The following is an extract [Page A3] from the Blantyre Colliery Explosion Inquiry Report, dated 21st December 1877. In particular a sub report by Messrs Ralph Moore, TE Wales, and James Willis, Inspectors of Mines.
Transcribed word for word by P. Veverka this extract comments on the need to properly ventilate the pit in order to facilitate a rescue. The scene of this underground narrative would today be below the Redburn Farm Inn, Priestfield Cemetery and the Technology Park. The image shows the underground workings how pits 2 and 3 were connected and is from an inquiry map of 1877. Continued from yesterday:
“On Tuesday, [the day after the disaster], the slide valve of the underground steam engine was removed, and the steam from the four boilers was send down the steam pipes into the upcast shaft to aid the ventilation, and by this means, without any ventilating furnace, the current of air was so much increased that the quantity of air ascending the upcast was raised to 70,000 cubic feet per minute, seven tenths of the usual quantity. The north and north west of the workings of No.2 pit were open and were explored as far as could be. No bodies were found in these workings; the men had travelled outwards until they were overcome with choke-damp, and their bodies were found on the first “cousey” off the south level within 200 yards of the shaft.”
“After this nothing more was done in these workings until Saturday morning when the opening was made at the bottom of No. 3 shaft, which thoroughly secured the ventilation between Nos 2 and No 3 pits. Parties were then send down by No. 2 pit to assist in clearing away the ‘debris’ in the bottom of No 3 shaft, consisting of tubs and wood lying about which had been blown into the sump, and filled the shaft for four or five feet above the splint coal entrance, and also to proceed to put in temporary stoppings of brattice cloth, so as to send in air to ventilate No. 3 workings.”
“On Sunday morning the 28th, the first of the bodies was drawn up No. 3 shaft and by Thursday the ventilation of those workings was restored, and afterwards all the bodies from that pit recovered. As soon as No. 3 workings were thoroughly ventilated, it was deemed safe to conduct the remaining operations from No. 2 as well as from No.3 shaft and the work of cleaning the mine and recovering the bodies was steadily carried on from both points.”
“The ventilation had been pretty well restored, and we were able to follow the direction which the blast had taken. In our inspections we found great damage had been done in the workings of both No. 2 and 3 pits. There were some heavy falls of roof which must have happened within a very short time of the explosion and which had greatly retarded the explorations. The south level of No. 2 pit was blocked up with heavy falls within 100 yards of the shaft, and the only place open towards No 3 was More’s dook. There was another heavy fall between Martin’s Level and Spier’s dook which had to be cleared away before the workings , and all the bodies in the south workings were brought out by this road, in preference to clearing out the south level and the ordinary roads.”
