Durham Mining Museum - Newspaper Articles (original) (raw)

3rd February 1849, Page: 4, Column: 4

Weekly Retrospect

The Miners' Perils

None of our readers can peruse with indifference the particulars elsewhere recorded of the desolating catastrophe at Worsbro' Dale Colliery near Barnsley — a colliery situated, as the reports tell us, "amidst some of the most lovely and picturesque scenery to be found in Yorkshire," and which has now acquired notoriety as the scene of one of the most dreadful calamities which the records of coal-mining present. So far as was ascertained when the latest accounts were published, eighty-three individuals have perished by this catastrophe, and several of those saved out of the hundred and five men and boys who were at work in the pit at the time, have been severely injured. Their deaths arose from an explosion of inflammable air, which is supposed to have taken place at what is called "the dip," about 1500 yards from the bottom of the shaft; the shock was so violent that all the trap doors and stoppings were entirely destroyed, and considering the frightful power of the agent let loose, the surprise certainty is that any one in the colliery escaped alive.

A coroners jury has of course been summoned to inquire into the cause of a calamity so extensive in its character and so lamentable in its results, and the inquest commenced on Saturday. On this all-important point there is at present nothing but more conjecture. The theory which is advanced by those who have charge of the colliery is, that probably the exhibition of a naked light, or some careless act on the part of a miner in the immediate vicinity of the spot where the explosion burst forth, has caused this wholesale destruction of human life ; and that a strong wind, which prevailed in that locality, would prevent the foul air from escaping out of the ventilating shaft so rapidly as in less boisterous weather, and that the increased accumulation, of inflammable air would consequently add to the violence of the shock. The proceedings before the coroner have not yet been so fully developed as to enable those who are competent to judge on the subject to form any sound opinion as to the state of the pit at the time of the explosion. The first witness examined was Mr. Charles Locke, the colliery agent, whose evidence can scarcely be considered satisfactory, inasmuch as he is deeply interested in making out a good case for himself and his employers. He speaks of "the ventilation being very good indeed," he thought "the pit was very well ventilated," "it was considered so safe that the men worked with naked candles," "he could not blame any one," "it was purely an accident." for in his opinion "the high winds had changed the ventilation of the mines and thus caused the explosion." Other agents and viewers said ditto to Mr. Locke — all of them with singular unanimity, agreeing to charge the high wind with the terrible event! One of the workmen, however, told a somewhat different story. The following is a part of James Hammonds evidence :

"Coroner: Whom do you blame for the explosion?

Witness: I blame both T. and G. Addey, the under-ground managers.

What for?

For letting the men work in places which were not fit to work. They were put in power to see that the men did not work in places which were not fit.

Do not you think that the fact of their both going into these places themselves, shows that they thought they were fit for the men to work in!

Yes, but it has got so bad that it could not be fit for us to work in. Some of the men would have spoken about it, but they were afraid or losing their work.

Why did you not stop out of the pit if it was in that state!

If the man had spoken out he might have said, "Because I was afraid of losing my work there, and been unable to obtain it elsewhere," but from motives of expediency he shirked a direct answer, and replied :—

"Well I have heard the men talk about it."

Here the coroner sprung upon him like an Old Bailey counsel,

"I cannot take as evidence anything that you have heard. Did you ever apprehend any danger?

I did"

The cross-examiner, who probably knows about as much law as the pitman, "took nothing by his motion," and after muttering that it was very odd if the man thought there was danger that he should still go on working, asked the witness to explain the cause of the explosion.

"It has been done." said Hammond, "by taking away all the coal before them and throwing it all dead behind, so that the wind could not get down behind them."

The coroner remembered the evidence of the viewer, and enquired if the high wind had not something to do with the accident ?

"It may have had something to do with it," was reply, "but it had been through sulphur lying in the works."

No further evidence was adduced. The Coroner communicated to the jury an answer which the magistrates had received from the Home Office, stating that if in the opinion of the jury some person ought to attend the inquest on the part of the Government, Sir George Grey would send down a gentleman to watch the proceedings. The jury deemed this step advisable, and the Coroner was requested to apply for the services of an inspector, the inquest being adjourned until Thursday next for the purpose of enabling him to be present.

We are glad this course has been taken, and only wish that we could anticipate from it beneficial effects. Doubtless the presence of a competent individual, charged by the Executive Government with the important duty of watching the proceedings, will have a salutary effect on the conduct of the presiding official; we may expect to find the proceedings orderly and impartial, and henceforth devoid of the snappish and browbeating style of examination, so unbecoming the position and character of a coroner, of which we have adduced some specimens. Public feeling will also be in a measure satisfied by this proceeding. So dreadful a disaster ought to receive the careful attention of a wise and humane Government, and the miners, we have no doubt, will regard this opportune interference as expressing sympathy with their condition and lot. But, as we have already indicated, we have no confidence in real and permanent good resulting from this measure. The people of these counties will remember that on the occasion of the Haswell tragedy, Professor Faraday and Sir Charles Lyell attended the inquest for several days and submitted an elaborate report to the authorities. Nothing however, was done thereupon. Suggestions were made, only to be disregarded ; precautions were recommended, but they have not been taken. It is only when some tearful visitation like that which has recently happened, arouses the public mind from its torpor on this subject that anything is done to diminish the perils to which the miner is so generally, and often so wantonly exposed. We sincerely trust that in the ensuing enquiries, the Government inspector will remember that there is no effect without an adequate cause, and that he will strain every nerve to ascertain, in order that it may be removed, the cause of an accident which has swept off no less than eighty-three of our fellow citizens and subjects in the prime and vigour of life, without a moment's warning.