THE WALLSEND ENQUIRY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1571, 30 May 1887, Page 3

THE WALLSEND ENQUIRY.

Grrymootii, May 20

The Wallscnd enquiry wns continued . Willium Walker, m crops examination by Mr Binna, said he knew that had he comninnicatod with jsr Binns an investigation would follow without divulging his name, but there was not sufficient danger for him to writo. Ho was never given a copy of any rules.

Gettos, a miner, deposed that he was working with Waiker when ho saw the flames lift him to the low Bide of the board. Paw him try to got on his feet, and Bhouted to him to keep low, Throw himself down flat, and the fire did him" little injury. Had been mining 20 years, and had worked m some of tho mo t fiery mines m England. Consdered it unsafe to test with a crook, as done m the Walls end mine The lamp is too high above the line of sight. The face is a high one, and tho brattico is not clobo enough to the face when she makes gas. Had known gas to fire where he worked since April 25th. Told Rankin the day after it oc curred. Lowory once handed him a piece of brattice cloth to beat out tho fire with. He was not sntisGed with the way the latnps were inspected ; In other places Ihey are tab en to pieces, and examined m the presence of tho workmen. The lampuian does not examine the top of the lamp, and the Davy is not examined at all. Cross-examined by Mr Kitchinghatn, witness said he had Been gas light five or six times after the shots. They kept a piece of bratti(M cloth for beating out the fire This occurred since the accident. It was hot dangerous. Two or three batts were knocked out. Had seen similar firing m other mines. There waß nothing unusual In it where the gaa was m. Did not know whether gaa could be discovered before firing- Thought it nnmual when he first worked there not to have hla lamp properly examined at the bottom: of the pit. Saw rules at tho pit top, but never read them. It ia possible to discover gas with a clayey without its being put out, but it 13 more easily told with a Davy. The brattice was sufficiently close to the face on the day of the accident. Never saw fire from a shot except m the Wallsend and Unsworth mines, acd the Durham and Heddon mtnes. The Durham la more fiery than the Wallaend Thej do not shot coals there.

By Mr Binns : The explosion, he thought, was from tho gas being lighted by the shots. It is safe to blast powder m the Wallsend with sufficient air travelling to clear the place. Have seen gas hanging m this plate 4 it was usual to see it if the brattice was back.

By Mr Boaes ; The flash at Unsworth was similar to the explosion at Walleend on April 25, only later. It was much stronger. The coal is damp m the Wallsend If it stands a day or two. Did not think it possible m a short drive, euoh as Dana was m, for coal dust to accumulate and causa an explosion. A shot that did its work ib aB likely to fire as one that blew its tamping. John Jaokson, miner, Baw the gas fire twice after the shot. This was caused through the powder being too weak. The air m the Wallsend miue is damp, and coal dust soon acts damp. Once witness put out the fhrae with ha shirt, and Rankin pu l it out with his hat. Was sitting at the bottom of the shaft ones when the fan was broken. Thought thero was no danger and asked the fireman to unlock kis lamp, but he refused to do so. HBy Mr KitchiDgham .• A feeder that firea Is frequatt. The place was properly examined before firing the shot oh each occaeion, and no gas was discovered. The enquiry will be resumed on Monday.