LETTY SHENKLIN, Aberdare, Glamorganshire. 15th November 1853
Following several other explosions which killed one man at a time, in 1852 the mines inspector warned the manager over the conditions at the mine:
He complained to him that the guides in the shafts wanted tightening, that the chains were bad, and the bonnets imperfect, and it was dangerous to have enginemen attending to two engines and fires at the same time. He also cautioned David Thomas, an under-ground viewer of the mine, that the lamps should always be locked, that the ‘goafing’ should be better isolated and shut off from communication with the workings; that it was at that time so bad that the accumulation of gas there, and its escape into the workings, were visible…Notwithstanding this, on the 15th of November 1853, an explosion of fire-damp took place in Level No.1 of this colliery. At that time 49 men were at work in the pit. Of these two were instantly killed, and two were injured severely, so severely indeed that one of them died shortly afterwards, and 15 others were also hurt.
In March 1854, the manager, David Sims was indicted for felonious killing and slaying one David Thomas. He appeared before Swansea Crown Court, but as always, so it appears to me, the judge advised the jury that there was not enough evidence to convict him and the jury brought about a verdict of not guilty.
Information supplied by Ray Lawrence and used here with his permission.
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