21^st October 1880

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The Seaham Colliery Explosion

The inquiry was resumed yesterday morning, at the Londonderry Literary Institute, Seaham Harbour, before Mr. Crofton Maynard. Mr. R. S. Wright, barrister, assisted by Messrs. Bell and Willis, Government inspectors of mines, and Mr. Atkinson, sub-inspector, appeared for the Home Office. Mr. John Edge was present on behalf of the owner of the colliery (Lord Londonderry) ; Mr. Atherley-Jones representing the Miners' National union. There were also present Mr. J. B. Eminson (Lord Londonderry's chief agent), Mr. Hall, Haswell, Mr. Johnston, Sherburn-hall ; Mr. Lishman, Bunkers-hill ; Mr. Corbett, chief viewer at Seaham Colliery ; Mr. Stratton, colliery manager ; Mr. T. Burt, M.P. ; Mr. Crawford, Mr. Wilkinson, and Mr. Patterson, Durham Miners' Association. There was a considerable attendance of miners and others of the public interested in the proceedings.

Before commencing to take evidence Mr. Wright said he had received a letter from the Home Office, and he believed the coroner had received a similar communication, enclosing an application from Mr. Alexander Macdonald, M.P., and Mr. W. Graham, on behalf of the miners, to the effect that the surviving workmen were anxious that some experimental chemists should attend the inquiry. The Home Office would give any application attention if they thought it desirable that there should be such a witness in attendance. Perhaps the coroner would agree with him that before any representation should be made to the Home Office they should have the precise points placed on paper to which the miners' representatives desired that such scientific evidence should be directed. The miners might desire evidence in regard to the coal-dust which would not require the attendance of a chemist, or they might desire to know whether coal-dust was a product of combustion, which did not necessitate such attendance. If they desired the attendance of some person skilled in the management of mines, that was a different matter.

The Coroner concurred in the observations of Mr. Wright.

Mr. Atherley-Jones said it was only natural that they should have evidence of a character on which the most complete reliance could be placed, not only by those conducting the inquiry, but also by those outside.

Mr. Wright said he might call such a witness, but he did not think it necessary for him to attend during the inquiry.

Mr. Atherley-Jones said perhaps it would be enough for him to say that it was the desire of those whom he represented that somebody should attend to give evidence of a scientific character as to the management of mines and this one in particular.

Mr. Wright thought no one would be more competent to give such evidence than Her Majesty's Inspectors who were present.

Mr. Atherley-Jones had no wish to say that they did not place entire confidence in the inspectors, but he meant that they should have the evidence of some one who entered into a wider field than the two gentlemen who were present.

Mr. Stratton was again called and being examined by Mr. Wright, said the main coal seam was sunk 105ft., the Maudlin the same, and the low main, instead of sinking away like the others, stops where it joins with the Maudlin. The Maudlin and low main were united for above half a mile. The general character of the coal was similar to that found in the northern pits. There were five districts in the colliery ; first, the No. 1 Hutton ; secondly, No. 3 Hutton ; thirdly, the Maudlin ; fourth, the main coal ; and fifth, the Harvey. He did not think that different managers had been following out different ideas. He thought the pit had been conducted on a very regular principle. At the time of the explosion they had an output of 2,000 tons per day on an average. They had a total number of hands of about 1,500. They could not use fans for ventilating. The total quantity of air might be put down at about 325,000 cubic feet per minute. He could not say what the water-gauge book recorded. They had not found the book. He had not caused any search to be made. It had apparently been lost or the importance of such a record forgotten. Since it was thought so important he would cause a rigorous search to be made for it. It had not been seen. There was no cause for any one to take it away.

Mr. Wright said the book, if at all possible, should be forthcoming, as it would probably contain an entry of the state of the water-gauge immediately before the explosion, and this would have a most important bearing on the temperature of the mine at that time.

The examination of the witness was then continued. He stated the diameter of each pit was 14ft. He had seen the places where shots were fired to the previous explosion, and found the results were that in No. 3 Hutton seam all the stones were removed, and in the blast at the Maudlin engine-way there were no signs whatever of removal. Blasting was absolutely necessary, as without that process the stone could not be removed. Three months before the explosion he had seen gas sufficient to show a blue cap on the top of the safety lamp. His experience of mines did not allow of him entertaining any fear of coal dust. In a passive state it was entirely harmless, and he believed if the atmosphere was laden with the substance no danger would accrue from a shot being fired into the centre of it. As regarded the dust which lay in the pit the day prior to the explosion, he took no samples of it. After the explosion he did not notice any unusual preponderance of the dust in any part, but his attention had never been particularly drawn to this. Where any one of the shots was fired he did not observe any great accumulation — not even such a collection as to warrant the necessity of clearing away. There were three different kinds of lamp in general use — viz., the Clanny, Davy, and Jack lamps. Shot-firers chiefly used the Clanny, deputies the Jacks, while the Davy lamp was not used by any special division of labourers. No naked lights were allowed except at the foot of the shaft and by the horsekeepers. Witness was then asked to verbally state his experiences below ground immediately after the explosion, and went on to give the impression first conveyed to his mind. On entering the mine on the afternoon of the fatal day he discovered on going down No. 1 shaft (Maudlin seam) that the fencing and lattice-work was altogether deranged, the shaft tubs destroyed, and the debris lying from south to north. The Maudlin doors were blown towards No. 3 pit shaft. Having gone through these he discovered a fall, and the body of a man, 50 yards in, and close by at the curve near to the bottom of No. 1 shaft, another body in a mutilated state. The tail rope and shields were blown up towards No. 3 shaft. He then went to No. 1 and found a new fall at the end of the curve ; he went down to look for the furnaces, and discovering them he found that the doors had been blown inwards. No. 2 boilers were reached, and these were still ablaze as if nothing had been the matter. He then went north to the caution-board, which he found uninjured about 15 yards from the shaft in the intake. There was another fall, and here he discovered the man Laverick. Finding standing fires at No. 1 cabin, he thought it advisable to return to bank for extinctors. Having accomplished this mission, he went back to the position which he had left. Getting into the engine-house, he discovered the body of James Dodgson blown all to pieces. It appeared he had been tending his pony and tubs, for he was found about 50 yards from them. Proceeding in-bye they found the first overcast blown out, and the bricks scattered right and left, most of them being driven towards the north. He presumed the No. 3 blast went into the South Hutton seam, because beyond were found two overcasts, where 13 bodies were found. Persevering further, a small fall was come to. No material damage was found, and live men were got out. There were some further technical details explained, when

The Coroner questioned the advisability of dealing further with Mr. Stratton's impressions of the first day, seeing that all the information he could convey was, they were assured, contained in his special report.

In replying to a question addressed to witness by Mr. EDGE, he said from the first of his going down the pit after the explosion he gave every attention possible to the recovery of survivors.

Mr. Wright did not doubt for a moment the courage and skill Mr. Stratton had displayed in such a trying position ; while Mr. Atherley-Jones, on behalf of the miners whom he represented, said they only had one feeling about Mr. Stratton, and that was one of thankfulness and gratitude for the sympathy and devotion which he showed to them during the lamentable calamity. These expressions were received with hearty applause by the whole of those in court.

Mr. Stratton's examination was now dispensed with until a further stage of the inquiry.

Two enginemen at bank, named Robert Trotter and William Hays, who were on duty when the explosion occurred, described the effects of the shock which they felt, saying also the lights were put out and several fixings blown down.

William Wetherell, overman, deposed that he had never known men afraid to fire shots. He had never seen dust about. Every day a man gathered up all the small coal from the trolley ways, and with it the dust.

The Court now adjourned until this morning, at half-past 10 o'clock.