17^th November 1910

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The Whitehaven Pit Disaster

The inquiry into the Whitehaven Pit disaster was resumed yesterday at Whitehaven by Mr. Atter, Coroner, and Mr. Redmayne, Chief Inspector of Mines.

The examination of Mr. Blair, assistant general manager of the three pits, was concluded, and the Coroner complimented the witness upon the bravery which he displayed and upon his untiring efforts to recover the bodies in the mine.

John Wear, one of the two men who escaped from No. 5 North district after the explosion occurred, stated that in this district there were altogether 27 men and boys. Twenty minutes after the explosion occurred they discovered that a lot of air was coming through. They all gathered at the air split and the deputy McAlister then told them there was so much smoke between the doors that there was no chance of any one getting out. McAlister led them into the return, but brought them back again, saying that it was too hot to proceed. The black damp on the road put two lamps out. Finding that the smoke was terribly thick between the doors, he said that he would make an effort to get out if anybody would go with him. Kenmore volunteered to accompany him, and they went right through the smoke and reached the far side of the friction gear. They saw fire on the left-hand side of the friction gear. They sat down to recover their strength and then travelled up the brow.

Mr. Atkinson, Mines Inspector for the Northern District. — When you got to the friction gear what was burning ?

The witness. — All the wood at the bottom and some wooden props where the telephone was.

Mr. Redmayne. — Could you have put the fire out when you were at the friction gear ? — We had nothing but our hands.

Replying to further questions, the witness said that as he passed No. 3 North he said to his comrade, "That is where the explosion has occurred."

Mr. Pope (Home Office). — Have you ever been troubled with gas ?

The witness. — Yes, mostly in No. 3 North level, where the explosion occurred, at a brake beyond No. 2 brake.

Would it be part of your duty to report the presence of gas anywhere ? — I was in a working in No. 5 North on one occasion, and when I went in the manager himself was sitting 10 yards from the forehead and had lost his lamp, and he told me to go on and do the best I could.

Further questioned by Mr. Pope, the witness said this incident occurred some five years ago, at a time when Mr. Parker was manager of the pit. Even now they reported certain things, and sometimes continued working and finished their shifts.

By Mr. Herbert Smith. — He had never yet seen a deputy test the gas or go out and inform the responsible officials that there was gas in the mine.

When you said anything to the deputy what did he tell you ? — He would tell us to try to get our shift in someway or another and if that cleared off it was all right, and if it did not he would tell us that we could not come in the next day.

The CORONER. — Will you give me their names ?

The witness. — It is all of them.

Will you give me three names ? — There is Hugh McAlister, who is dead, and George Ellison — he is dead.

Is there any one alive ? — I cannot tell you.

Do you mean you are afraid ? — No, I am not afraid.

Mr. Hanlon, workmen's delegate. — Have you ever known workmen complain of the conditions of working in Wellington pit ?

The witness. — Yes, many a time.

Have you ever known them to put water in their bait tins to cool their lamps owing to pressure of gas ? — Yes.

That has been done with the knowledge of the officials ? — Yes.

The inquiry was adjourned until to-day.