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LLANERCH, Pontypool, Monmouthshire, 6 February 1890. Source: the Coal Mining History Resource Centre (CMHRC)
The colliery was the property of Partridge, Jones and Co. Ltd., and the explosion claimed 176 lives. The shafts at the colliery were 253 yards deep and passed through a seam of coal that was not named at 74 yards 2 feet, the Big Vein at 155 yards 2 feet and the Three Quarters Vein at 167 yards 1 foot, the Yard Vein at 174 yards 1 foot, the Rock or Black Vein at 188 yards 1 foot, the Meadow Vein at 237 yards, the Old Coal at 245 yards. The Farewell Rock was reached at 258 yards 1 foot. The Three Quarters, Rock and Meadow Vein were being worked at the colliery and were cut in the tunnel or stone drift from the bottom of the shaft at 517 yards, 363 yards and 44 yards respectively. The workings on the Three Quarters and Yard Veins were to the rise of the tunnel and were not extensive. The Meadow Vein had been exhausted above this level and the whole of the workings at this time were in the dip. The Long Straight Slope was driven to the south west to the north side of the shaft and 110 yards from the downcast shaft Cook's slope branched off to the and extended for 1000 yards. There were four levels driven from Cook's slope and from the cross headings and working stalls were driven. Blasting was allowed in the mine but was not often used as the coal seemed to work well without it except in a few narrow leading places. There was no indication that as hot had been fired in any part of the workings and from the start of the investigation there was no thought that it had been caused by a shot. The workings were not strictly defined as dry and dusty but there was coal dust in the mine and the inspector thought that it was the coal dust that spread the devastation through the mine. The district in which the explosion took place was known as Cook's Slope and was in the Meadow Vein. There working had only been opened three yards before and were being extended. Naked lights were used throughout the mine with the exception of the examiner or fireman. It was known that firedamp was given off but the ventilation which amounted to 20,000 cubic feet per minute appeared to have prevented any danger. When the explosion occurred the blast was heard two miles away and the blast devastated the headgears. Immediate efforts were made to effect repairs and about 10.30 a cage was sent down the downcast shaft. One of the first men to be brought to the surface Mr Joseph Morgan the certificated manager of the mine. He was in the mine at the time of the explosion and on feeling the concussion he went to see what had happened and immediately found three or four men overcome by the afterdamp which he sent to fresh air and saved their lives. He also got the cage at the bottom of the shaft on to the guides which were broken and the survivors were sent to the surface. As soon as the disaster was known willing hands came from neighbouring and distant mines but there were few survivors. Of the men working in the district only ten escaped and they were injured and the remainder lost their lives. The ventilation was severely damaged and there were large falls which impeded the rescuers. [A list of the dead is available from the CMHRC.] The inquest into the disaster was conducted at the Pontypool Town Hall by coroner Mr JB Walford and extended over seven days. There was no difficulty in fixing the point of the explosion. It was in the horse windway of no. 4 level and the gas was ignited by the naked lights of the men who were working there. The examiner reported that he had not found gas on the morning of the explosion but admitted that there were some finished stalls on the no. 1 level that he did not examine and he had not examined these for some days before as he thought they did not require examination. The day before the explosion there was a fault in the ventilation which was put right and these old stalls were found to be clear and the examiner said that he could not examine the cavity as it was so large. The cavity seemed the place where the gas accumulated and fired at the naked light of one of the men. The jury added a rider that there should be stricter compliance with the 4th General Rule and the 8th and 23rd Special Rules and further strong recommendations as to the use of safety lamps. The copyright ownership of the above material of the Coal Mining History Resource Centre, Picks Publishing and Ian Winstanley is acknowledged. For further information visit: http://www.cmhrc.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/lodis.htm
23/12/06 |
