Description

Explosions of Gas.

There have been two explosions of gas in this district during the year under notice, causing the deaths of 27 persons. The first of these (No. 59 in the list) occurred at the Shincliffe Colliery belonging to Mr. Joseph Love, on the 27th September last, by which one person lost his life. Certain working places in a "swalley" were unfit to be set to work by reason of water having risen in them during the night. The deputy in his round of examination travelled as far as the edge of the water, but did not examine the working places notwithstanding the knowledge he had that a slight blower of gas existed in one of the back "bords" and that the rise of the water would contract the airway, and although he could have done so, as the water at its deepest point was less than three feet in depth. He, however, found other places for the workmen on the edge of the "swalley," and strictly charged them not on any account to go into their own places, and, as far as he was able, provided them with working tools, their own gear being in the places under water. One of the men not being satisfied with the shovel which had been given him, proceeded with a naked light to search for his own in one of the drowned "bords," and having reached the "place end" the gas exploded, causing him injuries of which he died.

The deputy, although he had determined not to set the places to work neglected his duty in not examining the whole of them, when he was aware of the existence of the "blower" and of the contraction of the airway consequent upon the rise of the water, and he committed a grave error in permitting the men to work in the adjoining places with naked lights, seeing that their ventilation depended upon air which had passed the small blower already mentioned. A considerable laxity in discipline was also shown by the hewer going into a place which he had been warned not to do.

Tombstone

Sources

• 1871 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 653), South Durham, Westmoreland, and Cleveland District by James Willis, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 10 Where to find this report
• 1871 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 653), South Durham, Westmoreland, and Cleveland District by James Willis, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 33, Accident Number: 59 Where to find this report
• Headstone(s) in St. Mary the Virgin Churchyard, Shincliffe
• National Burial Index published by The Federation of Family History Societies & Associates
• Tombstone photograph (T-02204-04-0002) © Kev Duncan

Researchers

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