He again examined the pit on the 26th and 30th December and went through the whole of the workings. The description he had given of the first west level was applicable to the second except that the symptoms were more palpable, indicating the intensity towards the bottom of the dip.

A portion of a stopping on the bottom west level had been blown down. In the bank opposite one of the east levels, Cotton, the fireman, and others were found. The fire had come across the dip from east to west with great force at this point. These remarks applied to the west side of the dip. The most striking effects of the explosion were found on the east side, where stoppings had been swept bodily upwards, timber charred and masses of coal loosened from the sides of the roads.

In Machen’s level and the thirling on the deep side of it the swing cloth on the level and the brattice in the bolt hole had been blown outwards. The bolt hole and the level beyond the deep side thirling were on the 26 th December full of explosive gas, as was also the wide level below, to within four or five yards of the thirling.

His opinion was that the explosion happened at the loader’s naked light in Machen’s level at the bottom of the bolt hole, the flame rushing down the thirling into the wide level, before mentioned, which was connected with the east goaf, and so ignited a larger body of gas, then recoiling north and west with a much heavier destruction than before flashing along the east levels, with the results described.

There were no falls of roofs on the road, no wagons broken and very few props blown down. The traces of concussion in the workings generally were not so severe as might have expected after an explosion of such magnitude.

The manager, Mr. Enoch Gater, had informed them that it was a standing order at the colliery that no one was to be allowed to enter any working place after a cessation of work for meals ect. except with a safety lamp. The coroner asked, and if this had been adhered to, the explosion would not have happened? The manager replied “No sir.”

Mr. Gilroy, assistant inspector, said he was down the pit about a fortnight before the explosion, and the ventilation was then not satisfactory. He advised the manager to improve the ventilation, and he promised to do so. He did not advise the manager not to use naked lights, because he did not find any gas in the pit. This was, on the whole, one of the safest pits in the district.

The next witness was the government inspector, Mr. Wynne, who said he went down the pit with Mr.Gilroy and others on the 26 th December and was surprised o find that 17 out of 18 lives could have been lost and so little damage done to the roadways and workings. And although some coal had fallen from the sides, scarcely any of the roof had been brought down by the explosion. The seam in which the explosion occurred was the well-known “Bullhurst” which was admittedly, the most fiery seam in the North Staffordshire coalfield, and in which a naked light never ought to be used, also should never be worked with unlocked lamps. It might, with safety be worked for years, but in an unexpected moment, a sudden influx of gas would bring about a dreadful catastrophe like the one they were inquiring into.

He left it to the jury to say if there had been any neglect, and if so, by whom.