|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|||
15. Theory of Messrs. Patterson and Wilson, representatives of the Durham Miners Association :–
That an explosion of gas and coal dust was caused by the firing of a shot at Brown s working place, the shot exploding accidentally before the firemen retired.
16. To make intelligible this theory, and that of Mr. Atkinson, who also refers the explosion primarily to the shot, it becomes necessary to describe in detail the place where the shot was admittedly fired. At the Hitch (shown by the red line in the plan bounding the Hitch North district on the west) the main intake way slopes down through a stone drift for a distance of 60 or 70 yards. The slope continues nearly down to Brown's working place, and the slope and some little way beyond it, up to within two yards of that place is damp. The sides of the way (though the water which runs down it does not cover them) probably get splashed by the men walking in the way and by the cowcatcher of the tubs, but in the stone cavities of the walls dust gets deposited. On the 27th March Brown's working place was reached for the first time by explorers and examined. In Brown's cross-cut were found a shovel, a beater, and a drill. In the middle of the main intake way, nearly opposite the shot hole, which was discerned in the stone wall side stood an empty tub, at the south side of which a hammer and a hack were lying, and a copper pricker standing against the wall, while underneath it, visible on the west side tip to the thighs, lay the body of the younger Brown face downwards, the head pointing south-eastwards. At the east side of the tub, in the middle of the way opposite the shot hole, lay a large stone 1 ft. 8 in. long, 14 in. broad, 13 in. deep, on the side of which was evident the grooving of the drill hole corresponding to that in the wall. Between this stone and the side of the wall, lying on his left side under the place where the shot was fired, his head pointing eastwards, his feet westwards, lay the elder Brown The upper portion only of the two bodies was burnt. The arm and both legs of the body under the tub were broken and a deep hole was driven in the head; the bones of the body under the wall (though one leg was alleged by an explorer to be broken) were stated not to be broken by the doctor. A wedge and a mall were stated to be found against the stone, and a Clanny lamp unlocked was found somewhere near the place. but it was never established by whom it was found or its exact place when found. The bodies of the two waggon-way men were found about 20 yards east of Brown's place, Walmsley in a stenton running northwards from the main intake, Wetherell as if he had just moved out of it. Opposite the points were found a tomahawk and a chisel. a lamp was hanging to a prop uninjured and an adze and a stretcher lay at the crossing. Two tubs were found standing about 20 yards east of the waggon-way men, one full of rubbish and stone, the other apparently containing similar material. At the spot marked 21 was found the body of Greener, a deputy, his head close to the exhaust pipe, whither he had evidently moved from some little distance in the hope of getting air.
17. In support of the theory that the shot was the primary cause of the explosion the following reasons may be assigned :–
| (a.) |
The admitted fact that a shot was fired in the shift in which the explosion happened although shot firing was but rarely practised in the West Pit.
| |
| (b.) |
The undisturbed condition of the portion of the main intake way, before referred to and of which the shot was the central point.
| |
| (c.) |
The work in which Walmsley and Wetherell were engaged ought to have been completed before the arrival of the men of the night shift, who were about to enter the pit at 9 p.m. Their retirement into the stenton notwithstanding their urgent work was remarkable unless a shot was about to be fired.
| |
| (d.) |
The rule of the colliery was that after lighting the fuse the stoneman should immediately lock his lamp. The stoneman's lamp was found unlocked somewhere near him.
| |
| (e.) |
The practice of stonemen after firing a shot is to clear the place where the shot has loosened the stone. In and about the place in the wall where the shot was fired loose stuff removable by the hand was discovered.
| |
| (f.) |
The position of the tools found in Brown's cross-cut and apparently laid aside for some purpose.
| |
| (g.) |
The limited area admitted by all in which the blast could have fired, and the objections before enumerated to the theory which placed that occurrence at 22 and 23.
|
18. The objections which were urged against this theory were as follows :–
| (a.) |
No accumulation of gas existed or could have existed in Brown's working place.
| |
| (b.) |
It was the duty of the Browns after lighting the fuse to go in opposite directions in order to warn others. It was argued that the position of their bodies indicated that they had returned from their refuges and resumed work after the shot had been fired, an inference confirmed by the position of some of their tools, which would not have been left near the shot, by the position of the big stone which could not have been blown by the shot to where it was found, and by the full tubs which, it was said, contained stones blasted down and placed therein after the firing of the shot.
| |
| (c.) |
The only possible manner in which the big stone could have arrived at its position, except by being moved there by the Browns, was by falling on the body lying beneath the shot hole and shelving off into the middle of the way. In such a case the body would have been crushed far more than it was proved to be.
|
It was argued therefore that the big stone was moved into its position by the Browns, and as admittedly it fell subsequent to the explosion, the shot which caused its fall did not cause the explosion.
19. To these objections it may be said that no greater difficulties can be assigned for the existence of gas at Brown's than at Quin and Harlow's working place; that whatever may be the duties of a fireman, experience has often shown that the habitual confronting of danger dulls the sense of caution, and that in consequence these duties are sometimes neglected; that the stone contained in the full tub might have been hacked down previously to the firing of the shot, and that the bodies of the two Browns were so decomposed that a very precise diagnosis of their injuries could not be expected of the medical man.
20. Theory of Mr. J. Atkinson, Assistant Inspector of Mines, — That an explosion of dust was caused by the firing of a shot at Brown's place.
21. All the reasons above enumerated in favour of Messrs. Patterson and Wilson's theory apply to and indeed were urged by Mr. Atkinson, whose able and exhaustive report read in evidence will well repay perusal ; but he attributed the explosion to the effect of the shot upon dust unmingled with gas, and was of opinion that before the explosion thus caused the Browns had retired into the stenton west of their working place, and had struggled out afterwards to the place where they were found.
22. In relation to this theory the objections raised against that of the miners were again urged, with the exception of those concerning the emission of gas.
It was further contended, and with the assent of a great majority of the witnesses, that Brown's stenton was too close to the shot to be a likely place of refuge for the stonemen, though probably a person situated there would not have been in general injured. It is also a matter of scientific controversy whether dust without any gas is capable of causing explosions, and the opinion of a great majority of scientific men appears to be at present that such explosions are conceivable only when exceptionally favourable circumstances exist for their occurrence. Having regard to the description given above of the condition of Brown's working place with reference to dust, and to the fact that the shot had done its work, and cannot therefore be termed a blown-out shot, I feel great difficulty in ascribing the explosion to the effect of the shot upon dust alone.
Contains public sector information licensed under the 
