The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-19 00:00:00

CONVICTION OF FOOLHARDY COLLIERS.

The magistrates sitting in petty sessh.ns at White-
haven on Thursday last had some cases before them of
great importance alike to that numerous and useful chug
of men, the colliers, and the community et large, having
reference as they have to the dangerous practices of
smoking and removing lamp tops in the pita, whereby at
different times so many hundreds of valuable lives have
been sacrificed. Everything in the vet), of caution and
fine having failed to put a stop to the dangerous practices
in question it became absolutely necessary to have re-
course to more stringent measures, and it will be seen
that in the present cases reported below the magis-
trates determined to commit the offenders to
John Tinkler, ooalminer, Harris Moor, was oed
with • breach of the rules of the Whitehaven Colliery,
by having hail in his possession a pipe in the in-by side of
the lamp-station in William l'it, on Friday, Sept. IG. Mr.
Howson prosecuted. The rules of the colliery having been
produced, William Harker, overman, stated that on going
his rounds about one o'clock on the moaning of the 6th
instant, he found • smell of tobacco smoke in the "South.
side, Punter district," where sal. ty e. are used, and
which was defendant's working. Charged luau with smok-
ing, which defendant denied ; he also denied having •
pipe, but after a while gave it to witness. Defendant bad
worked twenty years in the mine, and had never been
, charged with a like offence. The men could light
'their pipes by putting • thin wire tbrotedi the lamp
gauze, and letting it remain until it was red hot. De-
fendant said he was not aware he had the pipes in his
I possession, and entirely denied having smoked in the
working. He " thawed beam " at work, and took an
occasional smoke at home. Mr. Forster, colliery viewer,
Newcastle, said that if the men would not adhere to the
rules laid down it was impossible to keep safety in the
pits. In answer to the bench, he said the turn in the pit
did not use safety hoops if there was no ilatiger. It was
only mercy to the men themeelves to present such offences,
and be would be glad if the bench would make • few
examples by seating parties who infriugeal the rules to
prison. Fining was no use; • few dubbed up and the fine
wee easily paid. Mr. Howson said it was • very serious
matter, because if any accident occurred there would be a
great noise in the papers, and all sorts of abuse would
be showered down upon the manage:le viewer', and over-
men, and all owing to a miner having lit his pipe in •
corner. Committed for 14 days, with hard labour. John
Ray, coadminer, 22, Rack-row, New Houses, wan charged
with an offence against the rules of the same colliery. Mr.
Howson prosecuted ; and having stated the case, remarked
upon the very serious consequences that might result from
such offences. Mr. Heiler, overmim, said the offence had
been committed in the Knells Bannock Band, in croft pit,
on Tut salay last. There was a notice stuck up forbidding
smoking, and a red light placed before it, so that per-
sona who could not reed might be made aware of the
danger. Thomas Poetlethwaite, deputy in the pit,
proved that on going his round at half-past two on
Tuesday morning last, he Caine upon defendant with
his safety lamp top off. The lamps were all lacked before
being given to the workmen, but keys could easily he
made to open them. The Rev. J. Simmer asked if the
lamps could not be made so as to prevent the men capering
them. Mr. Forster said that would make no difference ;
the men would take lucifer mooches with them if they
were determined to smoke. John Thompson, lamp looker,
proved lucking defendant's lamp ; it was in good order.
Defendant pleaded that he thought he might trim the wick
with safety. Mr. Forster observed tint the lamps could
be trimmed with a pricker ; and added that in the place
where the unfortunate colliery sneident happened
in Yorkshire last December, whereby three hun-
dred lives were lost, every man worked with • safety
lamp ; but there was no question that swan one had
tampered with one of them. Defendant was com-
mitted for a month with Mint labour. George Carr, coal-
hence, was chiuged with having in his pomession a pipe
in the ireby side of the lamp station in Croft let, and in
the same district mentioned in last case, on satunlay last.
Alexander Henderson, overman, while on his rounds., die-
, covered • strong smell of tobacco smoke, and charged
defendant with smoking. Defendant denied the charge.
Found a pipe in his basset about half full of tobacco it
was quite cold. Defendant denied anioking, but the bench
meanie teal him to gaol fur 14 airys with hard labour. Mr.
Forster thanked the bench for compliance with his re-
geese It was very much against his own iiielinatioe to
press these charges as he had dune ou this occasion ; and
he trusted the punishment now inflicted would have the
desired effect, and that he should never again have to ask
the bench to deal with cases of the kind us they had dose
in this instance.—Cumferfand Pacquat.

Lord Brougham enters upon his 89th year
to-day.

LONDON G .• OMNIBUS COMPANY (LIMITED).
—Tr..ffic receipts fur the week ending Sept. 1., 11
,140 f.
13s. 11d.