Mr. A. R. Sawyer, the Assistant Inspector of Mines, arrived at the mine in the early afternoon and descended to take part in the exploration. At intervals some of the party below had to be raised to the surface suffering, more or less, from the effects of foul air. Drs Collonette, and Tiernan and Mr. Peate, surgeon, who had driven to the pit on hearing of the disaster, remained some time to render what help they could. Mr. Cadman, the manager, was overcome by the choke-damp, but being brought round by some of the exploring party, pluckily declined to leave his pit, and continued in the mine until six o clock in the evening.

Burley Pit was part of Apedale colliery (c.. 1850 and 1926). This photograph was taken by Thomas Warham.

In the course of the afternoon four bodies were recovered and the search being continued two more were got out in the evening, most of the bodies being recovered in the new heading. Some of the deceased were badly burnt and disfigured, and had apparently been blown down or against the sides of the drift. Others who had escaped the blast had evidently succumbed to fatal gas that succeeds these explosions.

On Sunday the restoring of the ventilation continued to occupy the attention of the working party, and during the day two more bodies were recovered, making eight. The ninth was found early Monday morning. The names of the killed were: -

Mr. J. Booth, coroner for North Staffordshire, opened an inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of deceased, the jury assembling at the George and Dragon Hotel, Chesterton. Supt. Hall was present on behalf of the police authorities; Mr. E Brittain was foreman of the jury. The Coroner, in opening, said he was not going on that day further than to show there had been an explosion and the deceased had been brought out of the pit dead. The evidence to be called would therefore be what was sufficient to enable him to issue burial certificates. Evidence of identity was then taken and the jury was adjourned until the 15th of July.

The requirements for an explosion are; there must be sufficient gas and air in the atmosphere and there must be a source of ignition.

On Wednesday the 15th July the Coroner resumed his inquiry at the George and Dragon Inn and was attended by Mr. T. Wynne, Government Inspector of Mines plus officials and representatives of the deceased.

The first witness was Mr. W.J. Hancock, a mining surveyor; he stated that he was in the habit of taking note of the ventilation at the colliery. The last time he did so was on the 23rd March when 8,980 cubic feet were passing though per minute. Previously to the 23rd of March the ventilation was measured about every month.

The reason it had not been tested since the 23rd of March was because the anemometer was out of order.

John Birkin, the lamp cleaner at the colliery, gave to the deceased men on the morning of the explosion their lamps, which were sound and in proper working order. The custom was for the lamps to be lit at the bottom of the pit by the men and afterwards locked by the Butty. Barker and Thomas Heath, two of the deceased, were co-butties and also acted as firemen. On the morning of the explosion they reported the south mine level to be all right and free from gas and the current of air was good. Heath had signed the report book and Barker had affixed his cross, as he could not write. All the men who worked in the south side that morning were killed except the horse driver, Rhodes, age 16. He was going down the main crut to the stables when the explosion happened, 1,200 yards away.