GARNOCH. Swansea, Glamorganshire. 7th. July, 1880.

The colliery was the property of John Glasbrook and situated in Gower Road. At the time of the explosion was being worked with naked lights. Two of the victims were driving a stall to communicate with another stall which, owing to a fall that morning was not being worked. When the Inspector inspected the area after the disaster he could find no gas.

The victims of the disaster were:

  • John Lewis, collier aged 30 years,
  • Daniel Rees, collier aged 29 years,
  • Thomas Hugh aged 29 years, collier,
  • William Morgan aged 33 years, collier,
  • David Rosser aged 21 years, collier,
  • Daniel Watkins aged 14 years collier’s boy.

At the inquest before Mr. Strick, Coroner, the overman stated that he had inspected there a half an hour before the explosion and found it free from gas. It was thought that the gas accumulated in the vacant stall and was ignited at the lamps of the colliers.

Mr. Abraham of the Miners Association of Wales said that he had inspected the workings after the explosion but had found no gas. He was of the opinion that gas had accumulated between two stalls after they had been joined and that the gas ignited at Rosser’s candle. He thought the fireman should have satisfied himself that there was no gas in the stall. Mr. Wales, the Inspector, voiced the opinion that the overman should be reprimanded but he did not think him criminally liable.

The jury brought in a verdict of “Accidental Death” and recommended that in future the overman should be more careful. It was also recommended that the colliery should, in future, be worked with safety lamps and the owner was reported to have acted on this recommendation.

 

REFERENCES
The Mines Inspector Report, 1880. Mr. Cadman.
The Colliery Guardian, 20th August 1880, p.307.

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

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