Colliery explosion at Pretoria Pit

Hulton Colliery Co. Ltd December 21 1910

I went to assist exploration December 24 - 25 1910. Mr Ainsworth, Roger Worthington and myself as well as a team rescue men went to Pretoria Pit Xmas Eve leaving Walkden offices 9.15pm in a motor, arriving at our destination 9.50pm.

We secured lamps and went in engine house, awaited orders. The Rescue men were sent to South Yard (I believe) while we were deputed to South Plodder.

We proceeded to the North Jig and up the Jig as far as an aircrossing - the distance that Mr Ainsworth and Roger had been to the day before. We went about 30 yards higher-up coming to tunnel to the West.

Here we were stopped until Mr Gerrard and several other gentlemen came out of the West Tunnel, as he was taking particulars of the way or direction of force of the explosion by noticing position of tubs, bars, bodies and lamps in particular.

The first body we saw after going straight up north Tunnel, above the tunnel to the West, was that of a boy in an empty waggon. His head was just above the level of the top of the tub and up brow in-bye, his legs lengthwise of the tub, one clog being rested on the other end of the top of the tub. His food wrapped in an handkerchief was also in the tub.

We couldn’t see or tell exactly how he came to be in the waggon, nor whether he had been blown there, or whether he was riding up-brow or whether he was in the act of getting in the tub as well as he could to escape the force of explosion

A little higher up at a level end to the West four bodies were located and duly booked. One had a road-hammer near his body. Also saw two or three broken lamps and one lamp under a stone intact.

About 100 yards on level to the West were found three bodies, one of which was a very big fellow and must have been very heavy. Underneath his body was two others making three, as said. Only one had been located so the other two could not be seen until the big fellow was taken away.

We then went on a level to the East and found a boy’s body at bottom of Motor House in the level. He was laid across the rails somewhat longitudinally. Further on level just past first bottom of a Jig running North was another body, much burnt, and also up the Jig there was a body of rather a big man.

Everywhere to this point there was plenty of evidence of coke and violence, but I understand from what I heard the violence was not so pronounced as what it had been nearer the shaft.

The waggons in the Main Plodder Jig all showed the violence to be going downhill, running from North to South and the violence in the East Level last mentioned seemed to have travelled from West to East.

We returned to the East Level and had to wait while four cloths were put in level ends so as to force back the air straight up the Brow. These cloths could not be fixed until all the bodies were brought out.

After a time these were finished and fast cloths put in and then we all proceeded to go up Brow. We were supposed to be 500 yards from the shaft and 240 yards from the face. We went up about 80 yards and came to a fence rail marked “danger”.

The Rescue Men ( the team from Haydock) then fixed their tackle up an, to Mr Gerrard’s orders, went up in the gas to see what they could find. They went up 120 yards estimate.

At 60 yards they found a body near to the Jig frames and at 120 a large fall of roof, but they said they could have got over it but would rather wait until the gas line was pushed further up the Brow.

After 25 minutes they returned and gave their report as above and after a good rest and a nice little lecture from Mr Gerrard they again fixed on their apparatus and took a stretcher and fetched the body down, and they were not so long over it.

It was a splendid piece of work and showed to splendid advantage the use of the Fleuss apparatus can be put to.

This done they were dispensed with and a fresh relay of rescue men from Speakman's Beaford Leigh came. They had to wait while we saw whether the gas backened any: Young and myself and Mr Ainsworth tried it first time and it had gone back eight yards. Second time it came towards us four yards. Third time it came towards us two yards and was nearly at its old position.

A consultation was held, Mr Brancker pulling out his plans. We considered every possible plan of action and came to conclusion to leave it and see what it would do in a few hours. It was then nearly 4am. So Mr Ainsworth and myself came back to shaft and up to surface.

Roger did not come out at the appointed time at 6:00 or little after so we decided to leave him to come later. Roger went in another district at 12:00pm.

About 35 men that had come from Bridgewater Collieries for 6:00 am on 25/12/1910 were not wanted after all as all districts were pretty much same as North Plodder wanting gas removing.

Report - After only one visit it is not wise to give an opinion. I inquired off everyone I could to learn the state of other districts and putting together all opinions and after what I saw in North Plodder.

I concluded that explosions probably started in North Plodder and gained in velocity and increased in volume as it travelled south down the Jig and then it passed into other districts and up the shaft sweeping and destroying everything in its progress. According to my ideas nothing could possibly live through it that stood in its path.

I can also see in my mind the Plodder Mine possibly having what is called a Rock Weight, when such happens gas is given off to a great extent. This being so it would back down the Jig and it is quite possible to have been ignited at the power place or point where the switch is for the electrical power.

It appears that not only do they use electricity for hauling on the East Level heretofore mentioned but it was used for an Electrical Coal Cutter and a conveyor as well and there would be any amount of amperes in use and undoubtedly plenty of sparks at times.

Considering then the nature of the mine itself, its gas giving propensities especially in times of weights and rock weights in particular the extreme probability of sparking from switches the final explanation of the explosion is practically accomplished. Everything points to it in my belief.

I heard a whisper too that the lamps are no good for detecting gas and a complaint that they do not go out when in gas, but rather burn brighter. This is a most vital point and if true every lamp wants destroying and get fresh ones.

Wm. Walls.

Re: The consultation mentioned on page five after we found the gas backing back after going forward about eight hours it was mentioned (I believe by Mr Brancker) that perhaps more air could be sent up North Plodder to see if it would remove it. I said “suppose it woudn’t do it - what then? And why not any other district?”

So someone said “What else could be done?” I said “Take the fast screen out of that level (the level close to gas level) and brattice up the centre of road and begin it at lower side corner and go up centre of jig i.e fresh air one side and return back side of brattice.” Someone said “What brattice 150 yards?” and seemed to scorce the idea.

I said “Yes if there is no thoroughfare into the returned higher segment you will have to do it. What else can you do?” And I also said they would not need to brattice all the 150 yards but probably it would disappear as they got up a good distance when the biggest weight, or shall I say the thickest are of gas, was removed.

No notice seemed to be taken but in the Daily Dispatch of December 28 1910 it states that the Bratticing is being done in North Plodder Mine to a great extent.