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The Inquest

The inquest was opened on the 18th February by Mr. John Graham, Coroner for the Chester Ward of the County of Durham, and it was adjourned from time to time for the identification of the bodies as they were recovered and brought to the surface, and to take the evidence of the medical men as to the cause of death in the case of each of the 166 persons who lost their lives, viz. 165 who were found dead and one who, though rescued alive, subsequently succumbed to his injuries. The bodies of two of the persons who lost their lives remain unrecovered from the pit.

On 29th March the inquest was resumed for the purpose of proving the condition of the mine prior to the accident, and, of arriving, if possible, at the cause of the explosion. It was continued on the three following days.

Amongst those present at the enquiry were Mr. Reginald Guthrie, representing the Durham Coal Owners Association ; Mr. R. W. Cooper, of the firm of Messrs. Cooper and Goodger, Solicitors, Newcastle-on-Tyne, representing the Owners, the Manager and Undermanager of the Colliery, Mr. L. A. Atherley-Jones, K.C., M.P., instructed by Mr. H. F. Heath, Solicitor, Sunderland, representing the Durham Miners Association and the Miners Federation of Great Britain ; Mr. E. Shortt, Barrister-at-law, instructed by Mr. W. H. Bell, Solicitor, Sunderland, representing the Durham Deputies Association; Mr. A. Mundel and Mr. N. L. Parmeter, representing the Owners of the Towneley Estate; and Messrs. R. A. S. Redmayne (Chief Inspector of Mines), R. Donald Bain (District Inspector of Mines), H. Walker, W. J. Charlton (Assistant Inspectors of Mines), and R. Nelson (Electrical Inspector of Mines). There were also present Messrs. John Wilson, M.P., J. Johnson, M.P., W. House, S. Galbraith, T. H. Cann, and others representing the Durham Miners Association; and Messrs. E. Harvey, M.P., and H. Twist, of the Miners Federation of Great Britain.

At the termination of the Inquest, which had occupied in all ten days, the Coroner summed up and left nineteen questions for the jury to answer, which questions, after a retirement of three hours, they answered as follows :–

Question 1. – What was the cause of death in each separate case?

Answer. – As stated by the medical witnesses.

Question 2. – Was the Towneley seam in safe working condition (including cables and their insulators, electric and all other plant, whether worked by electricity or otherwise) when the deceased men and boys were working therein on the 16th of February, 1909, and up to the moment of the explosion, and had all proper precautions been taken by watering and sweeping to prevent dust explosion?

Answer. – All in good working order and all proper precautions taken.

Question 3. – Tilley seam. Was the Tilley seam in safe working condition (including cables and their insulators, electric and all other plant, whether worked by electricity or otherwise) when the deceased men and boys were working therein on the 16th February, 1909, and up to the moment of the explosion, and had all proper precautions been taken by watering and sweeping to prevent dust explosion?

Answer. – All in good working order and all proper precautions taken.

Question 4. – Busty seam – Was the Busty seam in safe working condition (including cables and their insulators, electric and all other plant, whether worked by electricity or otherwise) when the deceased men and boys were working therein on the 16th of February, 1909, and up to the moment of the explosion, and had all proper precautions been taken by watering and sweeping to prevent dust explosion?

Answer. – All in good working order and all proper precautions taken.

Question 5. – Brockwell seam – Was the Brockwell seam in safe working condition (including cables and their insulators, electric and all other plant, whether worked by electricity or otherwise) when the deceased men and boys were working therein on the 16th February, 1909, and up to the moment of the explosion, and had all proper precautions been taken by watering and sweeping to prevent dust explosions?

Answer. – All in good working order and all proper precautions taken.

Question 6. – Downcast shaft – Was the downcast shaft in safe working condition (including cables and their insulators, electric and all other plant, whether worked by electricity or otherwise) when the deceased men and boys were working therein on the 16th February, 1909, and up to the moment of the explosion, and had all proper precautions been taken by watering and sweeping to prevent dust explosions?

Answer. – All in good working order and all proper precautions taken.

Question 7. – Upcast shaft – Was the upcast shaft in safe working condition (including cables and their insulators, electric and all other plant, whether worked by electricity or otherwise) when the deceased men and boys were working therein on the 16th February, 1909, and up to the moment of the explosion, and had all proper precautions been taken by watering and sweeping to prevent dust explosion?

Answer. – All in good working order and all proper precautions taken.

Question 8. – Ventilation – Was the fan of sufficient capacity and was a sufficient current of air passed along in-takes and returns during the back shift?

Answer. – Yes, in both cases.

Question 9. – Lamps – Were the lamps issued to the men and boys in good condition and safe as against gas, and were they properly locked?

Answer. – They were issued in good condition and properly locked.

Question 10. – Was West Stanley Colliery in all respects properly provided with all the necessary mechanical power and materials necessary for the safety of the men and boys employed on the 16th February?

Answer. – In all respects the jury consider this has been done.

Question 11. – Were the manager, under-manager, overmen, deputy-overmen, master-shifter, engineers, enginemen (both steam and electrical), and all officials men of sufficient experience and ability, and did they discharge their respective duties in a satisfactory manner, and were the general and special rules in force at the colliery strictly complied with?

Answer. – We are of the opinion that all the officials as enumerated were competent men, and that all rules had been complied with.

Question 12. – In which seam did the explosion originate?

Answer. – In the Busty seam.

Question 13. – Was there one explosion, or more than one?

Answer. – One explosion. Not able to say if more than one.

Question 14. – In what part of the seam (or elsewhere) did the explosion originate, and in what other parts were there other explosions (if any)?

Answer. – On west way, Busty seam, between curve and air crossing.

Question 15. – Was the explosion gas or dust, or partly gas and partly dust explosion?

Answer. – A dust explosion.

Question 16. – How was the gas or dust ignited so as to cause the explosion?

Answer. – What was the cause of the ignition, the jury are unable to find.

Question 17. – Who, if any, one or more, is (or are), and in what respect culpable?

Answer. – No one.

Question 18. – Was the explosion the result of a cause or causes, which has or have not been,. and cannot be ascertained?

Answer. – A dust explosion. What was the cause of the ignition the Jury are unable to find.

Question 19. – Do the Jury desire to make any recommendations or suggestions for the guidance of the present or future owners of West Stanley Colliery, or other similar collieries?

Answer. – None.

At this point Mr. Atherley-Jones, speaking on behalf of the associations he represented, thanked the coroner for the able and impartial manner in which he had conducted the enquiry, and paid an eloquent tribute to the devotion and bravery of the officials and workmen and those who had assisted in the exploration of the mine, as well as to the generosity of the owners in providing immediate relief to those bereaved. The other legal gentlemen engaged in the case associated themselves with Mr. AtherleyJones’ remarks.

The proceedings then terminated.