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Great Fenton Explosion 8th April 1855
Researched by John Lumsdon
The extensive colliery district of North Staffordshire has for some time past been free from the disastrous explosions which have periodically occurred, but unfortunately the immunity from serious accidents has this week been broken by a destructive explosion, attended by a lamentable loss of life, which occurred at the collieries of the Stafford Coal and Iron company’s workings at Great Fenton, near Stoke-on-Trent, on Wednesday morning.
Travellers on the North Staffordshire Railway between Stoke and Trentham, must have noticed the colliery, which is situated close by the line midway between the stations mentioned, the novel construction of the pit gearing and the general superior appearance of the arrangement of the works on the surface rendering the colliery the most remarkable.
The works comprise of two sets of double or twin shafts, which are named the Sutherland, Homer, Bourne and Pender pits the titles being derived from four of the principal members of the company, the Duke of Sutherland given the name of the first mentioned.
The explosion on Wednesday morning occurred at the Sutherland and Homer pits, the former being the downcast and the other the upcast. The shafts are some 600 yards deep, but give access to several seams, and the place where the gas fired was in a comparatively new working known as the Knowle seam, which is reached by the homer shaft at a depth of 486 yards. Most complete and scientific arrangements for the working of the colliery and precautions against accident are employed, the laying out and ventilation of the workings and the raising machinery being on the highest approved principles.
It was just after 7 am when those engaged on the surface were made aware that an explosion had taken place, though the report does not appears to have been as alarming as is sometimes the case. Through provision made on the surface, near the pit mouth, an enormous revolving fan being at work, the force of the blast was exhausted without injury to the head gears.
The sad news, however, quickly spread and a large number of agitated spectators assembled round the pits with the upmost concern being manifested, as to the safety of those below. Early in the morning some 400 workmen had descended the mine and the suspense of those near and dear to them who had been drawn to the workings on hearing the sad news was painful in the extreme.
With all promptitude an exploration party was formed and they descended carefully the Sutherland pit. Mr. W. Robson, the manager, and Mr. G. Greatbach, mining engineer followed, and Mr. A.R. Sawyer assistant Government Inspector, who had been summoned by telegraph, went down immediately on his arrival.
After an exciting interval a ghastly message from the mine was brought to the surface by the cage bearing three dead bodies. Mr. A.G. Griffiths, surgeon, of Fenton, who was present on the bank to render what service he could, expressed the belief that the unfortunate men had been suffocated by after-damp. A number of injured men were next brought up, their wounds, which consisted of burns, bruises, and cuts caused by the shock of the explosion, were promptly attended to and three of the worst cases were removed to the North Staffordshire Infirmary, six others ,who were not so seriously injured were removed to their respective homes.
About noon, Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Greatbach returned to the surface and reported that the explosion was almost entirely confined to the Knowle seam and that the damage to the workings while considerable was not as serious as had been anticipated.
There had been several falls of roof and the stoppings at various points had been displaced, thus giving the exploring party much trouble in recovering the killed and injured workmen. The names of three killed who first brought up are;
Edward Forrester, age 39 of Sandford Hill, Longton.
James Beech, age 19 of Handford.
Samuel Daniels age 17 of Handford.
William Hammond age 31 of Cross Keys Sq. Fenton, who was known to be in the mine, could not be found, and his brother who was one of the injured, and who was near him at the time of the explosion, was unable to give any account of him. Late in the evening, however, his body was recovered from beneath a mass of debris.
The names of the injured men who were removed to the infirmary are;
John Bethell, (Handford) who was seriously burnt and bruised, Robert and Joseph Riley aged respectively 39 and 34 who resided at Fenton and who were badly bruised, burnt, and affected by the after-damp. The two latter succumbed to their injuries and died on Thursday morning.
Those whose injuries were less serious were and who removed to their homes are; James Nash age 16, John Hooks age 25, George Cooper, Thomas Forrester, (brother of the one killed) and William Forrester (son of Thomas) and Henry Hammond, brother of the one killed.
The injured man Bethel was the fireman of the seam. Weather the explosion was caused by the firing of a shot or a sudden outburst of gas has yet to be ascertained. The deceased Hammond is a widower with three children and Forrester leaves a wife and several children
On Thursday afternoon Mr. J. Booth coroner for north Staffordshire, opened an inquiry into the circumstances of the explosion at the Railway Hotel, Fenton. Mr. R.T. Skarratt was foreman of the jury and Mr. J.C. Kent appeared for the colliery company. William Dale, underlooker at the Homer pit stated that he went down in his duties at ten minutes to six on the morning of the day in question and was walking through the Knowles seam (where the explosion took place) saw the fireman in the workings. He went along the curt jig to the south side of the Rag mine, when he felt a great wind, which was the “suck” from an explosion. He went back to the top of the curt jig and told two men who he met to follow him.
They went to the Red mine jig, where there was fresh air, and he then returned to look for other men. Half an hour or three-quarters of an hour after the explosion, he went into the Knowles seam and found the Deceased Forrester. Before the explosion he was with the fireman in the box where he made out his report but the fireman made no complaint as to the ventilation of the mine.
David Forrester, overman, at the Sutherland pit, said he had accompanied Mr. Robson in an inspection after the explosion and gave evidence of the finding and identification of the bodies. Thomas Jones, fireman in the Rag mine seam, stated that previous to the explosion he examined the Rag mine and found it perfectly free from gas and the ventilation good. There had been a fast shot on the face in the Knowles seam and that had, in his opinion, most probably caused the explosion. Mr. W. Richardson, certificated underground manager at the colliery, also gave evidence of identification, and the coroner then adjourned the inquest until a later date.
On Thursday morning Mr. T. Wynne, Government inspector, and Mr. Sawyer, assistant inspector, with the colliery officials, were in the workings for some hours directing the work of repair which the explosion had rendered necessary.
The adjourned inquest on the 8 miners who lost their lives through the lamentable explosion which occurred on the 8th April in the Knowles coal seam of the Homer pit, Great Fenton Collieries, the property of the Stafford Coal and Iron Co. Was held on Thursday morning, at the Railway Hotel, Fenton.
Mr. J. Booth coroner, conducted the inquiry; Mr. Littleton of the Oxford Circuit, attending on behalf of the Home Office. There were also present Mr. T Wynne, Government Inspector of Mines; Mr. A.R. Sawyer assistant inspector, Mr. G.C. Kent who represented the company; Mr. Sword on behalf of the relatives of the deceased; Mr. G.J. Homer, one of the directors of the company, and Mr. Foulds, the manager. George Greatbach, mining engineer for the company produced a plan of the Knowles seam, where the explosion occurred.
William Robson, (certificated manager of the colliery) said that at the time of the explosion he was in the office at the top examining the books. On hearing the noise of the explosion, he went down the Sutherland pit, and on ascertaining that everything was alright returned and went down the Homer pit. He found alright in the Rag mine, and he had the doors open to clear the smoke out of the Crut leading to the Knowles seam. On going into the Knowles seam he found some litter burning.
He questioned William Forrester as to weather there had been a shot fired, he replied “No, but they have had a shot in the top level.” Mr. Sawyer and Mr. Greatbach went with him and found a small accumulation of gas several hours after the explosion when the ventilation was disarranged. At the far end of the top level they came upon the place where a shot had been fired. The shot had partly done its work and partly blown out. It was in the place where Robert and Joseph Riley worked. These men had since died in the infirmary.
John Bithel, (deceased) was the fireman that day; he had been fireman over 3 years and had made daily reports. Robson, (Manager) formed the opinion that the shot-hole had been bored six inches further than the dressing was cut for, and that was the cause of it blowing out. He had daily checked the reports of Bithel by an examination of the various places and had invariable found them correct. In Bithel’s report for the morning in question, made an hour before the explosion, it was stated “working places and levels all safe; good thermometer.” He never had gas reported in the Knowles until after the ventilation had been disarranged by the explosion.
The pits were ventilated by a Waddel fan 45 feet in diameter, which caused about 120,000 feet of air to pass into the mine per minute. About 8,000 feet per minute would pass through the Knowles coal, which was ample; In fact the men complained about the amount of wind which was being passed through. He had never any occasion to apprehend the slightest danger in the seam.
Mr. Lyttelton said if the ventilation stopped, a small quantity of gas would come off the coal, but it was not perceptible when the fan was working. He had never had any fall of brattice reported to him. The mine was worked by the company and not by a contractor. Mr. Wynne, (Mines Inspector) said; if there had been any accumulation, it would have been at the point where the shot was fired. The coal might have been got by wedging or liming, but it would have been a difficult and expensive mode.
Mr. Sword (on behalf of the relatives of the deceased Foresters’) said; the explosion was caused by negligently drilling the shot hole. He had no doubt the Bithell had fired the shot. He did not think there was gas when the explosion fired. The blown-out shot had fired the dust. He had known the dust to be fired without any mixture of gas. Thomas Jones, who was Fireman in the Homer pit during the night turn of the 7th April, said that he left the pit on the morning of the explosion at six o’clock. The Rag mine was in good condition and free from gas. The Knowles coal seam was not worked on the night shift. He had made weekly inspections in the Knowles seam and had always found it free from gas and the ventilation good. He knew Bithell to be a very careful man.
Mr. Henry Hammonds, (collier) stated that he was at work in the Homer Pit at the time of the explosion. He did not notice any change in the ventilation. The force of the explosion knocked him down; it appeared to come from the Knowles end. He was not burnt, but bruised. He had not seen any gas or heard complaints of the ventilation during the three months he worked in the Knowles seam.
Mr. William Forrester, (collier) who was also in the Knowles seam at the time of the explosion, stated that the ventilation was good that morning and he had never seen gas in the pit. He heard a shot fired in the top level and saw the smoke come through the coal in the driving.
Immediately afterwards he heard another report. He had never known shots to be fired except by Bithell or another fireman.
Mr. Sword, (on behalf of the relatives of the deceased Foresters’) said; he had seen Bithell measure the shot-holes but had not known him or the other fireman refused to fire a shot on account of the hole being too deep or too short. In answer to Mr. Lyttelton, (on behalf of the Home Office) the witness said it was not usual Bithell to examine a place with his lamp before he fired a shot.
Thomas Brickley, who was working in the Knowles ironstone mine, said he felt the wind from the explosion. He had worked in the Knowles coal seam, and Bithell, the deceased fireman once fired a shot for him, tried for gas a distance of 18 to 20 yards previously. He always thought Bithell was a very competent man and one who did his duty. He had never heard complaints of gas or shortage of ventilation.
Mr. Sawyer, (assistant inspector of mines) said that he visited the seam where the explosion occurred on the 7th of January and made a though inspection of it.
His report contained the remark “Knowles seam: ventilation good and found no gas.” He read an elaborate report of his inspection of the mine on the morning of the explosion and also the following day. His conclusion was that the explosion arose from the blowing out of a shot, the flame from which fired the coal dust disturbed by the concussion, which would be charged with a small percentage of gas. The gas would not be susceptible to the fireman making an examination with his Davy lamp. He gathered this from the observation he made on examining the mine after the explosion and the slight production of gas when the ventilation was impeded. He was satisfied that the colliery was well laid out and ventilated, the air passing in was ample and appeared to be properly distributed.
Mr. Sword, (on behalf of the relatives of the deceased Foresters’) said the placing of the shot was injudicious, and the fireman ought to have seen that the depth of the shot-hole was not in excess of the dressing; in this case the shot-hole was bored six inches into the solid coal, beyond the extent of the dressing.
Mr. T. Wynne, (Mines Inspector) also detailed his inspection of the mine on the 8th of April and concurred in these observations and said that from the experiments he had witnessed an admixture of 2 percent of gas with the coal dust, would account for the explosion on the blowing out of a shot.Mr. Sword, (on behalf of the relatives of the deceased Foresters’) said; he did not believe an explosion could be caused by solely by coal-dust, but the quantity of gas described alone, combined with the extent of the ventilation, would not have resulted in an explosion.
The witness added that the occurrence only showed the necessity for the upmost care under all circumstances in firing shots; he was altogether opposed to the firing of shots in mines.
John Chadwick, the man in charge of the fan, gave evidence of its being in a state of efficiency on the day in question. The Coroner summed up and the jury returned a verdict that the deceased men were killed through the firing of a shot in the mine. They recommended that where practicable all mines should be worked without shot-firing.