Description

This occurred at the Dalton Crossgate Mines, belonging to the Askam and Mouzell Iron Ore Company, near Dalton-in-Furness. The mine was worked 25 or 26 years ago, and after large quantities of ore were raised, was abandoned, since which time the surface has subsided and all the workings in the ore ground have crushed down and closed. In the early part of 1887, the mine was re-opened. On driving into the ore ground in the 85 yards level, gas was observed, and whilst men were working they broke into what is termed a lodge of gas, which was ignited and exploded, burning the face and arms of one of the men, causing him to be off work several weeks. At this time the level was discontinued, and its working not resumed until March, 1888, when deceased and others commenced to work in it. During the time it was standing the manager, Mr. Henry Mellon, stated to me that he had inspected the place for gas, and that the foreman had visited it frequently, but on no occasion had gas been found. After the slight explosion in 1887 safety lamps were purchased and kept in the office, about 300 yards from the pit top. The mine was ordinarily worked with naked lights, in fact altogether so, except when men suspected a dangerous accumulation of gas.

From the evidence given at the inquest there appeared to be an utter want of organisation, and great laxity of discipline. Three underground captains were employed on the work, two of whom were examined at the inquest. It appeared to them to be quite sufficient to warn men that if they saw any gas there were safety lamps in the office." The gas appeared to be considered quite harmless, and when seen the best way to deal with it was to ignite it, in fact the workmen are provided with long sticks (the workings are high) upon which to fix their candles and thus "try" for gas, and apparently when thus found then safety lamps were used.

The gas which is found in a few of these iron ore mines is supposed to be produced by the decaying timbers used in timbering and packing the working places. Timber for these purposes is used in very large quantities. The most primitive ventilation, however, would dispose of all danger from this source, and not only is ventilation requisite for this, but for the general health of the miners, which cannot fail to be affected by breathing the products of combustion from enormous quantities of gunpowder and other explosives used in these mines. "Natural ventilation" is much depended upon, which in many cases is nothing more than natural stagnation.

In this connexion I beg to repeat what I said in my last annual report bearing on the matter.

"I am glad to report a manifest improvement in the attention paid to ventilation in these mines since they have been under inspection. There is, however, room for still further improvement in this and in other respects, and I am of opinion that in any further revision or amendment of the Metalliferous Acts more stringent regulations should be applied to these mines than to the lead, copper, tin, and other mines under the Acts."

I think it may serve a useful purpose to quote the coroner's summing up of the evidence, and the remarks of the jury, at the inquest held on the deceased man, as extracted from a local newspaper at the time.

The coroner, in summing up, said a year ago, an explosion occurred whereby a man named Williams was injured, but fortunately not fatally. After this accident the company obtained safety lamps, which were kept at the offices, but could be used by the men. It seems from the evidence that after Williams was burnt the pit stood idle until a week before the accident happened to deceased. When work was resumed in the pit no foul air appeared, but there was no doubt whatever that there was gas somewhere in the pit. The captains and men knew that it was a suspicious place, and greater precaution than ordinary should have been taken. Ainsworth, one of the captains, told Kendall, the charge workman of the "set," to use the safety lamps instead of naked lights, and he (the coroner) thought that Ainsworth properly discharged his duties. It seems, from the evidence of Troy, another workman present with deceased at time of accident, that Kendall repeated to the other men that there were lamps in case of fear, and they were to use them. So far as the company wcre concerned, they had proper things provided in case of foul air making its appearance, and the safety lamps were for the men to use. Deceased and Troy knew it was a suspicious place and that considerable care would be required. He was bound to say that Cornthwaite, as a mining captain, had not properly done his duty. The place had been left standing over the week end, and to all appearances gas had accumulated during that time, and it was his (Cornthwaite's) duty to have seen that the place was safe before the men proceeded to their work. He ought to have gone himself or gone with the men. That would have been the proper course if he had adopted it. The general rule, it appeared, was to carry a naked light on the end of a stick, and then, if gas were observed, to bring the safety lamps. Hitherto all miners probably in that district had set the foul air on fire, and no doubt the deceased adopted a system which was always carried out. The miners should exercise greater care when they knew there was danger. They should have used the safety lamps. They did not think it was necessary to use the safety lamps, and they took the risk, and the risk unfortunately resulted fatally. The captains occasionally have the impression that their duty does exist in the pit, but they don't go; it existed whether they went or not. The masters thought they placed proper and responsible men over the miners, and they ought to carry out their duties efficiently. If he thought that the fatal accident to Poole was by wilful neglect of the company or their men he should most certainly advise them (the jury) to pass a verdict of manslaughter against them. The miners depended on the captains for safety, therefore they (the captains) have onerous and important duties to perform, and they ought to see that they were faithfully and properly performed. Cornthwaite, in his opinion, should have taken greater care, and he (the coroner) believed that Cornthwaite would have taken greater precaution if he had thought there was any gas in the place.

The jury then retired to consider their verdict, and after ten minutes' deliberation they returned, and the foreman (Mr. Fisher) announced that they were unanimous in a verdict of "Accidental death," but desired to add a rider to the effect that they found, after carefully. and impartially weighing the evidence, that Cornthwaite had not taken that proper precaution which he ought to have done in examining the mines, especially when there were suspicions of foul air existing. The present system of examining the mines previous to working was effected in a most careless manner, and the suspicions ought to have led to better precautions being taken.

The coroner said this accident occurred through proper and careful precautions being avoided. If better means of testing a place where there was a suspicion of gas had been adopted the accident might have been frustrated. In future he hoped that in any place safety lamps would be used for the purpose of testing a place; it was a more careful way than using naked lights. He trusted other mining companies in that district would carry out the suggestion.

Mines Inspectors Report Entry

Sources

• 1888 Mines Inspectors Report (C 5779), Newcastle District (No. 3) by James Willis, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 22 Where to find this report
• 1888 Mines Inspectors Report (C 5779), Newcastle District (No. 3) by James Willis, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 36, Accident Number: 6 Where to find this report

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