South Yorkshire Times, January 6th, 1933
The Cortonwood Disaster
Theories of the Cause
Workmen Closely Questioned
More About Shot-firing Methods
Inquest Further Adjourned
The inquest on the seven victims of the Cortonwood Colliery explosion was resumed on Wednesday at Wath Town Hall, by Mr. J. Kenyon Parker, the Sheffield District Coroner, assisted by a jury. There were also present Messrs. E. H. Frazer, P. L. Collinson, and T. Cawthrope, H. M. Inspectors; Messrs. H. Smith, J. Jones, and T. Bird, Y.M.A; Mr. A. S. Furniss, representing the Colliery Company, Mr. H. Fawcett (manager), Police Inspector Holey, and others.
Gas Unsuspected
Alexander Charlton, 8, Knollbeck Lane, Brampton, said that on the afternoon of the explosion he was working near the place. He did not see any test made for gas, relying on the deputy having seen to their safety. Conditions were good, there being plenty of air. He did not actually start cutting coal until 4.30pm. Harry Swanwick, the deputy, arrived about 5.30pm and tested for gas. The deputy stayed with him for about half-an-hour, helping to turn the coal-cutting machine. Shortly after the deputy left, the shot-firer, Lee, arrived, but did not stay long. The borer came at 6.30pm and made several shot holes and Lee came back about 8.30pm and charged them. Swanwick made a second visit around 9.30pm and again tested for gas, especially at the loose-end. Witness, after being alone in the place except for another worker for half-an-hour, left about 10 o’clock. “As I left, I saw Allen at the gate and he asked if everything was all right.”
Witness said he had worked in the place where the explosion occurred for two months and had never suspected there was gas in the place.
Answering Mr. Frazer, witness said he did not think it was the proper thing to place and fire shots over the jib-end of a coal cutting machine. At the least, the shot was liable to damage the machine. He did not see Lee spread stone-dust but Lee did test for gas with a flame lamp. There was a draught from the loose-end.
Answering Mr. Smith, witness agreed that ventilation came through the loose-end, but he had never seen a deputy go down the loose-end to see if his wind-road was in good condition or not. No official, nor employee to his knowledge had travelled through the loose-end.
Cool!
Mr. Smith: You work in drawers only? You call it cool! I have never been used to working only in drawers.
Were you instructed to test for gas with a lamp? – No, I have never had hold of a lamp for that purpose.
How old are? – Twenty-nine.
Mr. Smith: Twenty-nine and does not know how to make a gas test!
To further questions, witness admitted the place was so dark that he could not see the borer making the shot-holes. “We have never talked about gas on that face” he concluded.
In answer to Mr. Furniss, witness said it was customary to work in any part of the pit in drawers, stockings, and boots only. On that particular face the ventilation was so good that dust from the operations was quickly caried away. The usual practice of deputies when testing for gas was to go to the back of the loose-end and then return There was nothing out of the ordinary that night in the place.” He would see between seven and eight yards down the face when working. Mr. Smith: When these deputies were testing for gas, what did they do? – They lowered the light when they put against the roof.
The Coroner: You have been cross-examined about not seeing the borer. You were ten yards away? – Yes, I was kneeling down, shovelling dirt away. If I wanted to see him, I should have had to get up and shine my lamp on him.
Found No Trace of Gas
Harry Swanwick, 5 Knollbeck Lane, Wombwell, the deputy previously referred to, said he held that position for a year. He got to the place in question about 5.30 pm, where two men were turning a machine round. “I tested for gas with a safety flame lamp at the loose-end. I found no trace of gas.”
The Coroner: How do you test? – By lowering the flame.
Witness added that ventilation was good, coming from the loose-end. He returned to the place about 9.30 when Firth was boring the two machine-men cutting, and Lee stemming the second hole from the loose-end. He did not examine the stemming but ordered Lee to “get the place fired” ready for the night shift. Before leaving he made a second gas test. “There was no trace of gas and the ventilation was still good. I could feel it travelling from the loose-end towards the gate.” He then went to the box and saw Allen, whom he told that the place was being fired in readiness for the next shift.
The Coroner: How long have you been deputy there? – about six weeks.
Anything wrong with the ventilation in that time? – No, it has always been very good I have seen no gas and there has been no weight.
Dash Back To Pit
Further evidence by Swanwick was that he heard about midnight when at home, there had been an accident at the pit. He borrowed a bicycle and rushed back. Down the shaft he could gain no further particulars but saw two men being brought out on stretchers. Then, joined by Mr. Fawcett he went to the entrance which was “a bit smoky. Mr. Fawcett instructed him to get a hose for compressed air into the place. This he did and found two men with their heads towards the gate. Mr. Fawcett again joined him and they made their way to the coal face which they found was clear.
The Coroner: A good lot of timber had been blown out and two tubs of dirt were on the pans – Yes.
You have never been able to travel down the air-way in the loose-end? – No, it was not for men.
A Theory
How do you account for the explosion? – It must have been an accumulation gas.
How did it accumulate so suddenly? – It must have been released by the firing of the previous shots.
Is it possible that the firing of those shots closed up the air-way? – Yes.
Have you ever had reason to be dis-satisfied with the ventilation? – Never. It has always appeared good.
Answering questions by Mr. Frazer on the airway, witness said the space of the airway at the loose-end was only four-square feet. It was made difficult to enlarge because of the loose coal.
Is it not your duty to travel these places and see there is a second way out? – Yes.
Were you actually working these faces with a limited number of men? – Yes, nine.
Why? – Because there was only one entrance.
Why did you not get the coal shifted near the airway? – I did not think it was needed.
You made no attempt to shift this loose coal out of the airway or to travel it? – No.
The Coroner: Is it this man’s responsibility or the manager’s: – I should think the manager’s.
Mr. France: It is the deputy’s responsibility to work according to the law.
The Coroner: I understand nine men on a conveyor face was in accordance with the law.
Airway Blocked
Mr. Frazer (to Swanwick) I put it to you bluntly. You found the airway was completely blocked and it was not possible to travel it? – Yes.
How much space was there for air? – About two square feet.
You think half of the actual space? – Yes.
On questions regarding “stemming” of the shot-holes, (which were four feet deep) witness said ten inches “stemming” was not sufficient. The dust should be cleared from each hole and if he found one with about a pound of dust in it, he would consider it not properly charged. They had been instructed to place the detonators for direct firing. After the explosion he saw some “weight” at the loose-end which was unusual and probably had started after the shots were fired and contributed to the escape and accumulation of gas.
Answering Mr. Jones witness agreed that in order to comply technically with the Mines Act and because there was only one entrance and exit to the place, the number of men working there was reduced to nine. According to the Act, if ten men worked in a place, there must be a separate entrance and exit.
Mr. Jones: As a deputy in the district, you have never gone down that airway except for two or three years? – No.
You must know that an airway must be examined at least once a week? Yes.
So, Section 66 of the Mines Act could not be complied with? – No.
And it was only loose coal that blocked it? – Yes.
And it has had to be cleared now after the explosion? – Yes.
How did you satisfy ourself about the ventilation when you knew the air-way was blocked – By feeling the draught.
Really guesswork? – Yes.
Bored In The Solid
Witness questioned about the last holes bored, agreed that they were made in the solid coal.
To Mr. Furness, witness said the only method he could have adopted to clear the airway of loose coal, was throwing it back by hand. It was not necessary to have more than nine men there because the cutting-machine could only cut three yards a shift.
Is it your practice at Cortonwood to bore shot-holes in the solid? – No.
Is this the only time you have heard of this and of boring in front of the cutting-machine? – Yes.
James William Chamberlain, 3, Smith’s Buildings, High Street, West Melton, a dataller who was at work on the night shift on December 8th with a man named Frost, said they were about 80 yards at the pit bottom side of the air drift. “About 11.30 two young men came running towards us shouting with pain. When they got near us, we saw they were badly burned. One had a shirt wrapped round him. I did not hear the explosion or see the flame.”
The Coroner: You think one of the men has tied the shirt around him after the accident? – Yes.
Chamberlain’s workmate, Arthur Frost, 2, West End Road, West Melton, gave similar evidence. He added that the two injured men were Moore and Scargill, the latter having succumbed later to his injuries. “When they came up, they just said they had been working in the air-way and were badly burned. No more than that.”
Arthur Pearson, 8, Highfield Grove, Brampton, day deputy in the air-way district on December 8th, said he visited the place at 6am and fired eight shots at the “loose-end.” Twice during the shift, he tested for gas and his lamp showed no trace. “I had no doubt that the place was safe when I left it at 1.30pm. During the previous ten weeks I found no trace of gas.”
The Coroner: Have you ever tried to get through the loose-end in the old cross-gate? – Yes, at times but I could not get through.
What will be the width of it? – I should say about 2ft 6 ins.
Was air coming through? – Yes, there was a good current.
Has there ever been a fall? – No.
Satisfied With Ventilation
Have you visited the other side to see if air was good? – Yes, every day and I found it good.
Ventilation has satisfied you? – Yes.
You know what happened at night. Do you think it was due to accumulation of gas? – Yes?
What do you think made it accumulate suddenly? – The first round of shots fired that night.
What do you mean by “first round”: – Those near the loose-end which was brought down. I think the gas came out of the coal.
To Mr. Frazer, Pearson said the airway had been made impassable by the coal coming down and the floor lifting. He thought the average size along it would be 2 ¼ feet by one ft. He never measured the velocity of any airway in the pit. It took him 40 minutes to charge and fire the eight shots in the morning, each shot having three ounces of powder. He thought a three-ounce charge sufficient because the seam was rather thin. He could not explain why four-ounce charges were made on the afternoon shift.
All In Five Minutes
Mr. Smith: Are you saying it seriously that you can examine charge and test and do everything for a shot in five minutes? – Yes.
Mr. Smith read the detailed account of what must be done under the Mines Act before firing a shot, then asked: Do you still say that it only takes five minutes? – Yes.
I am sorry to hear you say it, because I find you fired nine shots that morning, one in stone. There is not much safety in your examination.
Witness: I do not agree with you.
Mr. Smith: and do you think it safe to fire shots one after another? To have a number prepared for firing and send them off, one, two, three, four and so on? – Yes, if there are no cracks.
Is it a general policy at your pit to have a face cut and holes bored and “stemmed” before one is fired? – Yes.
Isn’t that a breach of the Mines Act – Maybe.
It is not a case of “maybe” I put it to you, every time you had a shot at the loose-end, it blew coal into the ventilation road? – No, I don’t think so.
Did you examine it? – Every time I fired a shot.
But none was fired against it that morning? – The air was good at 125’s.
You agree that there should be a yard’s “stemming” to each shot? – Yes.
And you say each can be done in five minutes. I leave that to the jury. And you cannot stand up on the face too. I suggest to you that more shots are fired after 4 am than before – Yes.
And you have to leave your shot-firer about 4 o’clock to meet men at the pit-bottom coming for the next shift? – Yes.
And you might report “All clear” when it actually is not because of shots fired after you left? – Yes.
That is just assuming you are a night-deputy.
Mr. Furness: And you have nothing to do with night deputies? – No.
Mr. Furness: Then I wish you would make it clear that your answers were just your opinion and not taken from experience.
Mr. Smith: About that air-way. Do you think it is a good or ideal system of ventilation? – It was all right and there was a good current of air.
Answering Mr. Furness, Pearson said he made his way through the air-way till he could make contact with workmen by shouting. The air current was fresh and good.
Mr. Furness: Have you ever had any complaints from pit inspectors or men that your shot-firing was done too quickly? – None.
Pearson agreed that the source of ventilation was No 1 dip board where the current was at the rate of 2872 cu. ft. per minute.
Mr. Smith asked for the report book from which the figures were quoted and on examining it, said “Just what I expected. There is no record in this book since Nov. 11th.
The Coroner: Put that to the manager when he is recalled.
Herbert Harold Fisher, collier. 1 New Street, Hoyland Common, said he worked on the day shift on Dec 8th. Coal had been brought down by shots before he entered. During the shift, Pearson examined for gas. Visits were made by the overman, Walton, who also tested for gas; and by the manager. “I have worked in the place on one shift or another ever since it was started, and I have never seen it “on weight” and never suspected gas.
Ventilation Changed
Herbert Walton, overman, Brampton Road, West Melton said he had been employed at the colliery since 1912. He visited the place on Dec, 8th about 10am and stayed for 20 minutes. He made several tests for gas and found no trace.
The Coroner: Do you know the ventilation was changed a little after the first week or two this place was opened? – Yes.
Were you concerned in it? – Yes.
And did the alteration make it better? – It left it as it was.
Answering Mr. Frazer, Walton said he never had to form estimates of air velocity. “The ventilation was good.”
Mr. Frazer: I have heard that come up like a lot of parrots.
The Coroner: you can ask questions, Mr. Frazer, but do not make comments on them.
Answering Mr. Frazer, Walton said the size of charges was left to the discretion of shot-firers in that seam. “The maximum was four ounces. If the holes were only five feet apart, he would fire two-ounce charges.
The Coroner: You understand that you are criticising the actions of some of your men that night? – Yes.
Mr. Frazer: Under identical circumstances, Lee used four-ounce charges. Is there any reason for it? – No.
And Pearson said three ounces do the work and that he has had no complaints from the men. Lee, however, says the men have complained because the shots were not sufficient. Can you account for it? – No.
Shots Not Excessive
Do you think the shots were excessive and blowing out instead of doing their proper work: – Not if properly “stemmed.”
The Coroner: Was Lee doing wrong using four-ounce charges? – Yes, in that particular place.
The Coroner asked for full particulars as an “operation” on the eighth shot fired on Dec. 8th, which were given. This was made on Dec. 17th in the presence of three H.M. Inspectors, Mr. J. Jones, Mr. Fawcett, and Mr. Walton. The “stemming” of the shots was only 10 ins. and had a four-ounce charge.
The Coroner: Was that “stemming” sufficient? – No, it should have been at least a yard.
Do you think some of the “stemming” could have been blown away by the explosions of the other shots? – No.
Was the position of the cartridge right? – No, it was wrong. The wrong end was put in first and the hole was in the wrong place, over the jib of the cutter.
Who “stemmed” that shot? – I believe Allen.
And this suggests that he did not do his work properly? – Yes.
Was he an experienced deputy? – Yes
Is there any reason why he should not have done his work properly that night? – No.
Was there any hurry? – No.
Another Theory
Have you any idea what caused the explosion? – A blown-out shot. It must have been the seventh.
Your opinion then is that the accident occurred that night by the seventh shot, because it blew out. Was that because it was not properly stemmed? – It points to it.
And because it was four ounces? – I would not say that.
Mr. Frazer: Because of the eighth hole, you think the seventh hole was over-charged in comparison to the “stemming? – It seems like it.
How do you account for gas? – It must have been there when the shots were fired.
And why was it not cleared away by the ventilation? – Well, something must have happened at the loose-end.
What was that? – It must have fallen in. Do you not think there was practically no ventilation before the firing of the last shot? – Yes.
No ventilation for some little time? – Yes.
And must the gas have extended from the loose-end down the face for some fifteen yards? It was not forced to come from the loose-end.
Mr. Smith: How long do you think it takes to examine and charge and fire a shot? – Five to seven minutes.
Do you think it safe to “stem” four or five shots and fire them in succession? – I do.
Is it the safest method compared with doing and firing each shot separately? – There is no difference.
About the ventilation: you have now built an overcast. Is that better than before? – It could not be better than before.
Then why this unnecessary expense? – We have stopped working that now.
Prevention Better Than Cure
You were aiming at that before the explosion: – Yes, but the ventilation was good enough to land us where we are to-day. Prevention is better than cure, is it not? – Yes.
Was that shot-hole put in the solid? – Yes.
Do you think the last shot blew out and ignited your coal? – I do not think so.
Do you believe we ought to have a different method of testing for gas? – Each collier should have a safety lamp
Don’t you think it would be better. Deputies who find too much gas are not very short-lived. I should like to see them independent of employers and workmen. Don’t you think there should be some automatic method? – I am satisfied with the safety lamp.
Mr. Furness: And you rely on the deputies’ experience? – Yes.
And it appears that Allen could not have tested for gas after firing the first few shots? – No, he could not.
The Coroner: If he had done so after each shot, he would have found the gas? – Yes.
Further Adjournment
The inquest was adjured to Wednesday next, when the evidence of experts will be heard, and the manager and under-manager will be re-called.