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John Richardson
| Age: | 31 |
| Died: | 22nd Apr 1895 |
| Accident: | 22nd Apr 1895 5:30 PM, 1st hour of shift |
| Year Born: | abt. 1864 |
| Colliery: | Heddon |
| Company: | Heddon Coal and Firebrick Co. |
| Occupation: | Shifter |
| Notes: | explosion of firedamp; a little gas had been seen in this place and deceased had been warned by the under manager; his work was away from this spot, and he had no reason for putting his candle up as he had done; safety lamps are now used |
| Buried: | [not known] |
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The fatal explosion, No. 2 on list, occurred on the 22nd April at Heddon Colliery, Northumberland, whereby John Richardson was so severely burned that he died in the Newcastle Infirmary, on May 2nd. It was extremely difficult to get at the actual facts of the accident, but I was satisfied that there had been gross carelessness in the matter, and with your permission took proceedings against the manager for defective ventilation, but the case was dismissed, on the ground, that in view of the fact that he was only temporarily in charge, in the absence of the regular manager, he had taken all reasonable means, and was then doing so, to provide a sufficient supply of air. The deceased was sent to repair a roadway, near to a place where there was a hole in the roof, which was ventilated by means of brattice cloth stretched horizontally, just under the hole. Nevertheless, firedamp had collected in the hole, and this was ignited by the deceased's candle as he was passing the place. It was at first stated that firedamp had never been seen in the mine, but I elicited the fact from one of the men that gas had been lighted up at the same spot about a week before, but without injury to anyone. This, it transpired, was known to some officials, but I can quite believe that the temporary manager, as he stated, was in ignorance of the matter. It is certain that considering the ventilation of the mine was in its ordinary condition, it could not be said to be other than defective, when firedamp could accumulate at a point where the whole current was directed upon it. Safety lamps are now used, but it is to be regretted that this precaution was not taken in the first instance.
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- 1895 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8074), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 25, Accident Number: 97 Where to find this report
- 1895 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8074), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 9 Where to find this report
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