The Washington Colliery Accident

The inquest was resumed, yesterday, at Washington, near Newcastle-on-Tyne, on the bodies of the 14 men and boys who were killed by the explosion at the Glebe Pit on February 20. Mr. A. T. Shepperd, deputy coroner, conducted the inquiry.

Mr. Mark Ford, manager of the colliery, said he considered that the ventilation of the mine was safe ; the quantity of air per man was very large. The explosive used was bellite which he considered safe. The most approved methods of firing shots were adopted in the mine. On the morning of the accident the place was inspected. After the accident he descended the mine and tested the air with a canary. He attributed the accident to the firing of a shot. It had been a good shot and he thought it had been a blown-out shot. The shot had been too strong for the work it had to do. The workmen had a right under the Act to inspect the mine for themselves and they occasionally did so. They last inspected it on December 20 and he believed they found everything in good order.

In answer to Mr. J. B. Atkinson, his Majesty's Inspector of Mines, the witness said he saw no reason to suppose that a lamp had caused the explosion, and no reason to imagine that there would be any naked light. The shot had blown out the gas which had ignited some firedamp in the place. He believed that all the men were working at the moment of the explosion as there was no symptom of alarm among them. He admitted that the term "safety" applied to permitted explosives might lead the men to use them where they would not use gunpowder.

Mr. Atkinson said that within the last 18 months they had had four explosions in the north of England — at Wingates, Urpeth, Whitehaven, and Washington — caused by permitted explosives.

In answer to Mr. Lambert, for the Lancashire Explosives Company, the witness said that any explosive might become dangerous if too strong a shot was used.

Mr. Atkinson was asked to make his report. He said that from observations made in the mine he had come to the conclusion that the initial cause of the explosion was the firing of a shot of the permitted explosive, bellite, by an electric battery in the bottom stone in the board in the low main seam. The shot did its work, lifting and loosening the stone, and all the stemming was driven from the stone so that there would be a rush of highly heated gases along the floor. The rush of gases from the explosive raised the dust which probably contained a considerable portion of firedamp, and this mixture was ignited by flames from the shot.

In answer to Mr. Heath, who represented the workmen, Mr. Atkinson said it would be better if shot-firers passed a simple form of examination. At any rate, there should be extreme care in the selection of these men as so much depended on them. He should call the mine a dusty one.

The jury found the explosion was accidentally caused by an overcharged shot, and that no blame was to be attached to any official or workman.