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

Annual Register for 1868

Article from the Annual Register for 1868, 30th December 1868, Page: 156, Column: 1

Colliery Explosion At Haydock

The Wigan coal district was again the scene of a terrible catastrophe, another ignition of fire damp (the third within a month), resulting in the death of twenty-six persons, having occurred. The explosion happened at the collieries of Messrs. Richard Evans and Co., which are situate about the centre of the township of Haydock, three miles from St. Helen's, and seven from the borough of Wigan, and are known by the name of the Haydock Collieries. The Queen pit is sunk to a depth of 280 yards, and at it are obtained two seams of coal — the Ravenhead main delf and the Wigan nine-foot. It was in the latter where the casualty occurred. About forty men were employed in this mine, but the particular part in which the explosion happened had only been worked about two years, and only twenty-five men were engaged in it. All descended to their work in the morning, but shortly after noon the colliers engaged in some other portions of the pit noticed a derangement of the ventilation, and on examination being made it was found there had been a very serious explosion. Mr. Chadwick, the underground manager, andMr. Billinge, the underlooker in charge of the nine-foot workings, were at once communicated with, and an exploring party was organized. As soon as the current of air could be restored an examination of the district in which the gas had fired was commenced. The work was one of considerable difficulty, in consequence of the damage done to the stoppings and in the air-ways. Several persona who had been burnt were found alive, and were removed to the surface, where their injuries were attended to. As the explorers proceeded, they found the bodies of the deceased in the levels, and forwarded them to the surface. Twenty-three bodies were recovered, and during the night a lad who was brought out of the mine early died from the effects of the choke damp.

The explosion was supposed to have occurred about 250 yards from the pit eye, but nothing was known as to how it originated. It was thought, however, that the accumulation of gas had been caused by some derangement of the ventilation, probably in consequence of a fall of roof, or something of that nature. The mine was ventilated in districts, and this will account for only one portion having been affected by the explosion. Altogether about 800 men were engaged in the workings communicating with the shaft.

Mr. Higson, Government Inspector of Mines for this district, and Mr. J. Higson, Deputy-Inspector, were communicated with immediately after the explosion, and about 10 p.m. they reached the pit, and at once descended. They gave the collieries an excellent character, and Mr. Chadwick, the underground manager, was said to be one of the most experienced men in the district.

On the 31st the manager and underlooker, together with the Government inspector and his son, descended the workings, to make a further examination, and two more bodies were recovered.

The Coroner's jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death. They found also that the fire damp was ignited by a "blown-out shot" — that is, a blast of powder, which, instead of taking effect on the rock, blew out of the bore-hole like a charge out of a gun ; but whether the fire damp arose from a gradual accumulation through deficient ventilation, or from a sudden escape of gas from the body of the coal, there was no evidence to show.

	Accident/Disaster Page