CADBEY MAIN. Denaby, Yorkshire - 9th July, 1912.
The explosion took place in the East District
which was dry and moderately dusty.
The coal was filled into tubs at the face with shovels, not forks as was common in collieries in South Yorkshire. As a result, there was not as much fine coal dust at the face. The endless rope worked as far as the 14 level. The tubs were hooked on by a tail rope and a clip and travelled for 150 yards down the level. After this the haulage was by horses each horse drawing tubs of 10 cwts.
The South district was not expected to be worked for long for to the south it was not far from the boundary between Cadeby Main and Dalton Main Collieries and to the east it was approaching the pillar of coal which had been left to support the Dearne Valley Railway Viaduct. There were several faults cutting the area of coal that was being worked. Gob fires had been known in the neighbourhood. The first occurred at the face in August, 1906 and the fire was dug out. The second fire occurred not far from the first where some timber had been left. A third fire occurred in old 121’s stall against the fault. The fire was first discovered on 20th. November, 1911 and when scouring roads were driven to it was found that the fore had backed from the fault for about eight yards into the gob. On 20th. January, 1912, a small explosion of gas occurred at this fire, slightly burning four men who were working at the face. The effect of this was felt by men 150 yards away and frightened them so they all came out.
The deputy, Springthorpe said he saw fire on 2nd. February which ‘broke out over the top of the bars that had been set to scour forward towards the fault’ This was about two yards back from the fault and it was the top coal which caught fire. This was very small fire and Springthorpe soon put it out.
The chargeman at the spot, Saunders, who was killed in the explosion, stated on 10th. April that he had seen ‘a flash over the pack’, about 20 yards away from where Springthorpe had seen the fire. At the time the management were under the impression that the fire was out and Saunders was in charge of the operations of ‘ drawing off ’ and stowing up the scouring roads in the area. During these operations, no signs of fire were found.
On the morning of Tuesday, 9th July between 1 and 2 o’clock, William Humphries, a road layer was at work at a spot about 260 yards along the South Level when he noticed
‘ a sudden stoppage of air followed by a warm heat which travelled past me. Presently it came back, there being electric lights, I could see it picked up the dust and came up the landing, coming from the pit bottom picking up all the distance from this level and filling it full of dust.’ Seeing that something was wrong, he went to the pit bottom where he knew two men were working. He explained to these men what he had seen but in his own words, ‘ could not get anything out of them ’
and went back to the level again but could not settle down to work as he thought there was something wrong with the pit. He went to the top of the pane and found the ventilation normal so returned to his work. Shortly after he was joined by J. Farmer, who had come out of another district. It was 2.15 a.m. Farmer heard Humphries story and came to the conclusion that there had been an explosion and he went further along the level. When he had got 200 or 300 yards he found signs of violence. He saw the greaser was blackened and dust had been blow from girders. Going through the doors at 33 level he found the atmosphere foul so he hurried out and found the separation doors intact. Further down he found five tubs disturbed by the explosion. At a point 100 to 150 yards outbye of the 14 level he shouted two or three times but got no answer. At this stage he felt a little strange and retraced his steps intending to get ssistance.
At the top of the plane, he met a man named Senior and sent him to fetch another man named Bullock. Humphries and Farmer went down the plane again and they were later joined by Senior somewhere beyond the 33 level who told them that Bullock, Sylvester and Nicholson were coming. On opening the doors at 33 level they saw these three men coming out ‘ all of a lather ’. They had been about 200 yards along the level and were then joined by Wildman and the whole party proceeded down the plane. When they got as far as 14’s landing they found 50 or 60 tubs blown out by the force of the blast. It was then that they agreed to send Nicholson and Wildman to fetch Fisher, the deputy in the West district and Cusworth, the undermanager. Those who remained out over the broken tubs and went about 100 yards inbye when they found the air bad and had to retrace their steps where they waited for the arrival of an official. Fisher joined them there at 4.55 a.m., when Nicholson found Fisher.
Fisher went to the South district as soon as he heard the news and went through the doors at 23 where he found the air was foul. He came out and closed the doors and went to 33 where the doors were closed. He then joined Humphries and the others, examined their lamps and set out with them along 19’s crossgate. They found a door open and arranged for it to remain so and a little further along they found a fall. Just over the fall they found the body of Mulrooney. Fisher continued and then stopped to think. He came back and closed the 19’s cross gate door and, coming to the bottom of the crossgate, sent Humphries out to the pit bottom for assistance and then set off on a tour of inspection. He got as far as 64’ but then lost his light while testing for gas. This was the first time he found gas but before this he knew he was in afterdamp because of the effects on him. He fenced off 64’s, warning anyone who came that it was a dangerous place. Then with Bullock’s light the two men came out and met Cusworth and Springthorpe.
On his way out to summon the rescue party who were trained in the use of breathing apparatus, Humphries met Cusworth and Springthorpe coming down the South Plane just below 33 level and told them that he knew where Bullock and Fisher were.
Cusworth told him to bring back the Report Book which was kept in the ‘box-hole’ near the shaft. In the book, the deputy recorded the position of the workmen during the shift and this record was in addition to the statutory report book.
The Wath Joint Rescue Service, possibly with Mr Berry dressed in black in the back row.
More photos from Andy Freeman. Thanks to Elaine Robinson for this photo.
Humphries found, Hulley, a deputy, at about 5.30 a.m. and they collected a rescue team of Murgatroyd, a deputy named Humphries, Carlton and Stribley. The team went to the enquiry office and telephoned Mr. Witty and Mr. Bury and the Wath Rescue Station.
They set off with four sets of rescue apparatus and some spare oxygen cylinders. By the time they were ready and descended the pit it was 5.55 a.m.
Fisher, Cusworth and Humphries, the deputy, went along 19’s crossgate and found an electric lamp against an old stopping in old 121’s. Springthorpe and Hulley went back along the 19’s crossgate with a message about rescue apparatus and Fisher and Humphries came out along 33’s level and back to 19’s crossgate. Mr Bury, the manager, had come into the workings. Fisher followed and caught up with him and they went to the low side face where they found a fall in 131’s. In evidence Fisher said that he had no conversation about anyone about a gob fire but thought that the explosion had originated somewhere between 121’s and 7’s. He went to the surface at 9 a.m. and went home.
