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Report
toThe Right Honourable The Secretary of State for the Home Department
on theCircumstances attending an Explosion which occurred at Washington "Glebe" Colliery, in the County of Durham, on the 20th February, 1908
BY
J. B. Atkinson, M.Sc.
H.M. Inspector of Mines.
On Thursday the 20th February, 1908, about 9.30 p.m., an explosion occurred in the Washington "Glebe" Colliery, in the County of Durham, causing the death of 14 persons and injury to one person as set out in the Table below :—
| No. | Name | Age | Occupation | Cause of Death as per Doctor's report. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Killed. | ||||
| 1 | Edward Ashman | 41 | Deputy | Shock from explosion. |
| 2 | Robert Cowen | 44 | Stoneman | Shock from explosion. |
| 3 | Thomas McNally | 48 | Stoneman | Carbon monoxide poisoning. |
| 4 | Alfred Wood | 50 | Stoneman | Shock from explosion. |
| 5 | William Edward Glendinning | 32 | Stoneman | Carbon monoxide poisoning. |
| 6 | James William Swan Wake | 42 | Stoneman | Carbon monoxide poisoning. |
| 7 | Charles Thomas Applegarth | 33 | Stoneman | Carbon monoxide poisoning. |
| 8 | John Dixon | 42 | Stoneman | Shock from explosion. |
| 9 | William Henry Rollin | 30 | Stoneman | Shock from explosion. |
| 10 | James Ambrose Madden | 49 | Hewer | Shock from explosion. |
| 11 | John Thomas Clarke | 29 | Hewer | Carbon monoxide poisoning. |
| 12 | Charles Chivers | 25 | Shifter | Shock from explosion. |
| 13 | Henry Oswald | 35 | Waiter-on | Shock from explosion. |
| 14 | Thomas Agar Errington | 18 | Putter | Shock from explosion. |
| Injured. | Nature of injures. | |||
| 15 | James Yeardsley | 29 | Pump attendant | Burned and Shock. |
The inquest was opened in the Wesleyan Hall near Washington Station by Mr. A. T. Shepherd, Deputy Coroner for the Chester Ward, on the 22nd February, when only evidence of identification from 14 witnesses was taken and it was adjourned to the 23rd March at the same place on which day it was concluded.
At the adjourned inquest the following parties to the inquiry were present.
Mr. C. W. Goodger of the firm of Messrs. Cooper and Goodger, Solicitors, Newcastle-on-Tyne, appeared for the owners. Mr. H. F. Heath, Solicitor, Sunderland, appeared for the relatives of all the deceased persons except those of Edward Ashman, for the miners of the Colliery, and for the Durham Miners' Association.
Mr. W. H. Bell, Solicitor, Sunderland, appeared for the relatives of Edward Ashman and the Durham Deputies' Association.
Mr. F. Lambert, Solicitor, Newcastle-on-Tyne, appeared for the Lancashire Explosives Co., Ld.
I was present as His Majesty's Inspector of Mines for the district in which the Colliery is situated and as representing the Secretary of State.
There were also present Mr. A. D. Nicholson and Mr. H. A. Abbott, His Majesty's Assistant Inspectors of Mines in the district; Mr. J. Cadman, His Majesty's Assistant Inspector of Mines at present engaged on research work as regards ventilation of mines for the Royal Commission on Mines now sitting Mr. John Wilson, M.P., Mr. John Johnson, M.P., Alderman House, Mr. T. H. Cann, Mr. S. Galbraith and Mr. T. Richardson, members of the executive of the Durham Miners' Association; Mr. James Clark, Secretary to the Durham Deputies' Association ; and Mr. Robert Smillie, representing the Miners' Federation of Great Britain and a member of the Royal Commission on Mines.
Eleven witnesses were examined as to the cause of the explosion at the adjourned inquest including the manager and undermanager of the Mine, an overman and deputy. Medical evidence as to the cause of death was given by Dr. Farquharson and outside expert evidence by Messrs. S. Tate, W. C. Blackett and Philip Kirkup, Mining Engineers and Agents for groups of large Collieries in the County, by Mr. H. Louis, Professor of Mining at the Armstrong College, Newcastle-on-Tyne, by Mr. John Cadman and myself.
The jury returned the following verdict with respect to Nos. 1, 2, 4, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14 in the list.
"That on the 20th day of February in the year aforesaid the said . . . . employed as a . . . . within the Low Main seam, Glebe Pit, Washington Colliery, died from shock the result of an explosion of gas and coal dust which took place on the said 20th day of February and was accidentally caused by the firing of an overloaded shot in the said Low Main seam."
With respect to Nos. 3, 5, 6, 7 and 11 a similar verdict was returned except that the cause of death was given in these words "died from poisoning by "carbon monoxide gas generated by an explosion of gas and coal dust."
I have pleasure in stating that the owners and officials of the Colliery evinced a keen desire to arrive at a correct conclusion as to the cause of the explosion and every facility was afforded to me in my investigations and there was no attempt made to obscure the issue in any way.
