Incredibly, there had been warning signs about the October 1877 Pit Explosion, which workers and mangers should certainly have taken much more notice of. Just 63 days before firedamp ignited at the same pit killing one miner and injuring another! I wonder if more notice about this accident had been taken or corrective actions made, if the large disaster shortly after could have been avoided. A report is available following an investigation into the earlier accident:
“Copy off the Report of Mr Inspector Moore to the Lord Advocate of Scotland concerning the Explosion of Firedamp which took place in No. 2 pit, Blantyre on the 20th day of August 1877.
Death of Joseph McNulty (21) and Injury to Francis McNulty (16) by explosion of Firedamp at Blantyre Colliery, on 20th August 1877. Report by Ralph Moore:
“I descended this pit today, and examined into the circumstances. The accident happened in No. 2 pit, in the split coal workings. The pit is about 150 fathoms deep and the splint coal, which is between seven and eight feet in thickness, is worked by the stoop-and-room method, the pillars (stoops), being left about 20 yards square, with the view of being worked out again.
“The accident happened in the southern part of the workings, about 500 yards from the shaft, at a point where they have come in contact with a large off throw dyke, and where they have commenced to remove the stoops. The deceased and his brother were engaged at this work, and about half past seven o’clock in the morning, while they were working, a fall of rood took place in the waste close to them, which brought down some firedamp.
“It ignited at their naked lights and burned them both. Joseph was most severely burned and died the same day. William Black, the fireman, states that he examined the place in the morning and found no firedamp there. He admits, however, that on the Wednesday the 15th, and Thursday 16th, he saw a little firedamp in the roof where they were working, but on none of the succeeding days. He was working within 15 yards of the place where the accident happened, and heard the fall take place, immediately afterwards the explosion took place, and the flame came towards him, but he was not burned. I think there was a vacancy in the accessible waste where the gas lodged, but it was bought down by the fresh fall.
“Black, the fireman, states that he told the oversman about the gas on the Wednesday and Thursday previous; and I think both of them have displayed some slackness in not at once providing the men with safety lamps, which is the only safeguard against discharges of gas from inaccessible falls, which cannot be swept out by the air current. In stooping operations, in this district, safety lamps are generally used and since the accident the men working there are all provided with them, and no naked lights are permitted near the place, although there is a good current of air, and no gas visible. (signed) Ralph Moore, Rutherglen, 23 August 1877.”
See Diagram attached for where the accident happened. The whole story is yet again another reminder of the incredible dangers of working below ground. An AI image of these young brothers is provided exclusively for Blantyre Project, imagined before the tragic accident.
