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I am back-shift deputy in the Croxdale way. I have been 15 years in the colliery and have always worked in the Brockwell. I have been two years in the Croxdale way. I examined the edge of the goaf for gas from the Croxdale way, but found none. I was last in the Croxdale way on the 17th, the day before the explosion. I rode to bank at 5.25. I saw no trace of gas that day, and in my opinion the pit was perfectly safe when I rode to bank.

(Mr. Bowey.) You were down after the accident? — Yes, about a quarter to four o'clock on Tuesday, the 18th.

What district did you go into? — Towards Shieldfield.

What did you observe on the way? — I observed Andrew Coldwell.

Did you observe anything with the timber? — The timber was blown out.

All of it? — No, only some of it.

Whereabouts was that? — It was blown out of the shaft.

In the neighbourhood of where Coldwell was found? — There was no timber where Andrew Coldwell was found.

Was it in the drift? — Yes, just at the bottom of the bank.

Where did you see any timber? — Over in-bye.

But whereabouts was it. How far from the shafts? — About 200 yards. All the timber that I saw was blown in-bye.

(Mr. Morley.) On the 20th February you made a report that you found all in working order except a waggon way door. Where was this? — It was in the waggon way at Croxdale, opposite the landing.

Was this a single door? — Yes.

And when this door was down the air would be kept from Sunderland Bridge way? — Yes, till we got another up.

How long would it be before you could get another put up? — May be.

If you had two doors would the air have been cut off? — No, unless the run had caught them both and knocked them down (laughter).

(Mr. Willis.) Does it often happen that you have doors knocked down? — No, sir.

Do you report it in your book when a door is knocked down? — Yes.

I am a back-shift deputy in the Coldstream district. I have known the pit above 14 years and I have been deputy turned 12 years. I examined the Coldstream district for gas, but for the last 12 years I have seen none. I have looked for it every shift. I have never fired any shots in the Coldstream district because the coal is easy to work there. I came to bank on the 17th at 5.15, and I then considered the pit perfectly safe. There was nothing to lead me to suppose there was any danger. I went into the Team Valley district on the morning of the explosion and then went into Sunderland Bridge towards Coldstreams. I was on the in-bye side of Shieldfield but did not go as far as Croxdale. I saw no indications as I went in-bye from the pit, nothing to show where the blast had gone. We found Coldwell lying on the way, lying on the trouble with his head out-bye.

(Mr. Bowey.) I have no questions to ask this witness, and I do not know why he has been called.

(Mr. Edge.) I am calling them from different districts.

(Mr. Bell.) You never heard of any gas being found along this goaf edge? — No, sir.

Did White never tell you he had seen gas upon that goaf edge? — No, sir.

Did you never look at the goaf end? — Yes, many hundreds of times.

We have it that other men have found gas there, and I want to know how it is that you, a deputy, have not seen it? — I have never found it.

I am a wasteman, and I was down the pit on the night of the 17th. I went into the Team Valley district. I did not hear the explosion, and the first I knew of it was Thomas Cowie coming in and bringing me out. Thomas Jones was with me that night. George Wallace was at the engine. The explosion did not occur at Team Valley.

I am an engineman at Tudhoe Colliery, below ground engine. I was at the two specials and a boiler near the East Pit. I had just been firing and got away from the door when the pit fired. I sustained no injury whatever by the accident. It took place about a quarter past one o'clock in the morning of the 18th. Fire came out of the fire hole for about six yards, and this was all I felt. I was in the Team Valley about the middle of the shaft.

(Mr. Edge.) How far was that off.

(Mr. Johnson.) 900 or 1,000 yards.

(Mr. Bell.) Can you tell me whether you felt one or two shocks? — Just one, sir.

Are you quite sure there were not two? — Yes, quite sure, sir.

I am a pumping engineman at Tudhoe Colliery. I was at the pumping engine between the east and the west shafts on the morning of the explosion. I was on my usual seat in the engine-house, and I heard a fearful crash, and I remember being thrown on the floor, and I can remember nothing else.

(The Coroner.) How far were you from the bottom of the shaft? — About 20 yards, sir.

Where were you when you came to your senses? — I felt about, and felt my way by the pipe to the shaft.

Which shaft did you get to? — To the East Pit.

Is there anything else you can tell us about this matter? — No, sir, I cannot tell you anything more.

(Mr. Bell.) Can you give us any idea in what direction it came? — No, sir.

Did you see any flame? — No, sir.

Was the boy Pattison on your engine? — No, sir, no one but myself.

There is another engine on the other side of the West Pit? — Yes, a hauling engine.

And there is another engine in the intake away from the East Pit, the Sunderland Bridge way? — Yes, sir. My engine was between the two shafts.

(Mr. Morley.) Can you say in which direction the blast seemed to come from? — No, sir, I never saw.

Did you hear the noise? — Yes, sir, I heard a noise, but could not say which way the blast came.

(Mr. Morley.) Were the doors blown down? — Yes, sir, clean out.

Which way were they blown? — I cannot say.