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	Individual Details		Individual Details

Age:	13
Died:	21st Nov 1873
Accident:	21st Nov 1873
Year Born:	abt. 1860
Colliery:	Menses, Barebones Pit
Company:	W. and J. Turner
Occupation:	Driver
Notes:	Explosion of gas in Yard Mine
Buried:	[not known]
Category:

Explosions of Fire-damp.

Accident No. 90 on Schedule.

Shortly before noon on the 21st November an explosion of fire-damp took place in the Yard coal seam at the Mesnes Colliery, belonging to Messrs. W. and J. Turner, and situated within the Borough of Wigan.

The colliery has been worked for a number of years, and has a large area of goaf; it consists of upcast and downcast shafts, the former being sunk to the "Yard coal seam," a depth of 150 yards, the latter to the "Smith coal seam," about 70 yards below; at the time of the explosion there were 74 men and boys in the Yard seam, and about the same number in the lower seam. Exploring parties were at once organized, assistance being had from the adjoining collieries, and as soon as the ventilation had been temporarily restored it was discovered that one man, a collier, and four boys, pony drivers, had lost their lives, eleven others being more or less severely burned, two of the latter subsequently died from the effects of the injuries then received, making a total loss of life of three men and four boys.

At the time of the explosion they were working out some pillars in what is known as "Fidler's level," on the north-east side of the pit, and had also a large tract of workings in what is termed "Park Lane level."

I made an examination of the mine the following day and found the workings were all being carried on considerably to the deep of the pit, and that instead of the fresh air being taken direct down the engine brow and along the main levels to the workmen, thence by the return courses to the upcast shaft, it was taken by a tortuous route through the old goaves, sweeping the gases and impurities exuding from these goaves along with it on to the workmen, then allowed to return on the main roads, and so up the engine brow to the pit. The mine was very slightly damaged by the explosion, it being difficult to trace the direction of the blast beyond the vicinity of the working places in "Fidler's level." I found gas prevailing in nearly every working place in this district, also in each working place was found candles, matches, bottles with loose powder, fuze, iron rammers, &c. There were indications of an explosion in Hodson and Yates' place, being the furthest in the goaf, and from all the circumstances connected with the case I am led to the belief that the explosion originated in this place (the gas coming from the old goaf), burning the two men so severely that they died a few days after; the force of the explosion had evidently gone outbye, and probably killed the two boys at the junction of the level with the engine brow, where it could be traced no further; the concussion from the explosion in "Fidler's level" must have disturbed some gas which had been unobserved next the roof in "Park Lane Shunt," where it would be fired by the open lights, the result was that one man and two boys were killed besides some others being burnt. I cannot account for their being killed in this district in any other way ; had the flame come from "Fidler's level" and travelled along the Park Lane level to the shunt, the indications would have been "inward," whereas they strongly showed an "outward" course of the blast.

The workings in the Park Lane District were undisturbed, nothing having apparently gone beyond the end of the shunt.

The colliery was worked with candles, both in whole and pillar working, up to the morning of the explosion, when unlocked lamps were given to some of the colliers, but this will be better explained from extracts of the evidence given at the inquest held on the bodies, herewith appended.

Joseph Moss, certificated manager, said he had charge underground at the Mesnes Colliery, where they were working the Yard and the Smith coals. The total volume of air for the pit was about 26,500 cubic feet per minute, two-thirds of which passed into the Yard coal. As far as witness could see the explosion had originated in Yates and Hodson's place, which was situated about 250 yards by the air-road from the intake. Yates and Hodson were taking up a pillar, at which they had been working for four or five months, the pillar being surrounded by old workings. During this time the goaf had made black damp, and on one occasion nearly four months before the accident, witness observed a small quantity of inflammable gas.

Witness was in the mine, in the office, near the "piteye," when the explosion occurred, and after sending Orrell, the underlooker, to see after the men and boys on the "Park Lane Shunt," exerted himself in sending men and boys up the downcast shaft. Yates and Hodson who were badly burned managed to reach the "piteye," but he did not know the route they took. Owing to some gas being given off, he gave directions some seven or eight months ago that the men should be sent in with lamps, until such time as the evidence of fire-damp had disappeared. Had only received one complaint of fire-damp, when gas was observed three or four months ago in Ralph Goulding's place, and about 130 yards further on than Yates' place. Was not aware that any shot had been fired immediately before the explosion. No powder was used in Yates' place. Witness had not been in Yates' place for about two months before the explosion. On the day after the explosion he found a considerable quantity of fire-damp in the place, which he thought come from the old goaf. On the morning of the explosion there was a fall of the barometer of from 5 to 6-10ths of an inch.

In answer to Mr. Peace, witness said "that the firemen made daily reports, and that there were no reports of gas giving off in the mine for a period of three months before the explosion, except on the 21st ulto., a few minutes before the explosion."

By Mr. Bell, "about 140 yards of 'Fidler's level' was unventilated, except by the leakage of the doors, and about 160 yards in the Park Lane Shunt. The lamps with which the men worked were not locked, although he was aware that when used they are required by the Mines Regulation Act to be locked. Since the accident the lamps have been locked. There were four men working at the bottom of the downbrow at the bottom end of Fidler's level, although the places were practically left without ventilation, the only air obtained being given through the means of a fallen place. Witness did not consider it the proper way to ventilate a mine through a goaf, the gasses given off there passing by the men. Yates and Hodson had lamps on the morning of the explosion, but some candles were afterwards found in the place."

Joseph Orrell said "he was underlooker at the Mesnes Colliery, and had acted in that capacity for only nine or ten days when the explosion occurred. He visited Yates' place at the latter's request about an hour and a half before the explosion, and found a little gas on the roof. They put up three or four yards of brattice and the gas disappeared. Before leaving the place he told them not to use any more naked lights, but that lamps should be used for the future. He afterwards directed Yates and Hodson to put up a few more yards of brattice, in order to send the ventilation right up to the face, and there was no candle lighted when he left. He examined the lamp used by Yates before leaving the place, but did not lock it. He was cognizant of the requirements of the Act of Parliament and the old Special Rules in operation at the pit."

Ralph Goulding, collier, said "that at the time of the accident he was working in the bottom place of the down brow off 'Fidler's level' He heard no report, but felt a 'sucking' which did not affect his lamp. Thinking that it was an explosion he left his place, and on going towards the shaft came to the after damp, and soon after reached fresh air just above Yates' place. Shouted to Yates and Hodson to follow him but they did not; had only seen fire-damp in the pit on one occasion, and that was three or four months ago in the bottom of the level; it disappeared in the course of ten minutes; he informed Mr. Moss and was told that if any fire-damp was seen on the succeeding morning the driving must be stopped. Received instruction from Orrell two or three days before the accident to use a lamp, and was working with one on the day of the accident. On the morning of the explosion he saw Orrell who said he was going to give orders that nobody must work there any more with naked lights, and that they must have locked lamps on the following morning."

John O'Neil, collier, said "he was working in the first place in the same down-brow as last witness at the time of the accident. About half an hour before the accident the underlooker came to witness and told him to put his candle out. He did so and afterwards worked with his drawer s lamp."

By Mr. Bell. "There was no lock on the lamp, Orrell said locks would be brought into use on the following day."

William Broxon, collier, corroborated the evidence of the two last witnesses.

Robert Bolton said "he had been fireman at the Mesnes pit for five or six years. On the morning of the explosion, about a quarter past two, he visited Yates and Hodson's place and found all right. At a quarter past seven he visited it again and found all right. On the occasion of his second round witness found a small cap of gas in the bottom place in the down-brow. About seven or eight months since he found a small quantity of fire-damp in Yates and Hodson's place, and once since had seen a small cap there."

By Mr. Bell. "It has been customary to use unlocked lamps. A barometer was hung up at the office door, but witness was not aware that if the barometer was falling gas was likely to be found."

Patrick O'Brien, of the Wigan Borough Police Force, said "he visited Hodson (since, dead) on the Tuesday following the accident, and found him in a dangerous state, his life being despaired of Hodson, in reply to witness, said he could not tell how the explosion occurred, but that an hour previously he noticed gas in the place and he and Yates went out, when they met Orrell, and turned back again to put up some brattice cloth. Hodson said that he had not used a lamp for four years and was using a candle at the time of the explosion, Hodson said the underlooker had told him to bring a lamp next morning."

William Kellett, mining engineer, said u that he inspected the mine after the explosion. The mine had for a long time been safely worked with candles but after the inspection he had made did not consider it safe to work with naked lights."

Mr. Bell, Government Inspector, said "he inspected the mine the day after the explosion. He thought the men in the down-brow should have been called out before driving the gas by brattice out of Yates and Hodson's place. He considered the principal of ventilation in the pit was wrong, that instead of the air first passing through the goaves upon the men, it should be reversed and return through the goaves. He thought that there would be no difficulty in reversing the ventilation in this instance. The indications were that the explosion had originated in Yates and Hodson's place, that it had gone by the top of the down-brow into 'Fidler's level' and being fed with gas in the dead part of both levels, so on to the engine brow. The force of explosion must have disturbed gas in the Park Lane level, where it would be ignited by the open lights there, which would account for the force of the explosion in that district."

By Mr. Pickard, miners agent (who appeared on behalf of the workmen) "I have received as inspector instructions from the Home Office to prohibit the use of iron stemmers tipped with copper."

By the Coroner. "I found an iron stemmer below, there was no evidence of its being used."

Mr. Peace said "it had nothing to do with the Act of Parliament, we have not reached the point when the laws are made by the Home Secretary. The Act says, 'that it shall not be used for ramming either the wadding or the first part of the stemming on the powder, ergo, it may be used for ramming the last part in.'" Mr. Bell said "the Act does not state that it shall be used in the latter part of the stemming." Mr. Peace said "that it was only a fair and reasonable conclusion to be drawn from this rule; that if it is not used in the first part, it may be used in the last."

Mr. Bell did not agree with him.

Mr. Pickard remarked that hundreds of pounds had been laid out by the workmen in having iron stemmers tipped with copper. Mr. Peace here remarked "that the instructions given by the Home Office are beyond the Act."

The Coroner having summed up, the jury, after a few minutes deliberation, found a verdict of accidental death in each case, adding "that in their opinion the explosion had taken place in Yates and Hodson's place by the use of a candle instead of a lamp, and they thought that in all cases where lamps were used in mines they should be locked.

• 1873 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 1056), West Lancashire and North Wales District by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 275 Where to find this report
• 1873 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 1056), West Lancashire and North Wales District by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 287, Accident Number: 90 Where to find this report

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