SILVERDALE. Sheriff Pit. Newcastle, Staffordshire. 7th. July, 1870.

The explosion at the colliery, managed by Mr. Greenwell, cost the lives of nineteen men and boys. At the time of the disaster two brows had been started about 400 yards from the shaft and had progressed about four yards only. It was found that these were filled with gas to the roof level of the wagon road which was the intake. Two hundred yards further on there was a jig brow where several men were working. The air split with the first slit going up the main jig and the second taking air to the men. The air then passed to the far end and after joining the main spilt, passed thorough some tortuous airways to the upcast shaft.

Those who died were:

  • William Madders,
  • George Wainwright,
  • Thomas Poole,
  • Bagguley,
  • Lockett, a boy,
  • John Washington aged 22 years,
  • George Dobson aged 10 years,
  • Joseph Bailey aged 17 years,
  • Elisha Lovett aged 18 years.

After the disaster, the Inspector found that the main force of the explosion had been felt in the levels, about 100 yards from the pit an the nearby jigs. The roof falls were very heavy, timber and doors blown away and charred air pipes crumpled. Then Mr. Wynne went on to say:

It was very difficult to form an opinion as to the exact cause of the explosion as there were no facts to guide us but there can be no doubt that Eardley and the other butties were preparing for the removal of gas out of the short brows. I cannot believe that the few feet of gas moved by Eardley could alone cause the explosion, but in a fiery seam like the Eight Feet there is always a small quantity of gas in the potholes which would augment the quality set in motion by Eardley, and the fire at the first naked light. I never saw anything wrong with the ventilation of the pit but there was something not quite right as to the way the air was distributed which would endanger the mine. I believe it fired where Lovatt was working. I believe that if Dean was smoking he would most likely fire the gas, but taking into consideration the large quantity of gas released suddenly, and passing through the nine-inch pipe, I believe it possible to fire at the lamp which Jones had on his belt.

The Coroner summed up the evidence and the jury returned the verdict the:

The men had lost their lives at the Sheriff Pit by an explosion of gas, but how the explosion was caused there was not sufficient evidence to show. We think that airway was hardly sufficient for the number of men working in the pit and we recommend that it should be enlarged.

 

REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report, 1870. Mr. Thomas Wynne.

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

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