An extraordinary accident happened in February, 1915, at the Eden Colliery, Durham, whereby two persons lost their lives and three others were seriously injured. In driving a drift from the surface at this mine, gelignite explosive was used, and owing to the cold weather several of the cartridges became frozen. The five men concerned had come out of the mine for their "bait" and were standing around a blazing fire-bucket near a cabin, when one of the men observed that the cartridges in his tin were frozen. Another man suggested that the tin should be put into the ashes of the fire to thaw. This was done, but as the tin did not warm up as quickly as required the same man placed the tin upon the top of the fire. One of the men appeared to think that this was not a good practice, so he first placed an iron plate over the fire and the tin of cartridges upon it. "Not being able to get near the fire, and being cold," he said, "I went into the cabin and sat down. In a few minutes' time an explosion took place at the fire lamp, and I was knocked through the end of the cabin."

It is really very difficult to understand how anyone could be so foolish as to treat explosives in this manner.

Neither the contractor driving the drift nor the manager of the colliery had provided a warming pan. In view of this contravention proceedings were taken against the manager. He pleaded guilty to the offence and was ordered to pay the costs of the case, but no conviction was recorded against him.