The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-29 00:00:00

TIIE POWDER EXPLOSION AT BRYNMAWR.

The adjourned inquest on the bodies of Evan Havard
and Catherine Ann Leek, the two young persons who lost
their lives by the explosion of powder which took place in
Brynmawr, under circumstances already reported, was
concluded on Thursday. Among the witnesses was a
police officer, Sergeant Joseph, who said he was
at the police-station when the explosion took place.
Since that occurrence •he had made inquiries as
to persons who deal in gunpowder in Brynmawr,
and found there were from ten to twelve dealing in it; he
had searched some of their places, and in none of them
did he find any more than 2001bs. Mr. David Watkins,
the owner of the premises upon which the explosion took
place, said he had three warehouses besides the shop,
which were situated in Well-street, leading out of
Worcester-street. His shop was situated on the
corner of Worcester-street. The. warehouse next
the road on the right was the powder-house. Both were
destroyed by the explosion. He did not know how that
explosion occurred. He was in the shop when it
happened. It was always a rule not to take a candle near
the powder-house, and only to visit it by daylight. Some-
times as much as 5001 b. would go out in one day. One
man alone took about 5001 b. at the beginning of the month,
It was very often the case for the lad to go for half a quarter
of a barrel of powder. Witness saw some lightning after
the explosion, but not before. He noticed Evan Havard
going out that night, but took no particular notice of him.
He could go through the house to the powder-house. lie
must have gone out with the intention of going for the
keys. It was at the end of December that he (witness)
had powder in.
Edward Morgan, the next witness examined, was visited
by the coroner, he being too ill to leave his bed. • He
had seen boys taking candles to the powder-house at
all times. On going to work about a month or six weeks
ago, about six in the evening, he met the boy that was
killed coming out of the powder-house with a candle. Wit-
ness had told Thomas Morgan and his wife many times
that they should be blown up some time or other. He
had noticed a light in the powder-house about twelve
months ago. When he saw the light he said "Mika!
what are you doing hero with a candle ?" Then he lost
the light at once ; it was blown out. He had seen persons
carrying a lighted candle from one warehouse to
another across the street. The jury, after some
deliberation, returned the following verdict :—" That
Evan Havard was accidentally killed by an ex-
plosion of gunpowder, in a store belonging to Mr. David
Watkins, but how the explosion occurred there is no evi-
dence before the jury. They also find that Catherine Ann
Leek was accidentally killed by the effects of the explosion.
They further find that the law, as at present existing in
regard to the keeping of powder in populous places, is lax
and inefficient, and requires amendment ; and that the con-
sumption of powder in this town is from ten to fifteen tons
a month, and the quantities habitually kept by dealers are
greatly in excess of the amount allowed by the Act of Par-
liament; that it is desirable that all dealers in powder
should be required to be licensed by some competent
authority, and be subject to the supeivision of the take ;
and that some provision for the establishment of a powder-
magazine in populous pladas in tho mining districts is
urgently required. That these resolutions be represented
to the Home Secretary, and also to the Local Board of
Health, and that the latter be requested to exert them-
selves to keep their attention directed to the subject, and
obtain an amendment of the law."