Fire In Glen Afton Mine Day Before Tragedy

Northern Advocate, 28 November 1939, Page 3

Fire In Glen Afton Mine Day Before Tragedy

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] HUNTLY, This Day. He discovered a fire in the Glen Aftcn mine on Saturday, September 23, the day before the recent accident in which 11 men lost their lives, Thomas Henry Jackson, a shiftman, said this morning. He was the first witness at the hearing before the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into and report upon the disaster.

Members of >he commission inspected the mine yesterday. Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., Hamilton, is chairman.

Cross-examined, Jackson said he had had 28 years’ experience of mines. Smelt Wood Burning.

With two others, he was working on the timbering near the main return airway of the mine. The trio went out of the airway to a warm corner for a few minutes, and on returning, he smelt wood burning.

He mentioned the matter to one of his mates. IVTatthew Robinson, who soon smelt a faint smoke. Jackson said: <? “There’s something wrong. We must investigate, and went with Robinson to within a chain of the main air shaft, where they could see everything lit up and a substantial fire burning. Suppressed Blaze. “I sent Robinson for water,” said Jackson, “and with my two mates and Mr Wilcox, ,a mine underviewer, we suppressed the blaze, which was in loose wood and one prop. “There was also a certain amount of drift dust, and a section was burned in the vicinity of the conduit pipe bearing the electric cable. Believed Fire Spread.

Jackson believed the fire spread from a pipe “short” across the dust to the timber.

After dousing the fire, he assisted to gather all the embers and mixed them into a dough, being satisfied the fire was really extinguished. He did not feel the conduit pipe, but returned to his timbering Work, leaving the two other men there. (Proceeding).