Easington Colliery Explosion

Inquiry Told Of Rescue Workers’ Deaths

The inquiry into the explosion at Easington colliery, County Durham, on May 29, in which 83 men lost their lives, was resumed at Easington yesterday by Mr. H. C. W. Roberts, Chief Inspector of Mines.

Mr. Sam Watson, secretary of the Durham area of the National Union of Mineworkers, had asked for further evidence about the deaths of two rescue workers after stating that his union was satisfied that both men were fit and suitably equipped, and that their death was due to another cause.

Thomas Donkin, 25, a mining student, of Dawdon colliery, the first witness yesterday, described the death of a fellow rescue worker, J. Y. Wallace, of Deneside, Seaham. Donkin said he was sure that the team’s breathing apparatus, which had been tested before they went underground, was working satisfactorily, and he thought that Wallace‘s death was due to his eagerness and the briskness with which he had led the team in the course of their duties.

William Davison, 42, deputy overman, who captained a rescue team from Brancepeth colliery, said that the team, which included Harry Burdess, who died, were medically examined before they went underground and each member of the team tested his apparatus. They were satisfactory. Burdess collapsed after making signs that he wanted to go back to a fresh air base.

Mr. Watson and other representatives at the inquiry then paid tribute to the work of the rescue workers.

Dr. W. C. Sharp said that both Wallace and Burdess had suffered from carbon monoxide poisoning. There was a 75 per cent. saturation in their blood and 50 per cent. could be fatal. Wallace was found to have suffered from an undetected lung complaint, which would tend to make him more breathless after exertion than would normally be the case.

The inquiry will be resumed to-day.