MINING AND MINES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5628, 10 March 1879, Page 6

MINING AND MINES.

TO THB BDITOE OP THH XiTTTBLTON TIMES. Sib,— The following is a record of colliery accidents, with suggestions of towards their prevention in future. The disastrous explosion at Kaitangata colliery revives the interest in mining catastrophes of the past in remote ages of coal mining. The record of accidents is more or less .Imperfect. In August, 1648, by. an extraordinary storm of wind and - rain two of the best collieries in the west of England were lost. Ten years after, in May, 1658, the colliery at Gala Flat was inundated, and a number of lives lost, tinder date April 24,1695, occurs the following entry in “ St Andrew’s Register,”, “County of Durham, England, were buried James Arches and his son Stephen, who in the month of May, 1658, were drowned in a coal-pit in the Gala Flat, by the breaking in of water from an old work. The bodies were found entire after they had lain in the water 36 years and 11 months.” The colliery referred to in the above extract was at Elswick, where the Prior of Tynemouth had also three other collieries five or six hundred years ago. About 1710 Bensham Colliery—where the first attempt was made to work the low main seams in the neighbourhood of New-castle-on Tyne, England, exploded, causing the loss of from 70 to 80 lives. On Nov. 17, 1771, Wylam Colliery was inundated by the flood, which destroyed Tyne Bridge, also North Biddock, Chatershaugh, and Low Lambton. In 1757, June 10, Bavensworth Colliery exploded ; 16 lives lost. In 1766, on March 18, Walker Colliery exploded; 10 lives lost. In 1767, June 11, Harraton exploded ; 20 lives lost. In, 1772, at Newton West Bank, near Morpeth,,, a mao was shut up eight days in a'coal pit, with only a little water, which he collected in his shoe for sustenance. He was dug out, and lived many years after. 10 1778, December, ao explosion •tooitplace at Ohaterthaugh; resulting in the deat hof 24 persons. In 1794, by an explosion at Picktree Colliery, 30 persons were killed; 27 bodies were buried in one grave at Chester-le-street, County of Durham, England. In April 24, Ben well Colliery exploded, 11 lives lost. In 1799, Oct. 11, Lumbly Colliery exploded: 39 lives lost. In 1803, Sept 25, WaUsend exploded; 13 lives lost. In 1805, Oct, 21, Heburn Colliery exploded; 85 lives lost. In 1805, N >v. 29, Exclose Colliery exploded; 35 lives lost. In March, 1806, an explosion took place at Killingworth Colliery and 10 lives were lost. In 1808 an explosion at Harraton Colliery killed 4 men and 21 horses. At the end of four months, when the pit was reopened, a pony was found alive, and in good condition. The animal had a trick of slipping his halter, and was supposed to have set himself free before the explosion, and to have lived afterwards on the forage of his companions killed in the stable. In 1809, Sept. 1: Killingworth Colliery exploded and 12 lives were lost. In 1812, May 25 : Felling Colliery exploded, and 92 lives we lost. In 1812, Oct. 10 : Harrington Mill Colliery exploded, and 12 lives were lost. In 1813, Sept. 23: Fatfield Colliery exploded, and 32 lives were lost. In 1814, August 12 : Hebum Colliery exploded, and II lives were lost, A long list of explosions follows as below: — 1815, May 3 : Heaton Main Colliery, by inundation, 75 lives. 1815, June 2 ; Success Colliery, New Bottle, by explosion, 57 lives. 1815, June 27: Sheriff Hill Colliery, by explosion, 11 lives. 1816: Wallbottle Colliery, by explosion, 14 lives. 1817, June 30: Havraton Row Colliery, by explosion, 38 lives. 1817, Dec. 18: Eainton Plain Colliery, by explosion, 27 lives. 1819, Oct. 1: Lambton Colliery, by explosion, 13, lives. 1821, Oct. 28: Russel’s Wallsend Col-i liery, by explosion, 52 lives. 1823, Nov. 3 : Bainton Plain Collieiy, by explosion, 59 lives. 1824, Oct. 25: Gorge pit, Limby, by exfflosion, 14 lives. 1825, July 3: Judith Ooliery, Fatfield, by explosion, U lives. 1826, j»u. 17: Jarrow Colliery, by explosion, 34 lives. 1826, May 30: Townly Colliery, by explosion, 38 lives. 1828, Nov. 30: I. Pit, Washington, by explosion, 14 lives. 1830, August 3: Jarrow Colliery, by explosion, 42 lives. 1832, May 9: Springwell Colliery, by explosion, 47 lives, and a great many wounded. 1832, June 15: A boiler exploded at New Bottle Colliery, and 12 lives were lost. 1835, June 18: Wallsend Colliery, by explosion, 102 lives. 1836, June 28: Hetton Colliery, by explosion, 20 lives. 1836: Heburn Colliery, by explosion, 5 lives. 1837, Dec, 6: Springwell Collieiy, by explosion, 27 lives. 1838, Dec. 12: Wallsend Colliery, by explosion, 11 lives. 1839, June 28: St, Hilda Colliery, South Shields, by explosion, 50 lives. 1840, Jan. 24: Bothwell Colliery, by explosion, 7 lives. 1844, Sept. 28 : Haswell Colliery, by explosion, 95 lives. 1845, Aug. 21: Jarrow Colliery, by explosion, 39 lives. 1849, June 5: Heburn Colliery, by explosion, 23 lives. 1850, Nov. 11: Houghton Colliery, by explosion, 26 lives. 1851, March 15 : Nitshill Colliery, Scotland, by explosion, 61 lives. 1851, Aug. 19 : Washington Colliery, by explosion, 28 lives. 1851, Oct. 31: Killingworth Colliery, by explosion, 9 lives. 1851, Deo. 2 : Warren Yale Colliery, Botherham, by explosion, 52 lives. 1852, May 8 : Heburn Colliery, by explosion, 23 lives. 1853, March 24: Ince Hall Colliery, Wigan, bv explosion, 58 lives. 1853, April 26: Old Park Colliery, Dudley, by explosion, 11 lives. 1853, July 1: Bent Grange Colliery, Oldham, by explosion, 20 lives. 1855, July: Middle Dulfreyn Colliery, by explosion, 68 lives. 1856: Cymmer Colliery, by explosion, 114 lives. 1857, Feb. 19: Lund Hill Colliery, by explosion, 189 lives. 1860, March 2: Burradon Colliery, by explosion, 74 lives. 1860, Deo. 7: Nica Colliery, South Wales, by explosion, 130 lives. 1861, July: Clay Cross Colliery, by inundation, 23 lives. 1862, March -. Gethin Colliery, by explosion, 47 lives.

In 1862, Jan. 16, at the Hartiy Colliery, the engine beam broke, 20 tone of -which went down the. shaft and entombed 209 miners. The protracted period during which the public mind was kept in suspense as to the fate of the poor men entombed in the mine, and the universal sorrow excited when the terrible truth was revealed that not one was saved, will long be remembered. 1862, November: Walker Colliery, by explosion, 16 lives. 1862, June 2 : Bilston Colliery, b j inundation, 7 lives. 1862, June 7: Washington Colliery, by explosion, 28 lives. 1862: Gwindraith Colliery, South Wales, by explosion, 27 lives. 1862: Oopprel Colliery, by explosion, 36 lives. 1866: Bedmalty Colliery by explosion, twentyone lives. 1866, Dec 13: Talk o’ the Hill Colliery, by explosion, 91 lives. 1866, Oct 31: Pelton Fell Colliery, by explosion, 24 lives. 1866, Jan 22: Highbrook Colliery, by explosion, 80 lives. 1866, June 24: Dukenfield Colliery, by explosion, 37 lives. 1866, Deo 12: Oaks Colliery, by explosion, 360 lives. On Deo 13, at the same colliery, by explosion, 28 lives. 1867: Fern Dale Colliery, by explosion, 17 lives. 1868, Nov 26: the Oisly Colliery, Wigan, by explosion, 62 lives. 1868, Deo 2: Nosley Colliery, Wigan, by explosion, 7 lives. 1868. Deo 3: Wood Pit, Heydock, St Helena, by explosion, 26 lives. 1869, April 1: Highbrook Colliery, Wigan, by explosion, 83 fives. 1869, July 21: Wood Pit, Haydook, St Helena, by explosion, 58 lives. 1869, Nov 21: Moss Colliery, Hindly, by explosion, 80 lives. 1871, Sept 6: Moss Pit, by explosion, 70 lives. 1871, Jan 19: Bemshaw Park Colliery, by exSlosion, 27 lives. 1872, Oct 7; Marly lain Colliery, by explosion, 39 lives. 1872, Nov. 21: Eawmarah colliery by explosion, 23 lives. 1876: Talk Colliery, South Staffordshire, by explosion, seven lives. 1876: Bisly Colliery, Sheffield, by explosion, six lives. 1877, Oct. 22: Blantyre Colliery, Scotland, by explosion, 200 lives. 1978, March 12: Kearsly Colliery, by explosion, 43 lives. 1878, dime 7: Wood Pit, Haydook, St Helens, by explosion, 239 lives. The subieot of colliery explosions has been pretty well ventilated of late years all over the universe; but the serious explosion at

I aitangata by which 35 lives were lost brings t e subject again to the front. Every one si ems desirous either of devising fresh means f< r their prevention, or of seeing this object a complished by the aid of some mechanical si ill and careful management. It is evident fj jm recent accidents that the _means of p. evention have not yet been found, or at le at, they are not made effectual generally for tl e object in view. (The question arises—and is one calling for earnest con sideratioc—Do oi r present systems of working and ventilating m nes, and those appliances made use of, S ca rried out in their integrity, afford an ei imption from explosion of fire damp ? If not, it would be well for ns to ascertain wl ere the systems fail, and to seek by every av vilable means a safe and sure system by wl ioh to carry on colliery operations. in the last century, under the old method, ex ilosions were frequently occurring in the coil fields in the North of England, Th jse we now attribute and rightly so to inadequate ventilation, one current of air being made to circulate through the wh lie of a mine, and, as a consequence, it 1 ecame heavily charged with gases. The use of naked lights, and the presence of a fuiiace at the bottoms of the upcast pit, ad( ed greatly to the risk. In a fiery mine, the -o needed perhaps only a damp atmosph< re, and a reduced barometrical pressure, to ] reduce the material for an explosion. A par ial remedy for this state of matters was ton id in. the invention of the safety-lamp in the year 1815, The names of Stephenson, Clamy, and Davy, are still preserved as sep rate inventors of a covered and safety ligh > for mines. The invention of the steam eng ne and of the safety-lamp have caused a con plete revolution in working of coal, water, and fire damp, where contended with, and the ixtractions of, performed at much greater depl hs, and at longer distances, from the pit thai before. Still, accidents occurred. They mig it have arisen from weak ventilation, fron great length of travel of air currents, thes i becoming laden with gas from the furnace at the pit bottom, or from insecure lam] s. It is now ascertained that when a Davy lamj is placed in .a current of Bft. or 10ft. per i econd, the dame may be passed through the ] auze, so that we at once conclude this lamj must not be placed in such a current whei fire damp is likely to be found, <or othei wise it is unfit for use in coal mines, lie Clauny lamp will explode under similar conditions, but the Stephenson is of ;hat class Inown as self-extinguishing, . the s ipply of air to the flame being limited. If, w ten owing to pressure of fire-damp, the flame is increased, the lamp is extinguished from want of air. It is clear, then, that such lamp: as the Davy are unsafe for use in fierycollie: ies, because a rapid movement of the 1 lamp >r current of air, or a current resulting . from hot-firing, might force a flame through i the gi uze and be the cause of an accident. The S ephenson lamp, or a lamp of the selfexting lushing class is now invariably used inthe c liberies in the Midland Counties -of Engla id, which are subject more than ©thereto out mrsts of gas. Their great utility and safety have been frequently proved in those collier, es, and it seems to be a requisite measure ft r the safety of all fiery mines that self-ex inguisliing lamps should be used. In tie beginning of the present century down ;j the year 1840, Davy lamps were Billy used in the northern coal fields of i. I have pointed out the defects to • which i hey are liable (they were then lesscareful y used than they are now). Whenwe add to these the presence of the ventilating fu: nace end weak currents of air, or to great le igth, we need not be surprised that explosii ns were still occurring and lives sacrificed ii this period as in old times. It is clear, t ien, that wo must discard the Davy cl *BB of lamps and adopt self-extinguishing ones ex< lusively, in mines producing fire damp,, as one insurance against accidents under similar i onditions. We should also discard: furnacei at the pit bottom, unless, indeed,, these ar > supplied with fresh air and not touched by the return air currents. The 1 rat great improvement in modern times fa wards securing the safety of coalmines, ii in augment ing the circulating of air and divi ling the aiir into various currents, and by a proper system of courses and giving sufficient current to dilute the gasa* given rdf. *** on in working place.Xn the boardf-and Eillar me bhod of woikifig, a panel of workings as a sep irate split or current of air assigned to it, which after .ventilating the working places, pisses on the goaf, and thence to the return airways. The second improvement was the adoption of mechanical rehti--lators in place of the furnace, and rarefied upcat b columns. A ventilation by machinery has teen obtained., which would have been quit impossible with the furnace system. Added t > this, is the avoidance of a possibility of explosion at the furnace, and of Ihe wear and tear consequent in a heated ipeast pit and its fittings. I think enough his been said to demonstrate the great superiority of ventilating by fans, and (ther forms of ventilating machinery considered to be equal to them in efficiency. There is n< > doubt about the superiority of a fan or otter machine, should an explosion - take place, in the probability of keeping up a circulation of air by its combined action. I hope to see mechanical ventilation generally adopted in fiery mines as a further insurance against acoi dents. The syst im of laying out and working a coal mine is a subject so wide that I cannot deal with i ; ia this notice. Every mining district has a system of working peculiarly its own. It m.ybe in one district the system of long-wall ii practised. Under favourable conditions t le excavated spaces may. be filled with refuse, and the ventilation of the works most easily vccomplishei. In the board and pillar syefcen, again, the air is to be sent into each workin; place by brattieing and doors. A possible d irangement of any part of this lattersysten must not be overlooked; and, indeed, has' ieen the primary cause of explosion of fire-damp, more particularly in the older period, when naked lights were more frequently ued than at present. It may be added that it is imperative that workings should alwav i be laid out so as to be adapted for a compl te and easy system of ventilation.

In recent times on the occurrence of a colliery explo lion we naturally ask ourselves was the accid mt unavoidable, as it is to be placed undei the category of some of the causes of expl isions which have been adduced. Was the vent lation of the mine ample, and were currents of fresh air properly distributed in the worki igs, and thence taken to the goafs and tl rough airways of ample size to the up-cast pit ?! Were self-extinguishing safety lamps c sed, and was shot firing prohibited? Was a mechanical ventilator used and the fornac 9 discarded ? If these precautions have sen rally been tike a and every care taken in the ca trying them ou t by managers and workmen, hen and only then can we say that the aooide it seemed to be unavoidable, and could not have been warded off by the appliances and methods hitherto adopted. These oalam ties are so distressing, more particularly to those in chairte of a mine where an exploi ion has taken place, that there must be an inoe atiye with (hem to do all in their power in < arising and adopting means of prevention. The means pointed out in these remarks if strictly carried out would, I firmly believe, be conducive to this end.— I am, &0., MINES.