The Sun.
London, England, 1849-08-23 00:00:00

SHENKIN COLLIERY.

ABERDARE, TUESDAY.—The Coroner's inquest on
the bodies of the 52 sufferers by the late appalling
explosion at the Lettly Shenkin Colliery, was resumed
yesterday morning, at the Town hall, before Mr. G.
Overton, one of the county coroners, and the jury
previously empanelled._

Thomas Rees, a collier, described very fully the
explosion. He never knew of any colliers about there
working by the safety lamp. He, however, never
experienced a want of air in the pit, nor did he observe
any change in the ventilation that day.
Daniel Rowlands was next examined. He de-
scribed where he worked in the pit, whom he saw
before the explosion, of his attending the meeting, and
then going towards the stall. (The poor fellow gave
his evidence in such a contradictory strain, that it
appeared doubtful whether he had recovered his re-
collection since the accident.) He did not know that a
fall from the roof of a stall would drive the gas out
into the level.

Mr. David Thoi nes said his object in coursing the
air was to sweep the gass out from the old goat's. He
relied upon that current to clear the works, but there
might be gas in the cavaties, and the roofs of the cld
stalls to the west of No. 1 crossing, which the current
of air would not eiear off. It was possible that these
accumulations of gas might be brought down sud-
denly by falls from. the roof, and forced into the level,
thereby corning in contact with the naked candle of
the hauliers. He believed it would be possible to dam
up the old workings with safety, provided a portion of
the south returns had been passed over the main
levels into them by air bridges, and then conducted
into the north returns, but was not aware that such a
mode was adopted anywhere there.
Mr. Samuel Dobson, mineral surveyor to the Hon,
E. Clive, who was desired by the jury to examine
the pit, stated that he had bad considerable experience
in collieries in Northumberland and Durham. Ex
amined the colliery on the Wednesday after the
accident, accompanied by Mr. Black well, the Governor
Inspector ; Mr. Williams, and Mr. Smith. At the
time they examined it the ventilation had only been
partially restored. On descending the winding pit,
they proceeded along the main level to the division of
the levels, and turned down the lower level along
which they went until they arrived at No. 2 deep
heading. There they found that the two doors, which
were placed at the mouth of that deep heading, had
been blown inwards.. From the heading they proceeded
along the level to No. 4 deep heading, when they
found that the door of its mouth was blown inwards.
From No. 4 they went to No. 5 deep heading, beyond
which point on that level they did not go, in conse-
quence of the air 'tieing bad. They then returned to
the division of the levels, and proceeded along the
upper level, and found the door, which was placed
about 30 yards from the division, blown outwards.
On arriving at the double parting in that level, they
saw evident traces of the fire. There were full trams
of coal standing at the parting, the last of which had a
portion of the coal blown upwards. The coal upon
the trams was charred, and the timber in the sides of the
level was covered with coal dust. From the double
parting they went to the first crossing, or No. 1, down
which they went until they arrived at the second west
stall, the roof of which had fallen considerably. They
examined the entrance of the stall, climbed over the
fall, and the gas fired in the lamp. After leaving No.
1 crossing they proceeded along the level, until
arriving at No. 1,2, and 3, rise headings. There had
been doors at the mouths, all of which had been
blown inwards. There was also a door between Nos.
2 and 3, in the upper level, which had been blown in-
wards. He found that the level beyond No. 3 rise
heading was standing foul, via , with sufficient gas to
fire in the lamp. From the fall of the door, being
b own outwards from the No. 1 crossing, and five
men severely burnt, it was there he was of opinion
the explosion took place, radiating from a point of
No. 1 cross heading. From the timber being burnt,
and the coal upon the trams being charred, induced
him to conclude the point of explosion must have oc-
curred at or near the rise of No. 1 cross heading. It was
also the most elevated part of the level, rising towards
it from all directions, and the gas most likely to lodge
there in consequence—if it had been issuing out of the
goaf which was between the two levels, and which it
was very likely to do if there should be any accumu-
lation of gas in that goaf, as there were two or three
open communications from the goaf to the upper level.
He judged from what he bad heard, and his examination
of the colliery, that the accumulation of gas might
never have taken place in the goaf, and from a sudden
fall of the barometer or a fall in the roof, or both
combined, gas might be thrown out and produce an
explosion, as in the present instance. By coming out
into No. 1 crossing, being the highest point of the
upper level, the gas issuing out of the goaf would be
likely to accumulate there, and would be fired
there probably by the naked lights of some of the
hauliers. He considered that it was not safe
to allow the goaf to have communication with the
intake-air course, for if there was any accumulation
of gas in the goats it might issue into the air courses
and produce danger. He was not prepared to say
how it could be avoided. In the north of England it
was usual to force a portion of the return air through
the goaf, and make a separate way not communicat •
ing with the air course, and no possibility of going
into it, or the gas in it coming in contact with the
naked lights, and was kept locked, and alo one could
enter it without a safety-lamp.
A Juror—Are we to understand that Mr. Dobson
considers the mode of ventilation in the collieries in
this district more imperfect than in the north of
England F—Mr. Dobson thought it was more imper-
fect. He, however, considered that the ventilation of
the Lettly Shenkin colliery quite as good as the other
pits in the district, which were worked on the plan
there in practice.
This closed the examination of Mr. Dobson, and
the jury being desirous of hearing all the evidence
that could be collected in reference to the lamentable
event, the proceedings were again adjourned.

(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
The examination of witnesses having been concluded,
the Coroner inquired if there was any person who
wished to say something, or to put any question to any
of the witnesses, or in any way to throw any light on
the subject of inquiry; if there were, now was the time
to come forward.

Mr. Blackwell observed, from the position in which
he was, he could not, of course, consistently with his
duty, give anything in evidence. Ile had assisted in
the examination of the pits, and had very minutely ex-
amined, as far as the workings would permit, the state
of the air courses, he fully concurred in the opinion of
Mr. Dobson Williams and Mr. Smith as to the course of
the explosion, and where it occurred.
Mr. Williams, as foreman of the jury, said the thanks of
every one of them were due to Mr. Black well for the great
aid he had given to them in this inquiry. In fact he had
rendered them the most material assistance, and he
thought his presence had rendered the inquiry far more
satisfactory than it otherwise would have been, and
tended very much, he thought, to give the public at
large satisfaction that they had done their duty as a
jury, and as men.
The CORONER then proceeded to sum up the
evidence of this melancholy inquiry, and said, he
thought it unnecssary to read the whole of the evidence,
but gave an epitomy of it, noticing the place, and the
different steps of evidence which led the witnesses to form
such conclusions to the cause of the accident. Such ac-
cidents must be attributed to ono or two causes—from
neglect* or willfulness. The law lay down offences of
omission, as well as commission; the first would make
parties liable to punishment, if the owner of the col-
liery employs people who were wanting in skill and
ability, is guilty of a grave offence. If you think there
were very improper omissions, you may bring it in man-
slaughter ; if, however, you think it was an accident,
which no prudence could avert, your verdict will be
accidental death.

The jury retired, and after two hours returned with
the following verdict—" That we find that the several
persons whose bodies we have viewed came to their death
by accident, in consequence of an explosion of fire-
damp, caused by gas oozing out of old and abandoned
stalls in No. 1 crossing; caused even by a fall from the
roof of these stalls, or by a sudden fall of the barome-
ter, or of both of these causes, the gas thus sent coming
in contact with the naked lights at the time engaged
in the upper level. And we further find that the fire
which took place in No. 1 cross-heading to the rise, and
in the face of No. 4 deep-heading, was caused by the
first explosion agitating the air, and causing the gas to
come in contact with the naked lights of those men
working in those parts.
" 2dly, We also recommend in all instances that
the gas which generates in the old work should be car-
ried off by separate air currents from that which venti-
lates the working, and then brought into the turn-air
course, without any communication whatsoever with the
intake-air, and should be kept entirely secure from any
communication with the naked lights of the workmen."

TDE MURDER OF MISS PRENDERGAST.—We have
been informed that the warrant for the execution of
Patrick Cormack, convicted at the last assizes of the
wilful murder of Miss Prendergast, at Portumna, in this
county, has arrived in town, and that same directs him
to be execzted on the 25th inst. On reference to the
calendar we find that the judge directed his execution
on the 28th inst., and that intimation has ben given to
him to that effect; by the present warrant his execution
has been anticipated by three days, which forms a
ground for a memorial, and the same
.wlll be accordingly
forwarded on his behalf.Galway Vindicator.