BIRCHROCK. Pontardulais, Glamorganshire. 1st. October, 1909.

The mine was owned by Graigola Merthyr and Company of Swansea. The explosion took place at the colliery on the 1st October. The pit was worked with naked lights except certain headings where safety lamps were used but the lamps were not locked. The pit was worked by a double shift and it was on the night shift that the explosion occurred. The velocity of the air at the bottom of the return air shaft was 31,600 cubic feet per minute and in the No.4 heading on No.6 level, where the disaster occurred, was 22,000 cubic feet per minute. The men thought that there was adequate ventilation and this was the first accident at the pit from gas since 1869 but there had been slight outbursts over the last eleven years. The men thought that naked lights were all right in the banks but that safety lamps should be used in the headings.

The men who died were:

  • Arthur Schroder,
  • Edward Mainwaring
  • John Whelan,
  • David Rees
  • Samuel Jones, all of whom were married man.

Dr. R.J. Isaacs gave evidence that all the men had died from injuries and shock.

The inquest took place at the Institute, Pontardulais, before Mr. Glyn Price, Coroner. Mr. Atkinson and Dyer Lewis, H.M. Inspectors of Mines were present as were Mr. David Randall, solicitor who represented the Federation, Mr. W.E. Morgan and W. Jenkins for the Welsh Miners and Mr. Gregor, Agent and Mr. W. Kenshole, solicitor represented the Colliery Company.

The manager, fireman and a haulier all of whom were injured in the explosion gave evidence. They told the court that the explosion occurred at the No.4 heading, near a gate, the No.10, which turned out of the heading. It was caused by knocking down some brattice that was used for the ventilation of the bottom, No.9, gate.

The haulier said that he had complained to the fireman about an hour before about tubs that were rubbing against a pair of timbers which were close to this sheet. The timbers were eventually knocked down and the sheet displaced. The haulier retorted this at once to the fireman who came and called out the five men who were working in the No. 4 heading at the No.10 stall. He told them to repair the sheet and reset the timber at the bottom of the No.9 gate.

It took about an hour to restore the ventilation and the fireman went into the heading to see if all was right. He had to pass two loaded tubs and he then found a naked light had been left in the No. 4 heading. This ignited the accumulated gas. The fireman said that if safety lamps had been used the explosion would not have occurred.

The jury returned the verdict:

Accidental death, due to an explosion of gas caused by an open lamp and we exonerate the fireman from all blame.

 

REFERENCES
Colliery Guardian, 5th November 1909, p.946.
”And they worked us to death” Vol.2. Ben Fieldhouse and Jackie Dunn. Gwent Family History Society.

Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.

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