The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-02 00:00:00

THE INQUEST.

On Monday, Mr. Maynard, the Coroner, and a
jury, held an inquest on view of some of the corpses,
when the following evidence was given :
Cornelius Brown, under-hewer at Shotton Colliery
—On Saturday last, with other men went down the
pit at llaswell, having heard that an accident had
happened, at half-past four o'clock in the afternoon.
Mr. Scott, another person went down with me, and
we found, about 300 yards from the shaft, that an
explosion had taken place, as a number of tubs were
upset, and a horse and roily driver were found dead.
We proceeded a certain way, and, on reaching the
" Meadows," we found a boy lying dead. We
went up the meadows branch for about 250 yards,
when we found the air so bad from choke-damp that
we were compelled to return. We came down to
the end of that branch, and Scott returned into it
again, and I went up the Brockley Whins way
to within fifty yards of the station at the
sidings, where the air was so bad that I
could proceed no further. I was then sa-
tisfied therq could be no person in the pit
alive. Seeing that nothing could be done to save life,
we immediately began to put in air stoppers, and had
to wait till a current of fresh air was got in. After
getting the air in, we proceeded on to the Flatts sta-
tion, in about three hours after, where we found four-
teen dead bodies, which we laid aside. We took
ninety-five dead bodies out altogether. The explosion
took place in the ninth headway course of the Mea-
dows way. I saw that a jud had been drawn there
by the deputy overman. A jud is part of a pillar of
coal left to support the roof.after the working, and is
afterwards removed ; and I think the removal of the
jud had caused the explosion, as the effects of the fire
were more visible there than in any other place.
Three men had been working there, and were found
dead; did not find their Davy lamps. Saw nothing
which indicated the cause of the explosion.
The deputy, Williamson, had been in the act of
taking the jud away, and was found within twenty
yards of the place, dead. He had been at work at the
jud when the explosion took place. The gas in some
places is found in considerable quantity, sometimes
suddenly, on the removal of coal. That part of the
mine was worked by Davy lamps. There was not a
candle used there. It was not considered a danger-
ous pit, but, indeed, one of the safest in the trade.
Has known it from its commencement, and up to the
14th of August was in it for about three months,
almost daily. Have not been in the pit since that
time, till after the explosion. lam of opinion the
ventilation had been good up to the time of the ex-
plosion. In my opinion this explosion would not have
taken place if a Davy lamp had not been injured. At
the jud some stone had fallen from the roof, caused by
its removal. The lamp might be injured by the fall
of stone, and that was probably the way in which the
accident occurred.

The witness was cross- examined by Mr. Roberts—
He said it was not unusual for a Davy lamp to be
injured by a fall of stone. In some cases the fall
gives notice, and the lamp can be got out of the way.
Never saw such an occurrence, but have heard of
one or two, and in those instances there were explo-
sions. Between forty and fifty dead bodies were
found at no great distance from the jud; the rest were
in different parts of the working. Have seen explo-
sions several times during the last twenty years, but
never one so great as this.
By the CORONER—The explosion extended over
the north-west and east portions of the pit. He made
two attempts to get into the pit, but the after-damp
was so strong that considerable delay ensued. Out of
the ninety-five lives that were lost, fifteen of the
bodies only were burnt. There was a communica-
tion between the " distance" and that part of the
pit where the explosion took place. After the explo-
sion, the ventilation was interrupted by the air stop-
pings having been blown down. By air stoppers I
mean barriers placed to throw the air into the work-
ings for ventilation. Should think there had not been
a large explosion of gas. If the stoppings had not been
broken by the explosion, those on the other side of
it would have been saved. The stoppings are made
of brick and lime, and it is usual for an explosion to
break them down. Have not been down from Sun-
day morning, but the pit might now be viewed with
safety. Davy lamps are a sure protection when un-
injured. Have seen fire in a safety-lamp, which was
supported inside the gauze by foul air. The Davy
is the best lamp. Another lamp called the
" Geordy lamp," with a glass, has come under my
notice, but I do not think it so safe as the Davy.
Cross-examined by Mr. Marshall, solicitor of Dur-
ham, who appeared on behalf of the owners of the
colliery—Fifteen were killed by fire, and the re-
mainder by after-damp. It was possible for the mine
to be safe previous to the fall of the stone at the jud
where the explosion took place. A quantity of gas
sufficient to cause an explosion might escape in a
short time. An instance occurred in their pit two
days before, where the gas carried away a large por-
tion of the coal. Candles were used in the whole, or
solid part of the pit, but the explosion did not take
place there I am sure, as there was no indication of
fire there. The safety of the Davy lamp consists in
confining the flame within the gauze, and gives an in-
timation of danger, when it can be removed. When
there is an appearance of danger, the instructions are
to remove the lamp, and lamps are not then used.
The gas is removed by means which are taken.
Cross-examined by Mr. Toobock, surgeon, of Sun-
derland, who appeared on the score of humanity—
Has never known an explosion take place on the re-
moval of a lamp, on the appearance of danger, by the
current of air forcing the flame through the gauze.
It is not possible to make the stoppings close enough
to resist the force of such an explosion as this.
James Scott is under viewer at Haswell Colliery.
About three o'clock on Saturday afternoon, I was in
the colliery office, when one of the off-putters came
and said he believed the pit had fired. I went as
quickly as possible down the pit, and along the North
Roily way, about thirty yards, leading into the
" Little pit." I tried the air with a candle, and
found it good. I then got a safety-lamp, and went
along further, and I found the air good all the way to
the Stone Drift. At this point I found a great defi-
ciency in the quantity of air, and the current was not
in a right direction. On proceeding along the Stone
Drift, the two main hole drifts at the end were. blown
down ; also the air crossings beside it. The fresh air,
which ought to have gone along the main line, was
escaping at these two places. Along the main way_
from the mouth of the Stone Drift, I came to a set
of rollies with empty tubs on them. The horse at
the end `of the rollies was dead, and its driver, a
boy. I proceeded on with the overman, John
Miller, whom I met, about sixty yards, and came to
a set of rollies in a siding laden with tubs. The
horse at the out-bye end of the rollies was dead, and
also the drivers. We went forward other fifty yards,
and at the meadows' way-end we found another body_
dead. For want of air at that point we were obliged
to return. We went back about 300 yards, where
there was more ail) and we considered the best thing
we could dfa'iiisto get in •the stoppings, to carry the
air ,forward. From what I saw I was quite con-
vinced that all the men in the pit, when the explosion
took place, were dead. Left Miller there to forward
these operations, and went myself to the meadows'
way-end, atd persevered up to the meadows fiat, where.
I found two men and a horse dead. The air was
again so bad I was obliged to return to the meadows'
way-end. When I got there, Mr. Brown, the first wit-
ness, came up. We stood awhile, and then returned
to the flat, and got about 100 yards further up than
before, when we found it necessary to return to the
meadows' way-end again. We then determined to
get all the air stoppings in as soon as possible, to clear
the whole pit, of the after-damp. Mr. Brown went
with some men into the first stopping of the Brockly
whin's fiat, and I went on into tile stone drift, where

loosein the pipe. If the explosion was caused by the
plug being out, the gas would have had to ascend the
tube containing the wick ; but that, though possible,
is not probable. The explosion must have taken place
from a defective or injured lamp. I think the crush-
ing of the gauze had caused the explosion, by the flame
coming through the gauze.
Cross-examined by Mr. Martin Grade—Two pil-
lars generally intervene between the whole coal and
the working. The men in the whole coal work with
candles, and never object to doing so. They have
often complained of too much air, though the
greater quantity of air, the greater the safety.
There was no whole coal being worked at the jud ;
and therefore there were no candles there, but lamps,
as they always use lamps on the broken. The
nearest candle would be 396 yards distant from the
jud. The men are not allowed to do anything to
the lamps, except in the presence of an officer at the
proper place. By pouring the oil from one lamp
into another, the flame would be forced to an angle
on the gauze, and might come through. Know no
reason why the plug was not in the lamp.
Cross-examined by Mr. Roberts—l am sure the
stone fell before the explosion, because the props,
about fourteen in number, had been withdrawn and
placed on a tram. The fall was six yards by three.
In this pit there are two shafts, the air going down
one and up the other. The air travels about one mile
and a half, and 40,000 cubit feet passes in a minute.
Joseph Fairless, inspector of Haswell pit—As soon
as I heard of the accident, I went down the pit ; it
would be a little after seven o'clock on Saturday
evening. I examined every part of the mine between
that time and Sunday morning, particularly that part
where the dead bodies were found. From the exami-
nation I made, I think the accident happened in the
ninth headway, in the meadows flat. The deputy
had been drawing a jud there. I know that, because
the axe was standing close by where the stone had
fallen, at the place the props were taken away. Some
of the props were lying on the horned tram, which
was standing about six or eight yards from where the
stone had fallen. I found three bodies there. They
appeared to be burnt, but I cannot say whether they
died from the burns or after-damp. There were no
indications in any part of the mine of an
explosion having taken place. Found nothing
else there but the bodies. I am of opi-
nion the stone had fallen before the explosion
took place. My reason for thinking so is, that the
props had been taken out, and the men were away
from it a little. I have been inspector of that pit
about two years and four months, and during that
time it was considered a safe pit. If the men thought
there was any danger it was their 'duty to report it to
me ; they had orders from the masters to do so.
Never received any notice during the time I have
been there of there being danger. Never knew of an
accumulation of gas in the waste. I had inspected
the pit between two and three o'clock in the morning
of Saturday, before the men went to work. I never
saw her in better trim than she was in at that time.
The current of fresh air was strong ; there was no in-
dication of gas. I considered it then to be perfectly
safe. We consider it safe to work the whole coal
with candle, but the broken is worked with Davy
lamps, as a precaution against danger from gas coming
off by accident.
Cross-examined by Mr. Roberts—lt is not prudent
to work the " broken" with candles, and I do not
know of any of the men having done so. Do not
work the waste with candle. It is always dangerous
to draw a jud ; but sometimes the danger is greater
than at other times. Cannot say whether the acci-
dent rose from a small or a large quantity of gas.
Cannot form an opinion from the choke-damp, or the
ground it extended over. Cannot say whether or not
there was any accumulation of gas where the accident
occurred. On the 21st and on the 28th of the month
I examined the place very closely, but could discover
no accumulation of gas. There is no connexion be-
tween the waste and the place where candles are used.
There are no whole boards going at the meadows
flat. The meadows flat is about 150 yards from
the waste, going through the groove. There is a dis-
tinct return drift independent of the groove. The
size of the drift is six feet by five and a half.
Cross-examined by Mr. M. Gude—l am appointed
inspector of the mine by the masters ; it is not usual
for the men to have inspectors on their part. I think,
from the appearance, it was impossible the fall could
have been caused by the explosion. The timber had
been taken out. There was timber knocked out in
other parts of the mine. That was caused by the ex-
plosion, and at some of these places the stone was
fallen.

Cross-examined by Mr. Cleugh, a pitman from
Thorneley—lf the pit had been working seven years
on the whole coal, and four on the broken, which,
being dried, was there not to be expected in the
drawing of a jud that a quantity of gas would come
sufficient to destroy all the men in the pit ?—No.
Was there any probability of the gas coming from
any other part to cause the explosion ?—No ; I think
the gas in this instance came from the fall. The air
current runs at 18 miles an hour. The current is
split six times in the " whole" between its entering
the workings and coming out of them. Splitting the
air increases its efficiency, in my opinion, for the pur-
poses of ventilation. 1 he in-letting course will not
be less than 50 square feet, in the least part, but I
have not measured it. Have never seen so large air-
ways in any other colliery. The in-letting course is
at the bottom of the shaft. There are no pumps in
the down cast shaft. Not prepared to say what space
is left in the shaft for the air to pass down, bat there
is quite sufficient, in my opinion, for the venti-
lation of the mine. In examining the pit to see whe-
ther the air is good or bad, I ascertained that fact
by using a candle. When foul air is present, there is
a blue tinge at the flame, which tapers up to a point.
Never saw candles that would exhibit that appearance
when there was no gas. Have seen a difference in
candles, but never saw one show a blue tinge without
gas ; it was a grey tinge, and it arises from the grease
of the candles. If the air be mixed with stithe, the
candle will carry a larger flame, but no blue tint.
There is no danger of an explosion when the blue tint
is absent. When the grey tint approaches to a white
one, there is no danger of an explosion. There was
no blue appearance on the candle when I went round
the pit on the morning before the explosion took place ;
the candle presented an ordinary appearance, and gave
not the least indication of gas being present. Have
tried the broken with a lamp, after a fall had taken
place on previous occasions, but never observed any
appearance of gas.
John Miller, one of the overman at Haswell Col-
liery, examined—l have charge of the whole of the
" Little Pit " where the accident occurred. I went
down it immediately after the explosion took place,
and I have since examined every part of the pit v_ereye
minutely. I am of opinion the explosion took 1
wheretaken
in the nine head-ways, on the meadows flbaete,n
the jud was taken down. The jud had
come off, or an
dowki, and I think a " blower" hadh
Produced
accident might have happened to
hticehl p pa
had 'been found
a Dat,y lamp, much crushed,.
with a piece of tim-
one on the timber.
bbyeri.joirtditl,had fallen._ before the explo-
sion anrad le
there; it
NWvatlf:
syoinnigew
of the timber had been taken
out and piled on the horned tram. I think the taking
ly opinionto k place, is,
the
as part
tne
away of the timber had caused the stone to fall, and
foul air had come away, which might have come in
contact with a lamp previously injured by the fall.
Three lamps were found there all damaged. The oil
plug was out of one of them. If the lamp had a small
wick I think it possible the gas would go through the
plug-hole, and so communicate with the flame, espe-
cially if the lamp was lying on the slant, as I found
it. I did not examine the wick. If the gauze of the
lamp were perfect, I think the blow which crushed it
would not force the flame through, so as to ignite the
gas outside, notwithstanding the injury it received.
There is no indication in any other part of the mine
to show where the explosion took place. I have been
overman of the pit turned 4ue years. Never consi-

Mr. Marshall said, on behalf of the owners, that
they had no objection to proper professional men being
appointed to examine the mine, but he considered the
persons named were biased against the owners,
which was similar to that taken by Mr. Roberts re-
specting the witnesses already examined.
Mr. Roberts proposed Mr. Mathias Dunn, a prac-
tical viewer, to assist Mr. Mather, whom he consi-
dered was an indifferent person.
Mr. Marshall said he thought they could not fix
upon the persons to examine the mine to-night. To-
morrow the workmen employed in the colliery would
be examined, and then the jury might decide whether
an examination was or was not necessary. He ob-
jected to both the parties named.
Mr. Roberts considered he had a right to bring for-
ward any gentleman as a witness, and he would ask
that he be allowed to examine the pit.
The CORONER said, if a party is possessed of in-
formation be could summon him to attend and give
evidence, but if he had no information on the subject,
he had not power to compel his attendance, or to cause
the owners of the colliery to allow him to examine the
mine.

Mr. Roberts—Then, Sir, on behalf of the relatives
and friends of the sufferers, I apply now to the owners
of the colliery to allow Mr. Mathias Dunn, Mr. James
Mather, Mr. Martin Jude, and some of the workmen
employed in the pit, to examine the mine, with the
view of giving evidence at this inquest.
Mr. Marshall, for the owners, replied, we have a
personal objection to Mr. Dunn,- and Mr. Mather is
not a practical man. The owners have no objec-
tion to the pit being viewed by two persons, one
being chosen by the owners, and the other on behalf
of the men ; and in that case the owners have no
objection to Mr. Mather accompanying them, at-
ten'ied lily three or four workmen employed on the
colliery.
Mr. Roberts said he proposed Mr. Dunn, and
knew of no other viewer in whom the pitmen had
confidence. In case he refused, he applied to the
Coroner to adjourn the inquest for time to allow
an application to be made to the Secretary of State
upon the subject, which he pledged himself to make.
The CORONER then ordered the court to be
cleared, which being done, the court was adjourned
till ten o'clock on Tuesday morning.

The funeral of the sufferers took place this day,
and was indeed an extraordinary and melancholy
spectacle. Between fifty and sixty carts were em-
ployed in conveying the dead bodies to the places of
interment. Fifty-four were buried in the burying-
ground of South Hetton Church, the others at
Easington and Hallgarth villages, about three
miles distant. There were thousands of per-
sons present. The procession to South Hetton
Church seemed to be upwards of one mile in length.
Many families have lost three and four each. The
dead belonging to each family were placed in separate
carts, and each followed by the friends and relatives
of the parties. We trust that a subscription, prompt
and noble as the occasion requires, will be set on foot
for the surviving relatives—the widows and fatherless
children who are left.