BEDWELTY. Tredegar, Glamorganshire. 2nd. April, 1879.

The colliery was the property of the Tredegar Coal and Iron Company and the explosion resulted in the deaths of six men. Three were killed at the time and the others died later from the results of burns and their injuries.

The explosion occurred about 7 a.m. when all the day shift men had left the workings and the night shift men just entered after the fireman had reported that all was well. Morgan Jones, collier o the day shift went into the pit at 7 a.m. and came out at 5 p.m. He stated that he saw no gas during his shift but saw the day overman, William Taylor. He did not see the foreman but saw his mark when he went in. The day fireman John Jehu went down about 3 a.m. on the 2nd. April and went through his district which was called the New Drift. All was in good order; he made his report and came to the surface at 6 a.m.

Henry Morgan, shotfirer, went down about 6.30 a.m. and found no gas. He was the last person in the place where the explosion took place about 4.50 to 5 p.m. He was at the face of the heading when a wind passed him. Thomas Ball,  a collier, had just got to his place and put down his jacket when he heard the explosion.

The men who died were:

  • Charles Stanley aged 24 years,
  • Stephen Stevens aged 36 years,
  • Robert Jones aged 54 years,
  • William Burt aged 46 years,
  • Thomas James aged 32 years,
  • Hubert Gough aged 60 years.

The inquest was held by Mr. W.H. Brewer, Coroner. Mr. Ronald Donald Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines told the court that the ventilation at the colliery was very much improved and he had frequently inspected the pit. He inspected the pit after the disaster with Mr. Cadman, another Inspector, and they were of the opinion that the explosion originated in David Edward’s heading. There were three falls at the face which he thought had come down before the men went in and he was of the opinion that the gas had been ignited at the naked light of one of the men.

The jury returned a verdict of “Accidentally killed by an explosion of gas.”

 

REFERENCES
Mines Inspector Report, 1879.

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

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