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

27th April 1882

Fearful Explosion at William Pit

Four Men Killed

At about eleven o'clock on Tuesday night, an explosion occurred at a working at the bottom of a new drift in William Pit, and four men were killed by the "after-damp," while three or four others were burnt somewhat severely. It is said to be about 40 years since an explosion occurred in the Whitehaven Colliery before. Some of the oldest employees have no recollection of such an occurrence. About eight or nine years ago, William Pit was on fire, and the Wellington Pit was also on fire shortly afterwards. These fires, however, were not the result of explosions. In those instances gas oozing from the coal and accumulating in the roof of the working had probably been fired by some negligent and foolhardy man who had his lamp open to light his pipe. It is necessary to explain for the information of those who have not given their attention to the matter, that coal gas in anything approaching a pure state, when ignited, burns with a pale blue light, which may be easily extinguished if that be carefully done so as not to spread the flame to places where the gas has a larger proportion of air mixed with it. Mixed in certain proportions with air, the gas is known as "fire damp," as the mixture is dangerously explosive. In the case of the fires referred to the gas has been possibly quietly fired, and the men have to run off in terror, and allowed the flame to catch the coal. These small accumulations of gas must of necessity exist in some parts of coalmines. The gas being lighter than air rises to the top of the workings, and lodges in places that are not thoroughly ventilated. But the ventilation of the Whitehaven colliery is of the most recent device. The old furnace ventilation was abandoned years ago, when a huge fan was erected at Duke Pit head, for the ventilation of Croft Pit and Wellington Pit; and a similar fan was put up at William Pit when Henry Pit was sunk. These fans are so placed that by revolving with great velocity over a shaft, they drive down a voluminous supply of fresh air, which returns to the surface, by a second or "up-cast" shaft. Below ground methods are employed to guide the draught from the "down cast," through the various districts and workings, and back up the second shaft. This is by far the most efficient means of ventilation that can be employed; and the Whitehaven Colliery is well known for its safety and perfect ventilation alone, however, that the Whitehaven Colliery owes its immunity from explosions. The greatest danger to coalminers is one that ventilation can scarcely ever obviate, but which danger happily does not exist in this district, — and that is sudden outburst of pent-up gas tapped, it may be, by the hewer with his pick, and known among miners as "blowers." A colliery in which blowers are strong and frequent is said to be "fiery;" and newly opened seams discover the most frequent and dangerous "blowers." Such outbursts as these have occasioned some of the most disastrous of the many fearful colliery explosions that have been recorded in late years; and how to safely provide against the instant and unexpected destruction that they threaten is one of the greatest colliery engineering questions of the present day, which does not present any immediate prospect of reasonable solution. But as it has been already remarked, the Whitehaven Colliery is not fiery, and very dangerous blowers are rare, if not altogether unknown. So that with efficient ventilation the workings are kept safe and healthy. What was the cause of the explosion on Tuesday night is altogether unknown. The facts are short and simple. The "Forster District" is part of William Pit, distant some three or four miles from the shaft, in which safety lamps are used — the ordinary gauze lamp invented by Davy. Here a new drift was made some six months ago, leading into a new district known as the "Countess District," where a new seam of coal is being worked. This district had only lately been proved, and there was a good deal of gas, so that extra precautions were used in working it. The men are supplied with what is known as the "Geordie" lamp, or the Stevensons lamp. It has inside the guaze a glass funnel; and only a limited supply of air is admitted though minute holes under the brass rim surrounding the top of that part of the lamp containing the oil. This lamp, like the Davy, will burn coal gas inside the guaze without allowing the flame to communicate to the outside of the lamp, thus indicating the presence of gas and allowing the miners to retire before the gauze heats to redness, as it would do, and cause an explosion. But further, by reason of the limited supply of air to the Geordie lamp, any dangerous superabundance of gas would have the effect of instantly extinguishing the flame of the lamp, the supply of oxygen necessary to feed it being already limited as much as possible. This new drift, then, where these Geordie lamps — perhaps the safest there are — are used, was examined for gas, and otherwise as to its safety as is usual, by the deputy overman, Williamson, at about seven o'clock on Tuesday night before the night shift began. At the bottom of the drift, which "dips," or has a decline, water accumulates and is pumped out. Three men — Henry Finch, 33, married, Harras Moor; John McGuinness, 21, single, Parton, and Thomas Colvin, 67, married, Parton, were employed here as pumpers. Off the drift bottom was a working "in-by" as it is called; and here two hewers were coming to work — James Geddes, 30, married, Castle Row; and Edward Martin, 30, married, Front Row, Newhouses. The pumpers were taking some water out, while the two hewers were stripping for work, between ten and eleven o'clock. The pumpers were 50 or 60 yards away from the hewers. The hewers had their "Geordie" lamps all safely locked, as one of the survivors says. The glass being very hot from the flame is liable to splinter if cold water touches it; but they are said to have been all right. Suddenly an explosion occurred, no one can tell how. Martin was further in-by, and he was burnt; but he managed somehow to pass his "mate" Geddes, and also the pumpers in the drift. He reached the top of the drift, and was safe. Williamson, the deputy overman, heard the explosion, and was making to the spot when he met Martin, who, not withstanding serious injuries, made his way to the pit top, and walked home. Further down the shaft Williamson got Geddes, who, although not dead, was very near it. An explosion of firedamp consumes all the oxygen in the immediate neighbourhood, and leaves in its place a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide — the former incapable of supporting life, and the latter not only so but likewise poisoning and suffocating. This mixture is called by the miners "after-damp;" and the danger from the after-damp is greater sometimes and more widespread than that from the fire of the explosion. The man Geddes was not only severely burnt, but he was overcome by the after-damp. He was taken into the lock-shop, where he was seen by Dr. McLaughlin, who had been immediately sent for; but the poor fellow was never sensible, and died shortly after in the doctor's presence. It was found that the boarding and "stoppings" of stonework to guide the ventilation had been blown out by the explosion, and there was therefore no through ventilation for the drift, which being full of after-damp could not be further explored. The first thing to be done was to restore ventilation, and on this work as many hands as could be put on were at once employed. The news of the explosion having spread, all the overmen of the other collieries — Wellington and Croft Pits- came flocking to render what assistance was necessary. Mr. Liddell (the agent), Mr. William Harker (viewer), Mr. R. W. Moore, Mr. Richard Harker, Mr. Southern, Mr. Mulcaster, and others were soon on the spot, and the work of bratticing was proceeded with as rapidly as possibly. Between ten and eleven o'clock the body of Thomas Colvin was reached. He was sitting with his jacket over his head, quite dead. Still further in, young McGuinness and Finch were found, lying on their faces, quite dead. These men were burnt severely, but there was no injury from burns sufficient to cause death, which must have resulted from suffocation and poisoning by the after-damp. Dr. McLaughlin saw these bodies sent up to the surface. Geddes's body had meanwhile been conveyed home. The other three corpses were laid out in one of the buildings at the pit top.

Besides the men in the drift and in-by where the explosion occurred, some three or four others in a working in the Foster District adjoining, were injured by the shock and the fire, though not to any serious extent. These were — James Halliwell, 50, married, hewer, Coachroad; David Slatery, 21, single, driver, McGarry's buildings, Mount Pleasant; William Taggart, 21, Married, Mount Pleasant; and John Graham, a trapper boy, living on middle-row, Newhouses.

During the whole of the morning the pit top was crowded with workmen and lads, the pits having been thrown off for the day, as usual, at this colliery whenever a fatal accident of any kind occurs; and news of the progress of the exploration was received from time to time from the bottom with the deepest concern, although from the first there was not the faintest vestige of hope entertained by anyone that the men could be alive.

The Inquest.

The inquest was opened at the Police-court, at one yesterday, before Mr. W. W. Lumb, deputy-corner, and the following jury:— Messrs. William Strathern (foreman), John Casson, John Stalker, Alexander Hardy, James Forster, Joseph Walker, John Dickinson, Weld, Mattinson, W. C. Atkinson, Alexander Wilson, Thornber, and Captain Hill. — The Coroner said the jury would have to view the body and take evidence of their identification, and it would then be his duty to adjourn the inquiry in order that he might communicate with the Government Inspector for the district, who resides at Newcastle. There was, however, one witness of the name of Edward Martin, who lived on the Newhouses. He was dangerously ill; but Dr. McLaughlin considered it would not in any way endanger his life to take his evidence to-day; and he (the Coroner) thought it was desirable to take his evidence to-day, seeing he was the only surviving person who really could tell anything that took place. It would not be prudent nor would there be convenience for the whole of the jury to go; but two or three of the jury might go and take his deposition. — James McLaughlin deposed: I am assistant surgeon to Dr. Lumb. I have seen the bodies of Henry Finch, John McGuiness, James Geddes, and Thos. Colvin. The body of James Geddes is lying at the Newhouses. I have not seen him since I saw him die at the pit. The other bodies are at William Pit top. The cause of death of the three men, McGuiness, Finch, and Colvin, was suffocation, due to after-damp. The other man, Geddes, I could not say so much about, because he was very severely burnt. He might have died from the same cause, or he might have died from the severe scorching he got. I am now attending Edward Martin, one of the survivors, and the only survivor in the immediate place. From what he has told me he knows more than any other what took place. I consider that if two or three person's went into his room to take his statement, it would not in any was endanger his life, for he was prepared for it. I would not recommend that all the jury should be there, however. I think the sooner he is seen the better, because he is suffering from the shock, and a re-action may set in. — Mr. Dickinson: Do you think he is in a fit and proper state to give evidence? — Witness: Yes, but I will see him before this, and prepare him. He is a man of very strong nerve. — The coroner said Dr. McLaughlin could see Martin while the jury were at William Pit, and if there was the slightest fear he could tell them. — The Foreman: It is very desirable to ascertain whether there were any other workmen in the immediate neighbourhood of the accident besides this man. — Dr. McLaughlin: This man Martin said he thought it was between himself and Geddes that this accident occurred- he did not know which of their faults it was. — The Coroner: I think he told you this — that he was the only person who really could tell anything about it? He told you that? — Dr. McLaughlin: Yes; he or this Geddes, and Geddes is dead. — The Coroner: Was it Geddes you saw before he died? — Dr. McLaughlin: Yes; and Geddes was insensible, let me tell you, when I saw him — he was dying; I was with him when he died. — The jury then proceeded to William Pit top, where the bodies of the three men were viewed and identified by Mr. Harker; and from thence to the Newhouses, where the body of Geddes was viewed and identified. — It was then agreed that the foreman, Mr. Dickinson, and M. H. Sands should accompany the coroner to take the depositions of Edward Martin, a his bedside, and the other jury men were dismissed on the understanding that the adjourned inquiry would be held on Friday (to-morrow) week.

Statement of the Survivor

The Coroner then proceeded to 20, Front Row, the house of Edward Martin. Mr. R. A. Robinson (who accompanied the Coroner from the Police Court to William Pit and thence), Mr. Liddell, and Mr. Harker were present, besides the three jurymen, — Examined by the Coroner, Dr. McLaughlin watching the state of his patient, the injured man said: I live here, and am a coalminer. I went to my work at William Pit last night at nine o'clock. Henry Finch, John McGuinness, James Geddes, and Thomas Colvin went into a certain part of the pit. We call it the Countess district, I think. I would get into the working about ten o'clock. We are taking our clothes off to start to work. — The Coroner: What happened? Witness: Oh, I could not tell what happened. We had one lamp on a copy [a stool], and another on the bottom of a bucket. I was taking my waistcoat off. I did not take my shirt off, and I could not say any more that ever I saw. I can't tell what happened. Our lamps were two good lamps. I got a new glass in mine before I went down, and they were locked and carefully secured. — The Coroner: You have since ascertained that it was an explosion? — Witness: Yes. — The Coroner: Do you know what caused it? — Witness: No, I do not. — The Coroner: Did you or any of the other men do anything that tended to cause it? — Witness: We weren't beside the other men. No; the other men did nothing — The Coroner: How far were you off the other men? — Witness: Maybe 50 or 60 yards off and on. — The Coroner: Have you no idea what caused the explosion? — Witness: I have no idea whatever. — The Coroner: None whatever? — Witness: No. — The Coroner: What time do you think it was when it happened? — Witness: Well, I could not say; I had not a watch. Tom Colvin had a watch at the time, but we had no watch. — The Coroner: How long would it be after you got into the working that the explosion occurred? — Witness: Oh, I don't know; I could not say. — Dr. McLaughlin: You said you thought that it was either your lamp or Geddes's lamp that caused it? — Witness: Yes, it was one of our lamps. It was in our spot. — The Coroner: How did the lamp cause it? — Witness: Oh, I don't know. I could not tell you. — The Coroner: Was either of them opened? — Witness: No; they were both of them locked. — The Coroner: Had you commenced to hack coal? — Witness: No, we had not. There was a good deal of water beside our working, and we were waiting while it was being pumped out for us to start. — The Coroner: What makes you think it was one of your lamps that caused it? — Witness: I think it was in our spot that it was first. — The Coroner: Do you think that any water got on to the lamps? — Witness; No, not any. The two glasses were good glasses. — The Coroner: Well, how do you think that the lamps caused it? — I could not say. — The Coroner: But you think it was one of the lamps that caused it? — Witness: I am very sure it was, but I don't know. — The Coroner: Your lamps were in good order? — Witness: They were. — The Coroner: And properly locked? — Witness: Yes. — The Coroner: Did you consider this a dangerous part of the pit? — Witness: Yes, and we had to be very cautious, and we always were cautious. — The Coroner: Were you all doing all that you possibly could do in the way of precaution when the accident happened? — Witness: Yes; we were. We had just put our lamps down — one on a bucket, and the other on a stool — we always did that — a bit from the fore-breast. — The Coroner: Who was hagging beside you? — Witness: James Geddes. We were working mates. — The Coroner: Two were hagging and three were pumping? — Witness: Yes. — The Coroner: After the explosion happened did you believe everything was done that could have been done for you all? — Witness: They could not do any better for us. — The Coroner: Do you blame any person? — Witness: I blame no person at all.

Newspaper transcript kindly provided by
West Cumbria Mines Research.