Brayton Domain Colliery

Miscellaneous Notes and Incidents

The deputy had charged a hole in the coal with six ounces of gelignite and stemmed it with 12 inches of clay. The hole was drilled 3 feet 6 inches in, and was about six inches from the roof. A rise hitch of 15 inches had been cut, and on this account the hole was sloped up. The deputy professed to have examined the place previous to lighting the touch-paper on the fuse, but he had evidently not made a careful examination, for as soon as the fuse lighted, it exploded a small quantity of gas which must have accumulated between the shot hole and the roof. Fortunately he was little worse, and was able to retire before the shot exploded. Cause shot firing.

Source: 1898 Mines Inspectors Report (C 9264), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.