William Fletcher, underviewer at Harrison and Woodburn pits gave evidence of going down the pit after the explosion and finding the roadways considerably blocked with broken tubs, he described the passage made, and finding the dead and injured. He believed the explosion was caused, by the firing of a shot in the “Bang Up” level. Some brattice had been taken down, and left a fault in the coal unventilated. Gas must have been hanging about the place before that was done. Replying to Mr. Wynne, Inspector, he thought there must have been a large flame from the shot; and there must have been some gas in the level, or the explosion could not have occurred. The bratticing must have been taken down to the far end.
Other witnesses were called and formal questions asked and answered.
Samuel Lawton, certificated manager at the Harrison and Woodburn pits adjoining the Fair Lady pit gave evidence of his having heard of the explosion and going at once to the pit. Described his descent of the pit with the exploring party about one and a half hours after the explosion, the state of the place, the bodies found and numerous fires, bratticing blown down, stoppings blown down and doors blown away.
He stated he was of the opinion that the rock shot caused the explosion, he thought it was probably over-powdered, there might have been a small accumulation of gas there, as there was a “fault” in the coal. As to the workings; Mr. Lawton said that Mr. Greener, the manager, (who was killed by the explosion) had said the roads and airways were too small; and he was of the same opinion. In reply to questions by Mr. Wheelhouse, the witness said that since the former explosion the amount of air being sent in the mine was about 50.000 cubic feet per minute and Mr. Greener, the manager, ((killed in the explosion) told him he had greatly improved the ventilation since the explosion in September.
Mr Greener had prohibited the use of powder in the North side altogether and only allowed it on the South side for the purpose of blowing away rock. Witnesses theory of the explosion was that there had been in the “Bang Up” level, a missed shot as described by Beech, which had been left by a workman. It was then the duty of the following man to put in another shot to release the first cartridge and the rock.
The second shot must have of gone off in a blaze instead of doing its work, for the rock was not shattered, but simply blistered.
That blaze would ignite what little gas there might be at the spot and that, travelling along the course, would be fed by the loose coal dust and culminate in the explosion. He agreed that this accident was more of a dust explosion than of gas.
In reply to Mr. Wynne, Inspector, the witness said he did not think it was imprudent to have so many different places worked at the same time, he did not think more than 19 “Faces” were being worked at that time; All the rest of the men would be working at the crossings, improving the galleries and ventilation etc.
The witness had spent, with the authority of the directors, the sum of £3.491 for the purpose of improving the ventilation, endeavouring to make the places safe for the men.
The inquiry was adjourned until the 10 th of March.
The adjourned inquiry continued with evidence from Hugh Thomas who was in charge of ventilation fan and John Viggars who was in charge at the time of the explosion. Alfred Bowers, lamp man, gave evidence to the effect that on the morning of the explosion he gave out 78 lamps and after he explosion examined them as they were brought up and found the fireman’s Davy lamp unlocked. That was the only one unlocked. This lamp was found in Isaac Johnson’s hands.
Thomas Fletcher, miner, was called next and said he came off at 6 a.m. on the morning of the explosion. He was working on the top end of the “Bang Up” level on the South side and went to work at 10 p.m. on the night of the 20 th. He was cutting all night and the ventilation, as far as he was aware, was good. Isaac Johnson fired a shot for him about one o clock and he worked till six o clock. He had worked at that place for about three months, he had seen gas in the pit, but the bratticing had been put up by the fireman to drive it out. The bratticing was blown down a week before the explosion by a blown-out shot, and as a consequence of that, a little gas had accumulated. He was sent up for bratticing, and that cleared the gas out of the place.
Mr Wynne, Mines Inspector, was next called and he gave evidence as to the state of the pit. He had 25 years experience in regard to mining. He heard of the explosion and went at once to the colliery and descended the pit. He found there were a number of stoppings blown down, some partially; and several were standing. Considering the situation the ventilation was extremely good, he was surprised at that.
After consultation with others he came to the surface. In the evening he descended the pit again, engaged in the exploration and assisted in the recovery of the bodies. Going along the South side first, a small quantity of gas was found just beyond a fault. A sheet was put up, and the gas cleared out. He then went along the main level to the far brows; and going to the end of the “Bang Up” South level, he found a shot hole drilled in the coal. He thought that the hole had not been charged. He afterwards saw where a shot had missed fire; and it appeared to him that there had been an overcharge of powder.
It was his opinion that the explosion resulted from this overcharged shot. There might have been a small accumulated in the roadway, and that, combined with the large quantity of coal dust caused the explosion. In his opinion the airways were sufficient for the ventilation of the mine so far as it was opened out. In his reply to a question he said that, it was a fiery mine, and that he should not fire shots in the main return air way. He said it was a very dusty mine, 2% of gas mixed with very fine coal dust would explode on coming in contact with a light.
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