The Snaefell Mining Disaster

At Laxey, yesterday the inquest concerning the death of the victims of the Snaefell mining disaster was resumed by Mr. Samuel Harris, coroner. Captain Kewley, the manager of the mine, stated in evidence that the ventilation of the mine was good. He described inspections made immediately before the disaster. In the course of an inspection on Wednesday last it was found that the timber supports had been burned, and that there were two falls in the shaft. In answer to Dr. Foster, inspector of mines, the witness admitted that on the Sunday before the disaster he had been told that smoke was being emitted from the ventilating-shaft, but when he looked he saw nothing uncommon. Dr. Haldane, the analyst employed by the Home Office to report upon the carbon-monoxide gas that had gathered in the mine, gave evidence as to the deadliness of the gas. Dr. Foster said that the generation of gas was undoubtedly due to the firing of the timber. This was probably caused by the careless leaving of a lighted candle-end upon the timber. He suggested that the timber should be rendered uninflammable or that steel should be used for purposes of support. He also urged that a cage should be used for ascents and descents in place of the existing ladder-way. The particular ladder-way was a good one, but ladder-ways, in his opinion, were antiquated and obsolete and wicked, though legal. He thought they should be prohibited by Act of Parliament. He could not say that the management were blameworthy in connexion with the disaster, but he thought the ventilation might be improved by the employment of a fan. A number of miners also gave evidence, and, the coroner having summed up, the jury found that death had resulted from the breathing of carbon-monoxide gas generated by fire in the mine. They recommended periodical inspections of the upcast shaft, and that better mechanical means for lowering and raising the men in the shaft should be employed. During the proceedings there was an angry scene between Mr. Kneen, representing the directors of the mining company, and certain jurors who, he declared, were not impartial.