Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	3rd April 1858
Colliery:	Cassop
Cause:	(See description below)
Lives Lost:	1

No. 25 accident in the list occurred at Cassop Colliery, in the Hartlepool District, causing the death of Peter Mullagan, a coal hewer, on the 12th April 1858.

An exploring drift had been extended up a slip dyke, and driven some distance in the coal on the rise or high side of it, in which part it had crossed a small slip or hitch that gave off a little firedamp occasionally.

A new distribution of the coal hewers over the different working places in the pit, which is generally done quarterly, by lottery or cavilling, as it is called, was about to take place; and the deceased, who had worked in that district the previous quarter, and another coal hewer, who had not previously worked in that district of the mine, were, on the 3rd of April, together in that part of the pit, seeing after the removal of their work tools, and out of mere curiosity went into the exploring place already described, when a little gas that had accumulated in it exploded at Mullagan's candle, and burnt both of them. Peter Mullagan lived only nine or ten days, and then expired from the effects of the burns.

The evidence went to show that no firedamp had been observed in the place for about three weeks previous to the accident, although on examining the place myself a few days after the accident, I found a small feeder of firedamp escaping at the leader of the small slip or hitch before alluded to.

James Mullen, the person who was in company with Peter Mullagan, and was also burnt by the explosion, stated that he had remonstrated with Mullagan against venturing into the place, particularly as they had no business to take them there, and as Mullagan stated he had heard of a little firedamp having previously been observed in the place.

Source:

1858 Mines Inspectors Report

	Mulligan, Peter, Hewer, explosion of gas
	All names found

 

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