Coroner—This was before Porten left, and Mr.
Leather was called in again. I believe it was in Ps44.
Ity Mr. Jeeemb—l believe we, as commissioners, did
nothing after Petters left under our own management. I
roesileet Mr. Umber coming over, in 1846, to consult as
Or the best Made of securing the reservoir, preparatory to
psiag to peribeemput. To September, 1846, 2,0001. awl up.
tardy was espeaded on this reservoir, besides they
paid to Sharpen, Mr. Leather woe called upon to Mho •
estimate et peehetleg the reservoir, but furnished it so Mp
before On espeiletw=t, that we had got other estimates.
Clee wee Itemlb. Delman, C.E., of Manchester, who pea.
cedentibe=twreliti at ofolhef
puddleotoi it,
tover n thed
alongin inner
fade
et
a
*Me at the shin of the reservoir. It was a similar propelei
*et lie. Leefimr made.
* the Commee-1 never knew of a spring in the costae
aOa puddle trench, of my own knowledge. I think the
led tete under the act wan mado in 1842: the principle
wen upon the foot of fall, and all the subuquent rates wise
Seek upon the same principle, until Mr. irederick Ruble.
en
node his award. I know that some few of the mem
piers of mills refused to pay rates from the outset ; and
I believe most of them afterwards became the opposers
of the commissioners in parliament. I believe litiga-
tion was pending between them gad the commissioners
in 1816, when we went for a new act. In 1844, there was a
majority for the application to parliament, and a majority
for the acting commissioners in 1846; but between then
and the intended application to parliament, when Mr. Ro-
bineoti had mode his award, the majority was against them.
That prevented the commialonen going to parliament in
1817. When the application was made to parliament, in
1849, by the mortgagees, a meeting of commiseiouers
appointed a committee to watch the bill, and terms
between them and the mortgagees were agreed to, which
ems believed to be equitable ; but a majority of the rte-
opposed us in parliament, and after passing the
passe et Commons, the bill was defeated in the House
of Lords. Many of these opponents were commis-
sioners. Before that time the commissioners, as such,
were insolvent, and they are so still. I have had
imperienee in making reservoirs for mills, but not of this
mapitude. In my judgment the reservoir was not unsafe
✓as water was kept below a certain height, and unless it
nos above 40 feet high. If there had been an outlet suffi-
cient to carry off a flood it would not have been waggle at
'4O feet—that is, it the hycwash had been sullicient. The
byewaah would have been sufficient to carry off surplus
water if the embankment had been high enough and
wad enough to allow the water to rise till it overflowed
the eyewash. Ido not mean it was safe with these subei-
Ilinii• at 60 feet, but that it was safe some years ago.
Is 1836, I gave it as my opinion to the commissioners that
it was sato with water to 36 feat, but that I thuught cir-
cumstances might arise with that height of water which
might render it unsafe. The plans and sections, as depo-
sited when the act was obtained, provided for a commas
byewash. The waste pit was rubel:uteri by Mr. Leather.
I did not know of any suggestion to lower the top of the
waste pit, h 7 Mr. Leather, since the reservoir was made, nor
any suggestion fur alteration, but that I made myself, for
the opening in the side of the waste pit.' I do nut know
that when Mr. Jones's parliamentary estbnates were made,
that Mr, Leather said the amount would be insufficient.
Mr. Leather, engineer, re-called—Mears. Sharpe's esti-
mate was fur 9,3201. I made an estimate of all tho reser-
voirs for the guidance of the commissioners and fixed the
making of the Bilberry Reservoir at 13,000!. I afterwards
told them that the estimate of Sharpe would be quite insut
ficient, and, I believe, on that account they were rather
more particular about sureties.
James Morton, stonemason, sworn—l assisted to build
the stone waste pit in the Bilberry Reservoir. I always con-
sidered the reservoir unsafe, and my reason was, I saw the
water coming out in great quantities under the embankment
and out of the rocks on each aide. When the reservoir
was in making there was a spring at the bottom of the
puddle dyke. Before they commenced cutting for the puddle
dyke we cut through a rock of two or three inches, then
shale, and then after we thought we had got to the proper
depth by blasting the shale the spring rose in a stream about
as thick as my arm. The seeing did cot come from thesides
of the dyke, through the rock, or between it, but from the
bottom. Mr. Leather and Mr. Fahhaw were sent for, and
came over after we had waited six weeks,and saw the water
bubbling up. I cannot tell whether it wu winter. or iummer.
After this I received no order from them, but from Mr.
Sharpe. Orders were 0•011% that the puddle should he
widened round tho spring, so that the water from the
spring, if it again gut loose, should g 0 inside the reservoir.
We sew the mime for several yank up, it followed us and '
bept reline the puddle up, and we had to weigh it down as
"di se lee serald. I was in the employ of Jonathan 'I horpe,
1111 W WI In ran ago, and went with bun and saw that the
eeelmeirment had settled till it was lower than the waste
la. We teak the dimensions of scaffolding, so that we
odd est a bete in the side of the waste pit. It was to he
aped yeses outside, and rather more inside, about thirty
het Mem the ahottte. We went to borrow tinder, and
M. Thorpe told me to go home till he hail even Mr. Bu-
bo& Ile one gave me any obstruction, but Jonathan
Thep Myer told no to go on with the cutting. Jonathan
Theses Is Now dead.
armea Armitage, sworn—On the 17th inst. I visited the
Veimpt, and descended frees the top. I found this stone
ast the supply valve ; it was touching the iron
hum tie the valve lima& the pipe, and two other stones
were spirt it. There wen broken sticks, stone, and rub-
bish, an that no water of say. ceameestace could get through
the valve out of the reservoir It measures 20 inches by :7
inches across the surface, with an average of 6 inches thick.
The valve is 18 inches diameter. There was a great
quantity of stones, sludge, and sediment iu the swallow. It
is almost impossible to gay whether the stone was placed
there designedly, or got there by accident. It was pusible
to plate it there, but I should scarcely think it was done
designedly. AU the stones were like stones from the side
reeks, eicept the well stone. [lt was here announced that
the atone had been weighed and was 911 b. weight.)
By Mr. Leather—The Ina stones at the bottom of
the reservoir were es the ievoi with tine bottom of the
valve. _ . . . - „ _

Mr. Leather, re-examined-1 em certain I did not come
over to see the spring in the puddle hank. About 101. or
154 would have remedied it, which the contractor must
have been at the ripener of.
James (larsidc, ironmonger, of Ilti'mfirth, said he was at
the reservoir about three o'clock in the afternoon of the day
the reservoir burst. The water was nine or fen fret nit
Tossing over. I left to an to Maley, but learning the re•
nevelt was unsafe, we went to look at it. Vt e did not
think it very safe, especially if the water should Cu,. over.
Whew we got beck we told several parlous about the state
el the reserveir, sad wog then Joshua Woodcock. I
west be bed setwitheleasbag, thkeklag mieelleate. The