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On May 6th a serious accident occurred at the East Hetton Colliery the property of Messrs. Walter Scott, Limited, through an inrush of water from some old workings, causing the death of 10 persons.

The accident occurred at 3.30 a.m. when only a limited number of men were in the pit, had it occurred during the day shift the loss of life would probably have been much greater.

The first intimation of anything being wrong was one of the charge men noticing some water coming out in the face of some long wall workings in the Harvey seam, about a mile north of the winding shaft. Steps were taken to warn the men who were in the workings at the time, and it seems probable that most of them might have got out if they had started at once without stopping to put their clothes on, as two men did manage by keeping hold of the rope on the main haulage road to get through though up to their necks in water. The others appear to have turned back on seeing the water and tried to come up by another road, but the water rose so rapidly that the passage got blocked before they were able to get through.

In order to make it more plain two plans accompany the Report, one shewing the workings in the Harvey seam and the other on a larger scale the immediate site of the holing.

On hearing of the accident Mr. Tate the agent, Mr. Chipchase the manager, the overmen, deputies and several workmen were rapidly on the spot and descended the pit, the water being then 3 feet or more deep on the flat sheets and it was found impossible to penetrate far into the workings.

It was soon found that the water had receded from its ordinary level in the old Cassop shaft (see Plan) situated a few hundred yards from the long wall workings already referred to, and as it was known that a considerable feeder of water was making in this pit, and that the five quarter and main coal seams had been worked there some years previously, it was determined to fill up the shaft and try to stop the inflow, or, as it was graphically described at the time, to "get a plug in."

With this object a large engine house near by was blown down and thrown into the pit together with large quantities of clay and lime and anything which was rapidly available, at the same time water tanks and the pumps at East Hetton were kept going to their utmost capacity, and after some hours it was found that the water slowly began to lower shewing that the plug in the Cassop shaft was holding in some degree Subsequently this proved to be very effectual only a small feeder finding its way into the workings.

Owing to the irregular gradient of the road it was a slow process getting the water down, and operations were further delayed by considerable quantities of gas being met with at various points, the water having reached the roof both in the intake and return and stopping all air from passing.

Every effort was made at great personal risk by the explorers, consisting of the staff of the colliery and mining engineers and managers from the surrounding collieries and representatives of the workmen to reach the entombed men, but owing to the slow rate at which the water was falling and the quantities of gas met with after two days all hope of rescuing them alive was abandoned, but on the morning of the 10th, Mr. Chipchase heard something moving in the water and rushing in found a man making his way out.

It turned out to be a deputy named Wilson who had been imprisoned since 3 a.m. on the 6th or about 100 hours.

It was afterwards discovered that finding himself hemmed in he had climbed up onto the woodwork supporting one of the horizontal sheaves connected with the haulage arrangements, the water being about 3 feet deep underneath him and there he remained. This sheave is fixed upon a piece of high ground and though the water, was roof high both outside and inside of him sufficient air remained in the cavity to support life. He was naturally very weak from his long imprisonment without food, but his intellect was perfectly clear and under medical care, he soon recovered and within 3 months resumed his duties as if nothing had happened. It seems probable that he was asleep or in a semiconscious condition for a considerable part of the time as he had quite lost gauge of the time, and when rescued thought he had been in only about 24 hours. He also happened to be the last person brought out alive from the Trimdon Grange pit after the explosion in 1882.

The first of the bodies were recovered on the 12th and 5 more on the 13th, but it was not until the 26th that the last body was recovered.

I cannot speak too highly of the energy and resourcefulness displayed by all classes of persons during a very anxious and dangerous time; when every one did his utmost, it would be invidious to mention any one in particular. Mr. Tate, Mr. Chipchase, and all the colliery staff and their workmen, as well as the neighbouring viewers were constantly on the spot. Mr. Wilson, M.P., Mr. Johnson, and other officials of the miners' union took an active part in the exploration, and Mr. Plummer, Mr. Walker, and myself were constantly at the mine. It was apparent to every one that the water had come through from the old Cassop colliery, but for some time the absolute reason could only be conjectured.

Great delay was experienced in reaching the point of holing owing to the heavy falls which had taken place, specially in the neighbourhood of the troubles or faults which cross the road near the working face. More than a thousand tubs of debris were filled in one place without, having any appreciable effect, and it was found necessary to pile through this, and another place further in, in order to reach the face. At last, on August 18th, the holing was reached and all remaining uncertainty as to the cause of the inundation was set at rest. It was seen that a clean holing had been made into some old workings coming from the direction of the old Cassop shaft upwards of 300 yards distant.

Before commencing to work this coal the colliery company had endeavoured to get all information about the old workings. Plans of the five quarter and main coal were forthcoming, but no plan of the Harvey seam could be found, and from statements made by various people who had been connected with the pit and men who had worked there, it appeared that only a short distance had been driven in this seam, an error which cost 10 valuable lives and serious pecuniary loss to the company.

Mr. Bell, who upwards of 30 years ago had been connected with Cassop, and who subsequently was for many years the inspector in charge of this district, had an interview with Mr. Tate sometime before they commenced working this seam, and in his presence put a circle on the working plan, having a 300 yards radius from the Cassop pit, and told him he was quite sure if he kept outside this line he was absolutely safe and probably might with the precaution of boring go to a great deal nearer. He repeated this in evidence before the coroner, but it is certain that more coal had been worked than he knew of.

The bore hole shown on the plan on the east side nearest Cassop was put in in order to prove the position of a fault, which according to the plans of the five quarter and the main coal seams was shewn to exist about this point, not in any way as a protection against old workings, and was not even driven in accordance with the regulations laid down for such purposes, no danger was anticipated and no old workings were tapped.

The inquest after two adjournments was resumed by Mr. Crofton Maynard on the 1st September and lasted two days, ending in a verdict of accidental death, the jury exonerating the company and officials from all blame.

A large amount of evidence was taken as to the previous workings in the Harvey seam from the Cassop shaft, but no information was forthcoming beyond what I have already given.

Considerable interest was shown in the enquiry, the large school room at Kelloe in which the inquest was held being full on both days.

The company were represented by Mr. Stanton, solicitor of Newcastle, Mr. Atherley Jones, Q.C., M.P., instructed by Mr. Isadore Issacs, represented the relatives of the deceased men, and the Durham Miners' Association was represented by Mr. J. Wilson, M.P., Mr. Foreman, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Cann.

After laying the facts before you it was not thought necessary that Counsel should attend on behalf of the Home Office. Mr. Plummer, Mr. Walker, and myself were present and took part in the enquiry.

The jury after a careful hearing and consulting about an hour returned the following verdict :—