The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-24 00:00:00

THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION Al

BEESTON.

Particulars of this fatal catastrophe, by which nine
individuals lost their lives on Monday last, have already
appeared in The Sun. The adjourned inquest on the
bodies of eight of the sufferers was resumed at the
Unicorn Inn, Beeston, before Mr. Blackburn, coroner for
the borough of Leeds, on Thursday last.
Mr. Reuben Booth, of Wakefield, stated—l am under-
ground steward in Mr. Benjamin Burnley's colliery, at
Methley, and have been fourteen years engaged in that
occupation. lam well acquainted with the working of
mines. Yesterday I examined Messrs. Harding and
Co.'s pit, where the explosion occurred, in company with
their steward, and other persons. There was good air in
the pit yesterday morning, but it could certainly be im-
proved. I think there is sufficient air for men to work,
but it has too far to travel. I think the men might
work in the mine, but it is dangerous ; it requires a
fresher air. If I had the management of the mine I
would cause more air to circulate through it immediately.
I examined the place where the accident is said to have
happened. It is about 500 yards from the shaft.
Some old workings had been broken into at that
place. The wall of coal had been taken away, and
it had every appearance of having been taken away by
the colliers. It bad not, in my judgment, been
taken away by the explosion of fire-damp. There
are pick-marks right through the wall. I do not
think the inflammable air ignited at the opening, but
further on in the mine, when it came in contact with the
purer air. Ido not think the lamps would burn much
at the opening, because the air would be too impure; but
as soon as the inflammable gas came in contact with the
oxygen of the atmosphere it would burn much more
quickly. The explosion, in my opinion, has taken place
30 or 40 yards from the opening into the old workings.
I think the men had tskPii a considerable portion of the
wall down, if not the whole of it, before the explosion.
The witness here produced and explained a plan' by
which he said the ventilation of the mine might be much
improved. The plan he recommended was to have two
currents of fresh air instead of one.

James Thomas, coal-miner, in the service of Messrs.
Tottie and Gaunt, stated that he agreed with the last
witness in most of what he had stated. Witness could
not form an opinion as to the exact spot where the ex-
plosion had occurred, but had no doubt that the inflate-
tillable air came from the old workings, and he thought
the opening had been made by Jessop and Longstaff,
and not by the rush of air. He had had one son work-
ing at Messrs. Harding and Co.'s pit, but he should. go
no more until the pit was altered. He would neither
send a son of his nor go himself to work in any pit again
where there were hundreds of yards of coal lying dead,
as in that pit.
Mr. R. Booth, on being called, said if Jessop and
Longstaff had been ordered not to' make the opening,
as stated by a witness on the first day of the inquest,
he (Mr. Booth) should attribute the explosion to their
carelessness.
George Bell, underground•steward at Messrs. Hard-
ing and Co.'s colliery, was next called. He admitted
that the plan suggested by Mr. Booth, which was to
have two currents of air instead of one, as at present,
would circulate the fresh air more generally through
the pit, but he stated that it would lessen the quantity
of pure air in the parts where the men were working.
Mr. Harding said he thought the plan recommended
by Mr. Booth a good one, and desired his under-steward
to pay attention to it.
The jury then consulted for about ten minutes, at the
:—"
end of which time they returned the following ver,ittal
et, in
writing The jury find a verdict of • Ac?id
Death,' and they desire to accompany their verdict
with
a strong recommendation to Mc. Harding immediately'
to adopt the alteration proposed by Mr. Booth, and by
en
which they are of opinion the circulation of air will be
greatlyimproved, and the mine rendered safe for the men
to work in. And the jury also think that the furnace
should be attended to day and night, and more particu-
larly on Sunday nights."
The CORONER said, the jury having expressed them-
selves in that manner. he had no doubt that Messrs.
Harding would adopt the necessary precautions with the
view of preventing such unfortunate results as they had
now been investigating.
Mr. Harding—Very well.

BRISTOL SUGAR MARKET, MAY 21.—We continue
to experience a steady demand for sugars; and which,
being freely met by
importers, a fair business has been
done since our last report at firmer prices.—Bristol
Mercury.

STATE OF TRADE.

FOREIGN WOOL MARKET, MAY 21.—The demand for
foreign wool continues limited ; prices being steady at
late quotations.
ENGLISH WOOL MARKET, LEEDS, MAY 21.—We have
not any change to notice in this market during the pre-
sent wi ek. Sales are very flat, and prices have a down-
ward tendency.
LEEDS.—The transactions at our cloth halls, both on
Saturday and Tuesday, were to a very small amount, the
merchants purchasing only to positive orders. The
foreign houses are also doing less than they were a few
weeks ago. The manufacturers are complaining heavily
of the state of trade, and are still further curtailing the
production. Prices remain about stationary. There
have been a few buyers in the town during the week,
but their purchases have been very light, and business is
duller in the warehouses than was the case a few weeks
since.

BRADFORD MARKET, THIIRSDAY.—The sale of wool
is about the same as last week. There is no improve-
ment, and a very small amount of business is being done
at former prices. The staplers are unable readily to
supply from the producers' stocks at what they are sell-
ing at. We can report no alteration in the yarn
market, which is steady. The export houses have re-
trenched to some extent. There is no variation in
prices. There was a decidedly better market to-day
for pieces both for America and the Continent, than for
the last fortnight; but this is only comparative. Prices
•
are stationary.
MANCHESTER, THURSDAY EVENING.—There are now
some indications that prices have seen their lowest
point, as many buyers who have hitherto held off,
in expectation ()flower rates, have since Tuesday bought
at the prices otferd on that day. _ All parties seem con-
vinced that there is now no prospect of any permanent
ilFcline on the staple; hence a disposition to do business
at present in both cloth and yarns at the rates of the
day. A largs business Is doing.for the United States.
Our dyers continue miserably dull.
LEICESTER. Business still continue in the same
inanimate state as reported in our last. More
frames were laid down last week, and the
number of hands out of employ are much
greater. The want of facilities to convert bills into cash
are as difficult as ever, and operates completely against
employment. The further rise in the grain market
Intik( s any likelihood of a demand, for eitner goods or
labour, more remote than ever. There is nothing
doing in yarns in the regular way ;_ spinners are further
fl
curtailing their time. Wools are at, staplers not being
disposed to buy but for present demand.—Leicester
Journal.