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REPORT
On the Causes of, and Circumstances attending, the Explosion which occurred at Louisa (including Morrison Old) Colliery, Durham, on 22nd August, 1947.
Minister of Fuel and Power,
7, Millbank, London, S.W.1.
Sir,
In accordance with instructions, I beg to submit my report on the circumstances of an explosion which occurred at Louisa (including Morrison Old) Colliery, Durham, when twenty-one persons lost their lives and three others were injured.
I attended the adjourned Inquest held before Mr. Wm. Carr, H.M. Coroner for the West Chester Ward of the County of Durham, sitting with a jury of nine men, which occupied two whole days. The Coroner gave every facility for calling and examining witnesses, and twenty-three were called by him at my request. It was agreed by all the parties represented that the Inquest had been thorough and exhaustive, and I would like here to express my thanks to the Coroner for his courtesy in this matter. He recorded the following verdict :-
"In the case of the nineteen the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning
and accidental death as a result of an explosion of methane and air at the Louisa
Old Pit, and in the case of the two it was toxaemia and circulatory collapse due to
burns accidentally sustained."
The Foreman stated that the Jury found it had been established that matches
and cigarettes had been found in the Morrison North Pit and that they would
like the Press to make an appeal to the men who are carrying on these practices;
that they appreciate the difficulties of the deputies in searching men at the
commencement of the shift, as those who are so inclined will find a way, but
they think if there was more co-operation between the management and the men
these practices would stop.
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