Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	26th February 1934
Colliery:	Seghill
Cause:	Underground fire
Lives Lost:	1

A putter lost his life and three fillers were rescued in an unconscious state following an underground fire which occurred on 26th February, at Seghill Colliery, Northumberland. The accident occurred in the Main East District of the Five Quarter Seam at a point about 600 yards from the shafts. The district was being developed on the bord and pillar method on the inbye side of some faults. As will be seen by reference to Figure 5, a second outlet being driven for the workings on the inbye side of these faults had not holed. The district was ventilated by means of a brattice cloth partition, carried inbye along the main winning from a drift which functioned as the return airway. Naked lights were used ; most of the face workers carried large acetylene lamps but the two putters employed used smaller acetylene lamps of the cap type.

There were nine persons at work in the district when, at about 6.40 a.m. one of the putters, McGuinness, coming outbye with his pony and a full tub, found the brattice cloth burning at the point where it crossed the main winning. Looking outbye through the sheet he saw that the road was full of smoke and he turned back inbye to warn the fillers and the other putter.

The alarm being given, all except four of the persons employed in the district managed, with some difficulty to make their way outbye through the smoke. The four still in the district were eventually found unconscious at the face of the 2nd Right winning.

In the meantime, McGuinness had gone outbye for assistance and the call was responded to by two rolleywaymen two deputies, the manager and the undermanager. The manager, before proceeding inbye, telephoned the agent to summon the rescue brigades.

Water brought from the shaft in a water tub was used to subdue the flames. After repeated attempts to penetrate the thick smoke, the rescuers finally located the four unconscious men. The rescuers were, however, too spent to bring them outbye.

By this time the rescue brigades had arrived and teams wearing self-contained breathing apparatus recovered the unconscious men. The three fillers quickly recovered, when treated with a mixture of oxygen and carbon dioxide, but the putter, Gillis, did not respond to treatment.

The fire originated at the brattice sheets crossing the main winning and was probably caused by a naked light carried by one or other of the putters. About 60 yards of brattice was burned and some props and planks were charred. The fire was discovered quickly but nearly 50 minutes elapsed before the call was received at the Central Rescue Station. The first brigade, after travelling 12 miles, arrived in 23 minutes and lost no time when they did arrive. Had they been less prompt the loss of life might easily have been greater.

The Praiseworthy attempts at rescue made by the manager and other officials and workmen were recognized by the grant of monetary awards and Honorary Certificates from the Carnegie Hero Fund Trustees The unfortunate lad who lost his life was shown to have spent some time in warning others of the existence of the fire before he attempted to escape. His grandparents were awarded a Memorial Certificate and a sum of money in recognition of his brave action.

Whilst the relative efficiencies of inflammable and non-inflammable types of brattice cloth may possibly not be such as to encourage the use of the latter type, the very definite lessening of the fire risk Is an advantage not to be lightly foregone. Following the accident it was decided to use non-inflammable brattice cloth and to extend the use of electric cap-lamps among putters.

The danger to life and limb from underground fires is a risk which cannot be dissociated from mining. It can, and should, be minimized by careful consideration of potential sources of fire followed by the necessary action to eliminate these so far as is possible, and by the provision of adequate fire-fighting organization and appliances.

Helpful suggestions on this very important subject are given in a published Report* on the explosions which occurred during the year at Bilsthorpe Colliery, Nottinghamshire.

* Report on the Causes of and Circumstances attending the explosions which occurred st Billsthorpe Colliery, Nottinghamshire, on 28th July, 1934. By J. R. Felton, O.B.E., H.M. Divisional Inspector of Mines. Cmd. 4780, H.M. Stationery Office, price 9d. net.

Source:

1934 Mines Inspectors Report

	Gillis, William John, Putter, underground fire
	All names found

 

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