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 had 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 taken 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 inflam-
mable 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
find a verdict of • Accidental
returned the following verdict, in
writing : The jury
Death,' and they desire to accompany their verdict with
a strong recommendation to Mr. Harding immediately
to adopt the alteration proposed by Mr. Booth, and by
which they are of opinion the circulation of air will be
greatly improved, 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.