DEEP NAVIGATION. Treharris, Glamorganshire. 11th. November, 1902.

The colliery was the property of the Ocean Coal Company, Limited and five men lost their lives and two others were injured in the accident which occurred in the South Pit which was 690 yards deep and sunk to the Four Feet seam which was the downcast shaft. It was the deepest pit in the district at that time. The shaft was 17 feet in diameter and was fitted with steel guide rails, two to each cage, which were supported by “byatts” which were fixed in the walling.

Water was raised in the shaft by a Cornish pumping engine which had a cylinder of 100 inches in diameter, an 11 feet stroke in the house and 10 feet in the shaft. The water was raised from a depth of 665 yards in seven lifts. The first lift had a 26-inch plunger and lifted it 80 yards, the second lift also a 26-inch plunger lifted 90 yards, the third lift with a 26-inch plunger lifted 100 yards, the fourth lift with a 22-inch plunger lifted 99 yards, the fifth lift with a 22-inch plunger lifted 95 yards, the sixth lift with a 10-inch plunger lifted 95 yards and the seventh lift with a 10-inch plunger lifted 92 yards. The engine worked at two stokes per minute, day and night and delivered 250 gallons of water per minute to an adit level, 28 yards below the top of the shaft. The column of pipes in which the water was lifted was constructed of cast iron. Each pipe was 9 feet long, flanged at ends, 26 inches in diameter and one and three-quarter inches in thickness. the pumps and pump rods were placed behind the “byatts” carrying the guide rails.

Coal was raised in this shaft with a two-decked cage, each carrying two trams containing 22 cwts. Thirty-two people were allowed to be lowered and raised in each cage, sixteen in each deck.

On the 11th November, 1902 at about 4.45 p.m., 31 men were being raised and were within 300 yards of the surface when the banksman heard a crash and noticed the winding rope swaying very much. He signalled the engineman to stop at once which he did as soon as possible but not before the cage was raised a further 100 yards. The engine was travelling at full speed and it would have been dangerous to stop it too quickly. The pumping engineman was standing near the handles of the pumping engine, when he heard the banksman shouting him to stop and a noise in the shaft. He noted that the engine was beginning a downstroke when he stopped it.

Mr. Ray, the agent and Mr. Roberts, the mechanic were quickly on the scene and lost no time in finding out what had happened. They went down the North shaft to a landing in the Brithdir seam, in which there was the road from one shaft to the other and from there they were able to communicate with the men in the cage which was about 30 yards higher up the shaft. The men replied that they were all right but afterwards it was found that the reply was made by the men on the lower deck who were not aware of the serious state of affairs on the upper deck.

Shortly afterwards the mechanic and the pitmen descended the south shaft in a box which was lowered by a capstan engine and found that four of the occupants of the upper cage were dead. It was first thought that this was the number killed but an overman found the body of another in the sump. he had fallen or been thrown out when the cage was struck. On further examination, it was discovered that a piece of the third pipe from the bottom of the second lift had burst and had fallen on top of the ascending cage. All the men, dead and living were taken up the pit in a box and attended to at the surface by medical man.

Although the top of the cage was smashed in and two of the bridle chains attaching the rope to the cage were broken, the cage was found to be in the guides. The damage had been done by a falling pipe, part of which was in the cage.

Those who lost their lives were:

  • J. E. Davies aged 34 years, collier,
  • Llewellyn Davies aged 20 years, haulier,
  • Cyrus Jones aged 20 years, haulier,
  • D.J. Hughes aged 20 years, haulier,
  • Owen Griffith aged 23 years, repairer.

Mr. Gray was summoned by telegraph and arrived at the pit the following morning and made a detailed inspection of the shaft and cage, and pumps. He found a piece of metal about 6 feet long that had burst out of the third pipe from the bottom of the second lift. The fracture was quite fresh and there were no signs of corrosion. The pumps and pipes had been put in the shaft about 28 years before the accident and had been continuously worked since then.

A new section of pipe was put in and the pumps started and it was found that there was nothing wrong with the pumps and they worked as they always had. Mr. Gray thought there was a possibility that water and air might have been drawn into the barrel and pressures could have been generated which were sufficient to fracture the pipe when the plunger struck the water.

The inquest was held before Mr. R.J. Rhys, Coroner and a jury on the20th. November and the following verdict was returned:

We find that death was due to misadventure, and also that there is no blame to be attached to anybody.

After the accident the pumping engine was stopped when men were being raised or lowered.

 

REFERENCES
The Mines Inspectors Report 1902. Mr. Gray.
Colliery Guardian, 14th November 1902, p.1075.

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

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