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

14th April 1860, Page: 3, Column: 4

The Burradon Inquest

The adjourned inquest, on the recent explosion at the above pit, was resumed, on Wednesday, in the school at Camperdown. The examination of Mr. Matherwas resumed, as follows:— His experience in coal mines, with certain exceptions, had not been practical. Took the practice of the highest authorities in mining matters. The fall in Maddox's board had been removed, when he visited it, and took it for granted that there had been one. Falls cannot be prevented, but judicious management may obviate them. Had not been down the pit before the explosion. It is now in such working order as it can be put into. He had given a copy of his report to one of the reporters, last Thursday, but did not understand that it would be printed then. He found the pit very foul from the accident. Found gas in the boards and the goafs. Did not visit the rolley ways, The experiments he made, in firing the gas, did not endanger life and property, due care being taken. Considered the Davy lamp dangerous. The inventor had warned miners against using it without the shield. Mr. Forster here remarked that he had seen that lamp worked red hot for weeks, Mr. Mather — and 100 lives lost by it at Wallsend. Mr. Forster — No.

H. L. Pattinson, Esq., chemical manufacturer, Scot's House, was then examined. Was down the pit on March 22nd, in company with the Government Inspector, Mr. Mather, and the colliery officials. The party was under the guidance of Mr. Maddison, under viewer of Seaton Delaval. In the north return, before the door was opened, they had 2,459 cubic feet of air per minute passing down; but the anemometer ceased to move, as soon as it was opened. After an interval of 25 minutes they went to Maddox's board. Mr. Atkinson tried to draw them away as there was an explosive mixture. Gas was found there by experiment. On a second experiment being made, no gas appeared. The general management of the ventilation was defective. He pretended to no practical knowledge of the subject; but, from what he had seen down the pit, he thought it very defective management to leave Thirlwall's door without a trapper.

Mr. Harle then proposed to put in Mr. Dunn's report, but the coroner refused to receive it, and that gentleman was examined, at great length. In his opinion the immediate cause of the accident was the weakness and instability of the air current, and the existence of four goafs in a position whose natural outlet was towards the naked lights of the workmen. Felt imperatively called upon to specify what, in his opinion, has occasioned the said weakness and instability of the air current. I will, therefore, enumerate the heads of the subject as follow: 1 — imperfect areas of upcast shaft and principal air courses. 2 — Altitude of workings above the shaft level. 3 — Numerous splits and subdivisions to meet the difficult positions consequent upon the working of pillars in questionable localities. 4 — Numerous doors, brattices, and regulating stoppings, 5 — Inattention to air courses in the waste. 6 — Want of a dumb drift. 7 — Objection to pumps in upcast shaft. 8 — Impolicy of working south side pillars in the midst of ventilation. 9 — Objection to coal working going on in return air from foul goafs. 10 — Neglect of the use of safety lamps when the air was weak and loaded. 12 — Smallness of in-take main, rolley way arches, &c.

The inquest was then adjourned.

The inquest was again returned on Thursday, when the following witnesses were called.

William Morgan was called, and deposed, in answer to the Coroner: I live at Pelton Fell I am under-viewer at Pelton Fell Colliery.

By Mr. Blackwell: I have been a pitman all my life. I was the first that used the Davy Lamp at Hebburn Colliery. That is forty years ago. I was afterwards atHetton, then at Felling. I was back overman at Felling.Felling Colliery was "fiery" enough; I was there when an awkward affair happened, and there were thirty five lives lost. I was afterward in other collieries. I have been at Pelton Fell fourteen years; it is a very fiery colliery — so much so that we have numbers of foreigners and strangers visiting it to see how it is ventilated. I have visited Burradon pit twice. The first time was on the 22nd; but the pit was not in such a state that I could examine it. On the 28th I again went down. I first went up the east incline, to where the regulator is, and the fresh air goes into the broken. I saw nothing but the fresh air going into the broken. I felt it was strong for the size of the hole. I went straight up into the narrow board. I saw gas on the lamp, in the straight up board, in the middle east mother-gate. I went into every board; at the sixth board I found gas. I noticed the stoppings; they were all in at the board ends, up to Maddox's board, and above the broken. Several of those boards were making gas, but not to say much. There was not sufficient air to work the way. There was only a small quantity of air in Maddox's board. I then went down the single part of the north return. The air was middling in this return. I went to Mr. Atkinson and others, and sat down beside them. The return was quite big enough if the air had been there. We then returned to the mandoors, in the other way. Mr. Atkinson and the others tried experiments. I was sent for to go to Mr. Atkinson ; that was to Maddox's board. Mr. Atkinson had tried his lamp twice at the brattice end; and she was filled full of fire.Mr. Atkinson and the others went away; and I saw gas come about three yards into the wall where we had been all sitting. That gas came up the return, from the large goaf. No one was with me. I then came back and sat down. Mr. Dunn wished to examine my lamp. I said there was no fear, as the gas was gone.Thirlwell's door was shut. As far as I know, the stoppings were perfect. I believe there was one or two leaks. I understand from those who were there that the pit was in the same state as when she exploded. I went to the up-cast shaft — the furnace. There was plenty of fire, and a very nice furnace too. I thought the heat came too much back. That is a sign of deficiency of air coming along the return.

Was the pit sufficiently ventilated, or not ? — I did not see much ventilation about it; there is a want of room for air.

By a Juror : I cannot tell which part is too little.

By Mr. Blackwell: If there had been air going down the return, there would have been a better furnace. When I was in those passages, along with Mr. Mather, the pit was all well there. I cannot see where the ventilation can be in those stopped parts [pointing to the plan] I do not like to see so many splits. We have no regulating doors at Pelton. As a practical man, I would not allow a pit to be worked for a single day with such ventilation as Burradon Pit. I consider she is not ventilated at all. An under-viewer should visit a pit every day, to be sure. I go, not at day, but at night. I generally see the deputies before I go down; for they have generally "ridden" before I go down. I go down with the shift men ; and I go down every Sunday night. I have never in my life lost a man ; but many a time I and others have had the skin off our noses. As regards air, I would like to have sufficient to fill the headways course.

After Mr. Elliot and Mr. Dunn had been examined at great length, the inquest was adjourned till next day.

	Burradon Colliery
	Felling Colliery
	Hebburn Colliery
	Hetton Colliery
	Pelton Colliery
	Wallsend Colliery