from The Illustrated London News, October 5, 1844

The Inquest on the Bodies.

The inquest was held on Monday, at Haswell, before T.C. Maynard, Esq. The first witness examined was

Cornelius Brown, under-hewer at Shotton Colliery: On Saturday last, with other men, I went down the pit at Haswell, 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 rolly 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 satisfied there 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 fresh current of air was got in. After getting the air in, we proceeded on to the Flatts station, in about three hours after, where we found fourteen 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 Meadows 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 cases, is found in considerable quantity, sometimes suddenly, on the removal of the coal. That part of the mine was worked by Davy lamps. There was not a candle used there. It was not considered a dangerous pit ; but, indeed, one of the safest in the trade. Had known 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. I am of opinion the ventilation had been good up to the time of the explosion. In my opinion this explosion would not have taken place if a Davy lamp had not been injured. At the jud some stones 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.

This witness was cross-examined by Mr. Roberts, commonly called the "Pitman's Attorney-General." 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 explosions. Between forty and fifty dead bodies were found at no great distance from the jud, the rest were in different parts of the working. Had seen explosions 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 as 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 communication between the "distance" and that part of the pit where the explosion took place. After the explosion the ventilation was interrupted by the air stoppings having been blown down. By air stoppings I mean barriers placed to throw the air into the workings for ventilation. Should think there had not been a large explosion of gas.

Cross-examined by Mr. Marshall, solicitor, who appeared on behalf of the owners of the colliery : Fifteen were killed by fire, and the remainder by after damp. It was possible for the mine to be safe previous to the fall o the stone at the jud where the explosion took place. A quantity of gas sufficient to cause and explosion might escape in a short time.

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 Rolly way, about thirty yards, leading into the "Little Pit." I tried the air with a candle, and found it good. Then I got a safety lamp, and went along further, and I found the air good all the way to the mouth of the Stone Drift. At this point I found a great deficiency 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 driver. 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 air, and we considered the best thing we could do was to get in the stoppings, to carry the air forward. From what I saw, I was quite convinced that all the men in the pit when the explosion took place were dead. Left Miller there to forwards these operations, and went myself to the Meadows' way-end, and preserved up to the Meadows' flat, when 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 witness, came up. We stood awhile, and then returned to the flat, and got about 100 yards further up then before, when we found it necessary to return to the Meadows' way-end again. We then determined to get the air stoppings in as soon as possible, to clear the whole pit of the after damp. Mr. Brown went with some more men into the first stoppings of the Brockley Whins flat, and I went on into the Stone Drift, where the other men were putting in stoppings. I then went to the Meadows' flat again, and got 50 yards further than I did previously, when I was forced again to return. Went to the men at the stoppings, and an hour after, with Mr. Brydon and others, went into the broken mothergate flat, and up four pillars, where 18 or 19 men were found. The remainder of my time was spent in getting out the dead bodies. The stoppings were put in, and the air-way improved, so that I could then in the second and third headway courses perceives the slightest indication of gas. In the mothergate flat the gas was bad.

Cross-examined by Mr. Roberts : Went down the pit at seven in the morning. The air was then good. Deputies examine the pit at different times, and when they observe danger they inform the inspector, but do not know in this case whether any information was given. About noon on Sunday a lamp was found about four yards from the edge of the fall of the stones at the jud. The lamp was entire, except that it wanted the plug at the bottom, where the oil was put in, which was out. The lamp was standing against a prop, and there was a little oil in it. The wick was loose in the pipe. If the explosion was caused by the plug being out, the gas would have to had to ascend the tube containing the wick, though possible, is not probable. The explosion must have taken place from a defective of injured lamp. The nearest candle would be 396 yards distant from the jud. I never in my experience knew of the current of air, in moving from one place to another, force the flame through the gauze. Have dams put in, but do not think, if they had been put in, they would have stopped the explosion. Was never asked by the men to put dams in. Did not consider it necessary to have the stoppings stronger than they were. It is not allowed to remove the oil from one lamp to another. The men are not allowed to do anything to the lamps, except in the presence of an officer, at the proper place. 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 examination I made, I think the accident happened in the ninth headway, in the Meadow's flat. The deputy had been drawing a jud there. I know that, because his axe was 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 had died from the burns or after-damp. There were no indications in any other part of the mine of an explosion having taken place. Found nothing else there but the bodies. I am of the opinion 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 place 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 master to do so. Never had 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 indication 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.

John Miller : I am overman at Haswell Little Pit. Since the explosion I have minutely examined every part of the pit, and I believe it arose at the ninth headway's course, near the jud. The jud had been drawn, and a "blower" might have come off, or if anything happened to any of the lamps, the same results would arise. The bent Davy lamp produced was found be Thomas Wardell. It is in the same state now as when found.

By Mr. Roberts : Fifteen men in that district had safety lamps at the time of the explosion. I cannot tell whether they have all been found or not. I found six. There were four men at the bottom of the shaft who escaped - Raine, Hindmarch, Harrison, and Thompson.

The coroner intimated that there must be an adjournment, for further evidence, and the proceedings were therefore suspended till Tuesday.