1^st April 1909

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The Durham Colliery Disaster

Inquest and Verdict

Mr. John Graham, coroner for the Chester Ward district of Durham, yesterday resumed the inquiry into the circumstances of the West Stanley Colliery explosion on February 16, by which 168 lives were lost.

Mr. Philip Kirkup, engineer to Birtley Iron Company, said he could form no opinion as to where the explosion originated. The greatest damage had occurred within two hundred yards of the shaft, particularly in the Towneley and Busty seams. It was impossible to say definitely what had been the cause of the explosion. Experiments had shown how very explosive the Busty seam dust was ; that it ignited at 700deg. centigrade, and the Towneley dust at 970deg. centigrade. His suspicion was that the explosion occurred in the Busty seam.

The Coroner recalled the manager of the colliery, Mr. J. P. Hall, and questioned him regarding the railway curve in the Busty seam, where the explosion was supposed to have occurred.

The Coroner. — Is there anything extraordinary in the suggestion that friction from the flanges of the tubs' wheels coming in contact with the guard rails might cause sparks to be emitted ? — It is quite possible.

Is it not more than possible ; is it not highly probable ? — Yes.

Is it not a possible solution ? — Quite possible.

By Mr. Atherley-Jones. — The tubs would not be travelling fast at the time, and that would reduce the possibility of sparks being emitted. If the tubs were off the ways there would be a quantity of dust in suspension. His reason for supposing that the tubs were off the ways was that the engineman at bank, of his own accord, stopped the set, because he thought there was something wrong.

Mr. Atherley-Jones. — Bearing in mind that every expert witness who has been called has put the initial site of the explosion considerably on the in-by side of this curve, do you still seriously entertain the opinion that it is probable that this explosion was caused by sparking at the curve ? — I still think it quite possible.

Professor Redmayne. — Then the sequence of your evidence is — tubs on the way, a cloud of dust, a spark, and an explosion ? — Yes, sir.

Professor Redmayne, referring to the question of sparks caused by friction, read the following paragraph from the "Transactions of the Federated Institute of Mining Engineers, 1904-5" :— "The dust danger. — In a Yorkshire colliery, sparks from the brake rim of the drum on the incline plane fired the dust lying on the floor. A fireman happened to be within 50ft. of the place, but before he could reach it there was a ball of fire as large as two flats in the dust. A bucket of water was dashed on it at once ; the fire spurted in all directions, but it was soon extinguished." The professor also read from the same source two other paragraphs recording incidents of coal dust being ignited by sparks caused by friction.

Robert Coxon, stoneman, examined by Mr. Atherley-Jones, said that four months ago he was employed in the straight south district of the Towneley seam. Fifty yards away was a man named Humble, working with a coalcutter. The witness was within four or five yards of the gate end switch when he saw a white flash of fire which filled the place.

William M. Thornton, D.Sc., doctor of engineering and professor of electrical engineering at Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne, said the electricity in mines could be made a safe and reliable means of saving miners much work, but it was accompanied by certain dangers when in use with explosives. At the West Stanley Colliery there was thoroughly efficient and up-to-date electrical machinery. Dr. Thornton, with an electrical instrument, gave a demonstration of sparks passing between carbon dust immersed in oil under a pressure of 50 volts per inch, the mixture of oil and carbon being nearly black. The demonstration showed that, when there was electrical pressure between metal terminals, the carbon dust collected and formed chains, so that electricity passed easily from one to another.

Mr. Atherley-Jones. — Assuming fusion were to take place on account of a short circuit being created by coal dust on these terminals, and assuming there was a cloud of dust, such as that set up by a travelling set of tubs on the main haulage way, would that short circuit be sufficient to start a fire along the roof, and perhaps an explosion ? — I think so, from the evidence of the last two witnesses.

By Mr. Nelson, electrical expert representing the Home Office. — There were three vulnerable points in the area where it was supposed the explosion occurred — namely, the wrecked distribution box (produced), the cable, and the possibility of sparks by friction.

Mr. Atherley-Jones. — Do you think a spark produced by friction would be likely to cause an explosion ? — It might fire gas, but I do not think it would fire dust.

This concluded the evidence.

The jury, after three hours' deliberation, found that the explosion was one of coal dust, and that it occurred in the Busty seam ; but they were unable to find what had ignited the dust. They agreed that all the seams were in good working order, that proper precautions were taken, and that the pit was provided with all the material necessary for the safety of the men and boys. No culpability attached to any one.