PENNANT HILL. Dudley, Staffordshire. 22nd. October, 1915.

The colliery was the property of H.S. Pitt Limited and an explosion shortly before 6 p.m. took place about 120 yards from bottom of shaft. The cage was blown over the pulley and the headgear damaged. Some winding arrangements were restored and a party went underground and the men in the pit raised to surface. The rescuers were hampered by falls and four men were found dead under debris. The explosion was caused by a blow out shot of compressed powder which was fired in a manhole on the engine dip about 80 yards from the downcast shaft. This dip formed the main intake down which an air current of 18,000 cubic feet per minute was passing.

The engine plane wads dry and dusty and the explosion obviously was one purely one of coal dust. Proceedings were subsequently taken against the manager and fireman who were convicted and fined. The circumstances connected with this accident showed a culpable neglect or disregard of the provisions of the Coal Mines Regulation Act and Regulations.

Those who died were:

  • William Williams aged 50 years, loader,
  • James Rose aged 25 years, loader,
  • Charles Knight aged 22 years, loader,
  • James Clarke aged 60 years, pikeman
  • Frank Clarke, rescued alive but died in Dudley Hospital.

At the inquest, Mr. B. Parker, the manager of the colliery said that the shot which caused the explosion was fired while three men were enlarging a man-hole. Henry Thompson the deputy and fireman, said that he received instructions to fire the shot the previous night by Henry Williams one of deceased. He used black powder for shot. Mr. Parker said that he had given no permission for a shot to be fired but that he was in the habit of giving such instructions verbally.

The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death” and thought that manager was not guilty of wilful negligence but added a rider that the question of the breach of regulations should be taken up by authorities.

 

REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report. Mr. Hugh Johnstone.
The Colliery Guardian, 29th October 1915, p.879, 22nd November, p. 1092.

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

Return to previous page