The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-22 00:00:00

211 E .RISCA COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

RISCA, MONDAY.
This morning Mr. W. 11. Brewer, deputy-coro-
ner, resumed his inquiry (being the eighth day) at
the New Bridge lun, Mr. Llewellyn being present
on behalf of the Risca Coal and Iron Company, Mr.
Owen for the friends of [the deceased, and Mr
Evans, Government inspector, to watch the pro.
ceedings and assist the coroner.
John Thomas, a collier, deposed that he was at
work in the Black Vein Pit, in the first east level,
on the morning of the explosion; that he tried his
working when he first went in, and found gas there
in quantities sufficient to fill his lamp. Thought
there must have been three or four yards of gas in
his stall, and consequently hung his lamp some six
yards back (as well as his boy's lamp) from the face
of his working and ten yards from the fire, so as to
make them safe, and pulled back six or seven tons
of coal that he had got down in the sack. When he
entered the stall found a safety mark on the side,
but could not swear that the night fireman had put
it there that morning. Was afraid the gas would fire
unless he put his lamp back. Some old workings were
near his stall, but he never tried to see if they were
safe. Thought the aceu mu lation of gas had been caused
by a fall which he observed about a fortnight before,
and which obstructed the free passage of the air. At
first there was no gas there, but in a day or two he
saw a little, then more, and observed a gradual in-
crease till the morning of the explosion. Still, he
never complained to the fireman, for he was a man
with a family, and if he had interfered with the
workings it might have been the means of his get-
ting the sack.

The Coroner—lf you had told John Bray, the
fireman, that there was gas there, and asked him to
examine it, do you mean to say that you would
have got the sack?
Witness—Very likely I should.
A Juror—Have you ever known that to be done

Witness—l have seen men driven back when
they had come out of their stalls to complain of fire.
The Coroner—By whom P
Witness—Once by Evan Beddow, and once by
Mr. Harrison.

The Coroner—ls that the practice then to make
men work in the pit when there is danger ?
Witness—l can't say ; but I have seen that. I
have never told my butty nor anybody else that I
saw the fire. I did not talk to others, but only
looked after my own business. If Derrick had
visited my stall the night before the explosion he
must have found gas there.
By Mr. Evans—Was never told to leave the stall
by the overman or fireman.
Mr. Evans—Rule 19 says that the overman or
fireman shall cause the workman to leave a place
where there is gas.
Mr. Llewellyn—Yes ; if you believe what this
man says.
Mr. Evans—l have nothing to do with that.
The Coroner—l don't see why you should not
believe this man as well as others.
Mr. Llewellyn—Both Derrick and Bray, the
firemen, have sworn that they examined the stall ;
and rule 21 says that any man discovering gas shall
at once leave the place and report to the overman
or fireman.

By Mr. Evans—l don't know if Mr. Harrison or
Mr. Beddow knew of gas being there. I made no
complaint of my place being unsafe.
By a Juror—The seven tons of coal that witness
was pulling back on the morning of the explosion
had fallen by itself from the roof the day before.
A Juror—And still, with your place full of ire,
you did not report it to any one
Witness—No.

The Juror—You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
Mr. Evans—l suppose you thought the firemen
would examine it.

Witness—l thought I should find a fireman's
mark to show if there was danger.
Mr. Evans—Did you look to see if the fireman
had made a fresh mark that morning.
Witness—No ; with my place full of fire, I could
not stand a long while looking about for fresh
marks. I put my lamp back out of danger, and
worked in the dark.

By Mr. Llewellyn—l had seen gas for at least
three days, but I did not tell the authorities. I
did not think it my duty to tell them. I thought
it their duty to- tell me if there was gas, for they
must have seen it. I have seen A copy of the rules,