Fatal Colliery Explosion

An explosion occurred yesterday shortly before midday at Preston colliery, two miles west of North Shields, as a result of which three men are known to have been killed, while a considerable number more have been injured.

During the past year new shaft has been in course of construction, the work being done by men in the employment of Mr. William Alder, of Whitley. The shaft was nearing completion, and yesterday a number of men were working in it at a depth of about 33 fathoms from the surface, walling up a place where the shaft intersects some old workings. Just before noon an explosion of gas occurred in the shaft, blowing to pieces the platform upon which the men were working. Three of the men fell into the deep sump at the bottom of the shaft and several others were injured and caught in the debris which encumbered the shaft. The report of the explosion was heard for a considerable distance and was carried even to Chirton, where most of the workmen reside and where it created at once a scene of great excitement. Several medical gentlemen were soon upon the scene, and valuable assistance was rendered by Dr. Frazer, of North Shields, and his assistant, Mr. George Hair, and by Mr. Reeves, timekeeper of the colliery, who did everything in their power to alleviate the sufferings of the injured men. The body of Frank Martin, who lodged at Front-street, Preston, and who, it is understood, belonged to London, was in the shaft and was recovered without much difficulty. Two others are known to have been killed ; these being James Cole, of the Deans, South Shields, and Frank Duns, master sinker, of Trevor-terrace, North Shields. Their bodies fell into the water at the foot of the shaft, where it was 11 fathoms deep and continued to rise. They had not been recovered at a late hour in the afternoon.

The following were injured and were taken to Tynemouth Infirmary :— Samuel Mordue (24), 76, Robertson-street, South Shields, bricklayer ; John Gallagher (25), 16, Back Commercial-road, South Shields ; William Killen (49), 2, North-terrace, Preston, sinker ; Robert Dainbridge (15), 17, Mill-street, Chirton ; and Thomas Everitt (17), 9, Bulman's-main, Preston. Thomas Tenant was removed to his home, 13, Front-street, Preston, and James Ross was also taken to his home. Samuel Mordue is reported to be in a critical condition at the infirmary ; the other men have received burns more or less severe about the hands and face, but none, fortunately, have fractured limbs. Mr. William Alder, the contractor for the new shaft, was among the injured, but remained about the place for some time looking after his men in spite of the fact that he was much burnt. In the end, however, he had to be conveyed home in a cab in a state of collapse.

The officials of the colliery, aided by a number of policemen and civilians, worked energetically to remove the injured men from the shaft. Men were engaged in the underground workings at the time of the explosion, but these were not affected, the explosion having spent its force in the shaft. The gas came from the old workings which the men were walling up, but how it became ignited is at present inexplicable.