The following is an extract [Page A3/A4] 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 has the pit inspectors speculating as to how and where the explosion took place and offering conclusions, which as you’ll see blamed the miners themselves and manager, rather than owners. The image is generated by AI exclusively for Blantyre Project and previously unseen until now. Continued from yesterday:
“The force of the explosion seems to have been much greater up No. 3 than No. 2 shaft, and as far as we could judge the effects of greatest force were observable at points A and B, and in opposite directions. There must have been a large quantity of gas. The majority of the bodies were burned and the traces were strongly visible in the south and east workings of No 2 pit and throughout the whole of No. 3 pit workings.”
“This in our opinion, rather points to the explosion having originated somewhere between where the No.3 air enters No.2 pit workings and where it joins the air from No.2 pit, where naked lights were used, but we cannot undertake to speak positively as to this. If the explosion originated at the “Stoops” a shot may have ignited the gas in the goaf behind, but we cannot satisfy ourselves that the gas had been ignited at the ‘stoops’, nor between there and the “cousey”, because at the latter point, being a distance of only 120 yards , the cousey wheel is uninjured, and an empty hutch standing there has evidently not been disturbed, while at No.3 shaft, which is a distance of 900 yards from the stoops, the force, as already referred to, was very great. Had it occurred at the “stoops” or at any place between there and the “cousey”, we should have expected greater destruction at the latter point. Under the present system of ventilation, although air may have passed through the stoppings and so have kept the waste clear, it is quite possible that it did not reach all the waste, and the gas may have gradually accumulated there without its being observed, and that it ultimately came upon a naked light.”
“On the other hand, it is possible that the main coal faces, which are now overhead between Martin’s level and the South Level and which are known to affect the splint coal, may have rent the strata between them and caused gas to descend from the Humph coal (which loses about 25 feet above the splint) and to have come upon the men’s naked lights. Or the fall of rood, already alluded to, between Martin’s level and Spier’s dook may have taken place that morning before the explosion and stopped the ventilation , whereby the air in a large portion of the workings, where naked lights were used, gradually became explosive. We cannot give a definite opinion, either as to where the large quantity of gas came from, or the exact spot where it was ignited, but we lean to the opinion that the gas was lodged in the old pillars, and at some point, between C and B (on inquiry map), it came in contact with an open light. From whatever cause, such a conditions of things must, as far as possible, be either prevented or guarded against, otherwise a similar accident might happen.”
“As before stated, the men who were working at or near the “stoops” were supplied with safety or gauze lamps. Shot firing was stated to be prohibited, but there seems to be no doubt that gunpowder was used at the stoops, and it seems also to have been freely used in other parts of the pits where naked lights were used. The shots were fired by the miners, instead of by a competent person appointed for the purpose, and the powder was taken into the mine in canisters instead of in cartridges, as directed by the Act. Both from our inspections, and from the evidence given at the public enquiry, we are of the opinion that the gas was always present at the “stoops” and we consider that shot firing there, under the circumstances, was most dangerous, and ought not for one moment to have been allowed. Upon the whole, the discipline of the miner was loose, and the orders which the manager says he gave, as to shot firing in particular, seem to have been neglected altogether.”
“We observe that the pit has been very speedily opened up, and this has necessitated great lengths of bratticing. This is common to all new pits, but should be as little practised as possible. It will be observed that one of the currents of air, amounting to 16,000 cubic feet per minute was about 5 miles in length. This is a long current, and might be shortened, but we believe that the air would be sufficient in quantity and purity for the work that it had to do.”
“Keeping in mind those matters, and especially the present great calamity, we recommend that the present mode of working with naked lights, and leaving the pillars comparatively unventilated be discontinued; that it will be better to use locked Davy lamps, which are better than the present safety lamps, as an additional precaution; to prohibit shot firing, and to have the pillars properly ventilated and especially to maintain the strictest discipline. We would also recommend a more judicious splitting and arrangement of the air currents, so that returns may not come in contact with each other until they have passed all the working faces. Also that the air after passing “stooping” operations may not pass any other working place, as was the case where the air from No. 3 after joining No. 2 passed on to other working places. We would also suggest the working of both No. 2 and 3 pits should be more concentrated, and that “throughers” in the winning places more particularly, should be made more frequently so as reduce the distances by which the air is to be conveyed to the “faces” by bratticing. “
Ralph Moore, Thos., E Wales and James Willis.
