| Individual Details | Individual Details | |||
 |
 |
|||
Benjamin Stephens
| Age: | 39 |
| Died: | 22nd Mar 1858 |
| Accident: | 22nd Mar 1858 |
| Year Born: | abt. 1819 |
| Colliery: | Aberaman |
| Company: | David Williams |
| Occupation: | Collier |
| Notes: | Explosion of gas |
| Buried: | [not known] |
| Category: |
 |
 |
| Description | |
|
|
No. 14. — Aberaman Explosion.
In the tabular list is an explosion of "gas," which took place at the Aberaman Colliery, belonging to Mr. David Williams.
Two men were employed in an exploring drift, intended to communicate with another colliery. This drift was four yards wide, and divided (or bratticed) with the rubbish from the coal for about 70 yards. The air would pass in one side of this "gob" and back along the heading. Large falls had taken place in this wind-way, and the ventilation had become inadequate. For days the men were obliged to retreat, and, indeed, to leave their work.
Benjamin Stephens, one of the deceased, whose depositions had been taken by the Coroner, George Overton, Esq., two days after the explosion, said, he and John Thomas commenced working at about 6 o'clock that morning, and continued on until 11 o'clock. When they went into work they did not observe much fire-damp, but on returning at 11 o'clock to go to dinner, I saw about twenty yards back along the drift some blowers, and soon discovered the place was full of fire-damp. The gauze of the lamp of John Thomas was red hot, and when he saw it John suddenly threw the lamp from his hand against the side or "gob," and an explosion immediately followed.
Little or no attention was paid to the rules established at this colliery, had there been, this accident would not have occurred.
The ventilation was inadequate for the safe working of the colliery. Safety lamps were used, but they were never examined or locked, although I had written to the owner and pointed this out to him on a previous occasion.
|
|
| Sources | |
|
|
- 1858 Mines Inspectors Report, by Thomas Evans, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 101, Accident Number: 14
- 1858 Mines Inspectors Report, by Thomas Evans, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 106
|
|
| Researchers | |
|
|
If you are researching Benjamin Stephens (e.g. for family tree purposes) and you would like to hear from others with the same interest then please complete the details in the following form. We will show the information you provide on this page so that you can be contacted.
Return
Return to Top
Contains public sector information licensed under the 
