| Disasters - Names |
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Disasters - Names | ||
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| Date: | 13th May 1892 |
| Colliery: | Coxlodge |
| Cause: | Explosion of gas |
| Lives Lost: | 1 |
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| Description | |
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On the 13th May two men, Robert Hinson, a hewer, and John Thomas Hinson, were injured by an explosion of gas at Coxlodge Colliery, the former succumbing to his injuries two days afterwards. This accident, which was due to the firing of a gunpowder shot, was of rather curious nature, inasmuch as the injured men were working some distance away, and the man who fired the shot and who was in close proximity to it, escaped unharmed. The deputy, Cuthbert Reay, was asked to fire a shot in the coal at the end of a gateway in the long-wall workings, and after making an examination of the place, and as he stated found it clear of gas, gave a light to the hewer who set light to the straw. The shot went off, and at the same time a flash of fire was seen, and some gas, which had evidently been lodging in a break in the roof a few yards back from the face, was ignited. The flame passed along the break, crossed the next gateway, and continued along the break to the second gateway where the Hinsons were working, the deceased being immediately under the break, which terminated at this point. Although the deputy stated that he had not seen any gas, either on his morning inspection or immediately before firing the shot, it is certain that the gas was there, and of the break was of such a nature that a proper examination could not be made, it clearly shows the necessity of adopting some other means for getting the coal than by the use of gunpowder. I am strongly of opinion that gunpowder should never be used in long-wall workings, for though gas may not be seen, there is always a probability of its lurking about the broken roof in the goaves. If necessary to use explosives at all, one of the higher explosives, fired by an electric battery, should be used, and it is satisfactory to note that this course has since been adopted at this colliery.
| Source: | 1892 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6986), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian. |
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| Fatalities | |
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Hinson, Robert, aged 23, Hewer, Explosion of fire-damp [Inspection made & inquest attended] | |
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