Maltby Pit Disaster of 1923
The Inquest
Fighting the Gob Fire
An inquiry into the causes and circumstances of the explosion in which 27 men lost their lives at the Maltby Main
Colliery near Rotherham, was opened on 19th September by Mr. Thomas H. Mottram, the Chief Inspector of Mines, at the Town
Hall, Sheffield.
Dr. Wheeler of the Mines Department attended as scientific adviser to the Commissioner and their was a big array of counsel, Mines Department Officials, miners leaders and other representatives of the coal industry.
Mr. F. H. Wynne and Major H. J. Humphreys appeared for the Mines Department; Mr. F. A. Macquisten, K.C., for the Maltby Main Colliery Company; and Mr. Arthur Neal for the Manager, Under Manager, Overmen and Deputies of the colliery.
The Miners Federation of Great Britain was represented by Mr. Frank Hall and Mr Tom Richards, and the Yorkshire Miners Association by Mr. Herbert Smith; while Mr. Robert Clive appeared for the South Yorkshire Coal Owners Association.
Mr. Basil H. Pickering, agent of the Maltby Main Company putting in a description of the colliery, said in reply to Mr. Richards that at the time of the disaster a 'stopping' - a method to fight a 'gob fire', in a mine by way of isolating the outbreak, was being put in at a spot nearly three hundred yards from where the gob fire was last seen.
Thomas Ernest Sturdy a deputy who had been engaged in the work of fighting the 'gob fire' from its outbreak on April 26th until the day before the fatal explosion, was the first of a number of witnesses called by the Mines Department. He said that when he went with four men into the affected area at 2 p.m. on July 27th there were three and a half per cent of gas or fire damp in the area for five yards from the face of the two 'stoppings'. That condition continued until 4 p.m. when he said - 'We had a 'puff' - a slight explosion in the workings.
Mr Wynne: Was any dust raised? - Yes stones.
Mr. Sturdy reported the 'puff' to the overmen, but later, with their approval, work was resumed. By 5 p.m. the gas or fire damp had, in his opinion increased to six per cent and the four men with him, were withdrawn. After a 'snap' of food they resumed, finding that the gas had reduced to four per cent. At 6.45, there was another 'puff' and they left the affected area a quarter of an hour later. These minor explosions had been occurring since the 'gob fire' had started.
Mr Smith having suggested that there was a lack of a cohesive safety policy in the dangerous work of fighting the 'gob fire'.
Mr. Sturdy said in reply to Mr. Neal that following the explosion on July 17 when a bird was singed and killed, there was on July 22 and 23 a conference in which many eminent gentlemen took part. As a result written instructions were issued as to the method of fighting the fire. When the two 'puffs' occurred on July 27 he heard no sound of an explosion and all he felt was a quiver in the air.
Mr. George Whitehouse, who went into the affected area from 7.30 until 11.30 p.m. said the conditions improved during
that period. If he had got above 4 per cent of gas he should have withdrawn the men on his own iniative.
Mr. Smith asked if the men with him had anything with which to test for gas.
Mr. Whitehouse replied that the men had not, but in answer to Mr. Neal he said the instructions were to get the work done as quickly as possible for the safety of the men.
Mr. Neal: To do that you had to take certain risks which you would not take in normal circumstances? - Yes.
The inquest was adjourned. continued »
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