James Baker ...."I am called a Waste Man, my
duty is to go round all the workings to see that all is right...I cannot say whether there were any complaints of anything being amiss the day before, I heard of none. I should think it would be five minutes after the first blast before I could ascertain where it took place. I went as soon as I could, but the first time I tried I was obliged to return back some paces. It was half an hour before I got up to the place, and I then discovered John Perdy (living) JOHN STARTBUCK was the first I found dead, Job Richardson, second. I was sometime before I found the others. ABRAHAM STARBUCK, his son, and Thomas Henshaw, were all three together. My son, Thomas, was also employed there; he is much burned and has given me the following account, namely - My son had occasion to go into the bassett bank to work, and he told me that he had to begin weighting; he called JOHN STARBUCK to set some timber. JOHN STARBUCK, Joseph Henshaw, and my son, and Thomas Hurt, and ABRAHAM STARBUCK went instantly to the place to set it up. They were doing this towards the gate end when it fired. This was about eight or ten yards from the gateway. The candles were on the floor. STARBUCK called out "Hold your lights down, because it (the gas) is very strong". Both candles were on the floor close to the wall, and it instantly exploded. STARBUCK was as trusty a man as any we had in the pit. |
Mr Hedley, the government inspector,
reported -....." I examined the mine immmediately after the explsion, and again the following day, and could not find a trace of gas in the wastes or elsewhere. Upon looking about me at the end of No.9 Gate-road, on the day of the explosion, I discovered the remains of a box which had been used by stall men for the stores of candles, powder etc., It appeared to have been destroyed by great force from within....I am of the opinion that some gunpowder has in the first instance been exploded in the box, which would cause considerale concussion of the air, and bring gas out of the wastes upon the lights at the face. The explosion of the gunpowder would cause the "rush of a gust of wind," as stated by Rice, the first witness in his evidence. This was followed by a blast from the explosion of gas. A third blast from the explosion of gas was felt by the the witness Wood and others immediately after leaving John Starbuck and five more at the top end of No.0 Gate-road. This, it is very probable, occurred from one or other of those poor men striking a light with a match. I found more than a score of lucifer matches in a jacket pocket belonging to one of the deceased, and laying close to the place where Wood heard John Starbuck ask for a light to be struck, also where the five deceased were found. These circumstances will explain the cause of three explosions....................." |
Having heard further evidence and deliberated about the reasons for the blasts and
the pros and cons of candle use against safety lamps the verdicts of "Accidental death," was returned and agreeing with the Inspectors suggestions, recommended the use of "locked lamps". |
This page last modified on Friday, March 20, 2009
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