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	Individual Details		Individual Details

Age:	57
Died:	22nd Nov 1871
Accident:	22nd Nov 1871
Year Born:	abt. 1814
Colliery:	Hook
Company:	T. Powell
Occupation:	Collier
Notes:	Killed by an explosion of gas
Buried:	[not known]
Category:

Explosions of Gas.

The fifth explosion occurred in the Hook Colliery, Haverfordwest, resulting in the deaths of two persons, and injuries, more or less serious, to 11 or 12 others.

Copy of Evidence at Inquest.

"Mr. Thomas Errington Wales, deposed :— I am inspector of coal mines for the South Wales district. I received no official report of this accident until the Monday after it occurred. On the next day I went to Hook Colliery, and made an examination of the workings where the explosion took place. I measured the quantity of air passing, and found it from 5,000 to 6,000 feet per minute. I do not consider this a large quantity of air, but I believe it would have been sufficient to carry off all the gas, if it had been properly applied ; but this was not done. The quantity of air which really reached the face of the workings, where of course it was most required, was very small indeed, and I found, as might have been expected, gas accumulated where the men were at work. That in my opinion, was clearly a breach of the first general rule. Men ought never to be allowed to work, not even with a safety lamp, where gas is lodged. From what I have seen in some collieries in this county and Carmarthenshire, 1 believe there is a tendency to introduce the use of the safety lamp as a substitute for proper ventilation, which is to be regretted. I would further observe that allowing gas, however small in quantity, either in or near a working place, is a violation of the first section of the Coal Mines Act ; and that in all such cases that come under my notice, it will be my duty to recommend proceedings against the parties in charge of the colliery. Wherever men are allowed to work in the presence of gas, I invite them to communicate with me at Swansea."

With your permission proceedings were instituted in this case against the manager of the colliery, for a violation of the first general rule of the Coal Mines Inspection Act. The case was tried by a bench of magistrates at Haverfordwest, and the full penalty of £20 was inflicted.

• 1871 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 653), South Wales District by Thomas E. Wales, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 133 Where to find this report
• 1871 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 653), South Wales District by Thomas E. Wales, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 140, Accident Number: 83 Where to find this report

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