NEW DUFFRYN. Rhymney, Glamorganshire. 25th. June, 1883.

The colliery was the property of the Rhymney Iron Company. There is some doubt about the date of this incident as the Inspector says the explosion took place on the 20th. In his Report but in the Appendix that lists the victims of the disaster, he states that it took place on the 25th.

The coal was worked at a depth on 130 yards from the surface and the seam was eight feet ten inches thick, divided by two bands, one four feet nine inches from the bottom and the other, one inch thick, two feet ten inches higher. Only the bottom four feet nine inches of coal was worked and the clod over it was taken down to make the height with the coal above retained to make the roof.

The colliery was worked on the longwall principle and was arranged so that trams could be taken along the face between two rows of props, the road being advanced as soon as sufficient coal had been worked to make room for it, the back row of props was then drawn out and the space filled with rubbish and the tops allowed to settle down onto the gobs. The coal worked was in districts 60 to 70 yards wide, each of which was in the charge of a timberman, in addition to the overmen and firemen.

During the morning the place began to “work” and the men were withdrawn to the heading for safety. In a short time, a very heavy fall occurred extending for 30 yards along the face and almost immediately afterwards an explosion took place.

Subsequent examination showed that a large natural slip originated in the strata and the gas no doubt came from this which was ignited by the naked lights that were used in the mine

The men who died were:

  • Patrick Farrell aged 52 years, labourer, and
  • Elias Thomas aged 24 years, colliers who both died in the initial explosion,
  • E. John Griffiths aged 13 years, collier died on the 27th,
  • John Roberts, aged 55 years, timberman, died on the 29th,
  • David Evans aged 23 years, collier died on the 3rd July,
  • Edward Price aged 24 years, collier died on the 21st July.

Those who were injured were:

  • Joseph Griffiths,
  • William Griffiths,
  • David Davis,
  • David Davis,
  • Richard Roberts,
  • Jenkin Jenkins,
  • Samuel Roper,
  • Francis Stokes.

Immediately after the accident, it was found that a large natural slip existed in the strata over the coal and the fall originated from this. Gas came off at the fall and it was fired at the naked lights that were in general use in the colliery.

As the colliery was close to the Glamorganshire- Monmouthshire border, two inquests had to be held on two consecutive days. It was learned that the mine had been free from firedamp and explosion for over forty years and the manager said the place was well timbered and ventilated and had not known falls to occur until the present incident. The verdict of the Glamorganshire inquest was that:

The cause was accidental injuries received by an explosion of gas unexpectedly discharged from a fall underground.

The Monmouthshire jury brought in the verdict that:

Accidentally killed by an explosion of gas caused by a fall of the top which unexpectedly discharged a quantity of gas and there is no blame attached to any of the officials employed at the colliery.

 

REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report, 1883. Mr. Cadman.

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

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