There has been one fatal explosion of gas at the Crags Hall Ironstone Mines, the first for 25
years, and probably the only fatal accident from this cause, since this mining district was opened
out. There is occasionally a small quantity of gas given off from the shale overlying the bed
of ironstone, and when care has not been exercised it has accumulated and several people have
been burned with it; in this instance the manager gave instructions that the mine was to be
examined every morning before commencing work with a locked safety-lamp ; but, strange to
say, deceased, who was an experienced man, and whose son was head overman in charge of
this mine, took with him an open lamp or light as well as the safety-lamp to examine a place
which had been driven over a rise fault; a small quantity of gas had accumulated on the rise
side, which exploded at deceased's open light on entering; he was so much burned that he
died the same day.
| Source: | 1876 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 1734), Durham by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 272 Where to find this report |
Return
Return to Top
Contains public sector information licensed under the 
