EXPLOSION AT THE MALTBY MAIN COLLIERY, YORKSHIRE. REPORT On the Causes of and Circumstances attending the Explosion which occurred at the Maltby Main Colliery, Yorkshire, PRINTED & PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE To be purchased through any Bookseller or directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses: Imperial House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2, and 28 Abingdon Street, London, S.W.1; York Street, Manchester; 1 St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff; or 120 George Street, Edinburgh. 1924 Price 38. Od. net. Cmd. 2047. 9 13 18 19 19 ... 19 ... ... (a) Operations to combat fire prior to the stopping of the colliery ... ... ... 3. Cause of the Explosion and point of origin 4. Gas in the Low East, Top East and Middle East Districts ... ... ... (a) Prior to the commencement of damming off operations From midnight on 27th July to the time of the 5. Arrangements for ventilating points where sealing off operations were in progress 8. Irregularities as regards Statutory reports on the condition of the APPENDIX I.-List of Persons who lost their lives in the Explosion APPENDIX IL-Results of Analyses of Air Samples taken in the Mine (22nd to 27th July) ... ... REPORT. Mines Department, Dean Stanley Street, 1st January, 1924. Lt. Col. GEORGE RICHARD LANE-FOX, M.P., SIR, Secretary for Mines. I beg to report that, in accordance with your instructions, I have held a formal Investigation under Section 83 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, into the causes and and circumstances of the explosion which occurred at Maltby Main Colliery, Yorkshire, at 9.15 a.m. on Saturday, 28th July, 1923, and caused the death of 27 persons. I have the honour to report as follows: As the body of one of the victims, Original Renshaw, was recovered on the day of the explosion, Inquest proceedings were held before Mr. Frank Allen, H.M. Coroner for the West Riding of Yorkshire, on the 10th of August. Evidence was taken from Mr. Renshaw's widow, Mr. Basil Henry Pickering the Agent of the Colliery, Mr. Mark Gabbitas the Under-Manager, and Mr. Percy Joel, Captain of the Maltby' Rescue Team, one of the persons in the mine at the time of the explosion and a member of the party which recovered Renshaw's body. As you had already ordered a formal Inquiry to be held the Coroner did not enter into technical details but presented to the Jury a concise story of what had happened to cause the man's death. The Jury's Verdict was that Original Renshaw had been killed by an explosion and that his death was accidental. My Inquiry was held in the Town Hall, Sheffield. The proceedings were opened at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, 18th September, and lasted 7 days, terminating, after an adjournment from Friday, 21st September to Tuesday, 25th September, on the 27th September. During the Inquiry 31 witnesses were called and 10,057 questions were put to and answered by them. I'am much indebted to the Lord Mayor and Town Clerk of the City of Sheffield for the use of the Council Chamber and for other facilities granted to me during the course of the Inquiry. Among those present were : Mr. F. H. Wynne, H.M. Divisional Mr. H. J. Humphrys, H.M. Inspector 45941 Representing the Mines Department. A 2 Mr. F. A. McQuisten, K.C., instructed by Elliot Smith & Co., Mansfield, for the Maltby Main Colliery Co., Ltd., the Managing Director and the Agent. Mr. Arthur Neal, for the Manager, the Under-Manager, the Overmen and the Deputies. Rt. Hon. Thomas Richards Miners' Federation of Mr. Frank Hall Mr. Herbert Smith } Great Britain. Yorkshire Miners' Association. Mr. Alfred Smith Alderman E. Dunn Mr. H. Ross Mr. H. Clarney Mr. J. W. Sumnall Maltby Branch of the Yorkshire Miners' Association. National Federation of Firemen's, Associations. Mr. Gomersall, Yorkshire Deputies' Association. Deputies' Mr. Herbert Gill, National Association of Colliery Deputies. Dr. J. S. Haldane Mr. J. Ivon Graham Institute of Mining Engineers. Dr. R. V. Wheeler, Director of the Mines Department Experimental Station. Mr. E. S. Furniss (Gichard & Company) for Mr. Maurice Deacon (formerly Managing Director of the Company) and Mr. Thompson (formerly Agent of the Colliery). Mr. Robert Clive, South Yorks. Coal Owners' Association. Mr. J. Ensor, Yorkshire Branch of the National Association of Colliery Managers. The Witnesses called were examined in the following order :John Holland Scattergood. Basil Henry Pickering. Thomas Thompson. George Whitehouse. John Edward Leader. Isaac Vaughan. George Lee. Horace Outram. Robert Bryden. John Proctor. Thomas Ernest Sturdy (recalled). Thomas Thompson (recalled). John Arthur Watson. John William Needham. Arthur Bagley. John William Burke. Thomas Willetts. George Watkins. John William Burke (recalled). |