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Date:	1st February 1897
Colliery:	Seaton Delaval, Hastings Pit
Company:	Seaton Delaval Coal Co., Ltd.
Cause:	By explosives
Lives Lost:	2
Category:

No. 36. This accident, which occasioned the loss of two lives, occurred on the 1st of February, at the Hastings Pit, Seaton Delaval Colliery, Northumberland.

William Watson and James Murphy, stonemen, were charging a top canch shot with gelignite when it exploded, killing Watson on the spot, and injuring Murphy so severely that he died two days afterwards. Watson and Murphy were described by various witnesses as specially careful and competent men, and they had been in the habit of using gelignite regularly for the past eighteen months. Wooden beaters are used for stemming gelignite, which was put up in cartridges of 1¼ inches diameter ; the diameter of the shot hole on this occasion being 2½ inches, So far as the facts could be ascertained, it appeared that the whole of the charge had been inserted, and when the explosion occurred, Watson was either stemming or pressing the explosives closely together, in order to make the back of the hole solid. In either case there is little doubt that the accident was caused by concussion, due to the unnecessary use of force with the stemmer. An impression prevails, and to some extent, even amongst experienced workmen, that with wooden beaters the element of danger in using the higher explosives is practically eliminated. That wooden tools are relatively safer than metal ones is indisputable, but as the foregoing accident testifies, the necessity for the exercise of care is still present.

Source:

1897 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8819), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 12 Where to find this report

	Murphy, James, aged 30, Stoneman, Explosion of gelignite shot [Inquest attended]
	Watson, William, aged 34, Stoneman, Explosion of gelignite shot [Inquest attended]
	All names found
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