Letters and Papers Concerning the Trans-Persian Railway and Other Railways in Persia [‎140r] (279/442)

1919 Cadehy Colliery Explosion. 10 July 1912 Business of the House. 1920
About 11.30 this morning whilst a rescue party was
underground a second explosion occurred in the same
district accompanied by a fall of roof. The rescue
party numbered about thirty-five persons, and with it
were Messrs. Pickering, Hewitt and Tickle, mines
inspectors, Mr. Bury, the manager of the pit, and Mr.
Douglas Chambers, the manager of the Denaby pit.
Five only of the rescue party are alive, amongst whom
is Mr. Bury, though his condition is critical, as is also
the case with the others.”
Later last night the chief inspector tele
graphed :—
“Total number of bodies recovered so far is sixty-
nine. Three or four bodies still in the pit. It is pre
sumed that they are beneath the fall. The sealing
stoppings have been built, one a little way in—bye side
of the fall in the intake, the other in the return airway.
The evidence points to the possibility of the explosion
being due to an underground fire, as there were indica
tions of spontaneous heating near the face of the
district in question on Saturday morning, which was
being dealt with by the management during the week
end.”
This morning he telegraphed further:—
“ A further slight explosion occurred at about 3
o’clock this morning, and three of the men working at
the stopping in the intake were overcome, one of them
rather badly, and sent to the surface. After consulta
tion, Mr. Chambers (the managing director), Mr. Wilson
(mines inspector), and myself, we arranged, as soon as
the stopping was repaired to stop search for remaining
bodies, and withdraw all the men from the mine except
six, who will inspect the stoppings at intervals of four
hours, to see that they are intact. All other operations
to cease for twenty-four hours unless the stoppage
should be damaged by further explosions, in which
case it will be necessary to erect stoppings much
further out-bye. I do not think there is any fear, even
were another explosion to take place, of its reaching
the shafts, or indeed arriving much further out-bye
through the stoppings, as though the roads are dusty,
the dust is not dangerous dust, being practically stone
dust.”
I received this telegram about an hour
ago from the chief inspector:—
“ Am now able to give more definite figures respect
ing death roll. The bodies brought to the surface
number seventy-one. Possibly three more remain to be
recovered at a future date. Five persons are in hos
pital more or less seriously injured. Am returning to
London, as nothing further remains to be done for the
present.”
The chief inspector returns to London
this afternoon and I shall immediately con
sult him as to the steps which are neces
sary to investigate the circumstances of
the disaster. The Home Office will cer
tainly be represented at the inquest, and,
in view of all the circumstances, I think it
will probably be desirable that the chief
inspector should hold an inquiry under
Section 83 of the Coal Mines Act of last
Session.
Mr. W. E. HARVEY: Has the Home
Secretary any knowledge as to whether
this explosion w r as caused by the use
of coal - cutting machines, and is he
aware whether they are worked by
electricity or compressed air ? And
further, seeing that there are many
coal pits in that district subject to spon
taneous combustion and giving off gases
at the face, and this being such a serious
matter owing to the loss of life, I wish
to know whether he can have a special in
quiry into the whole of the district subject
to this spontaneous combustion?
Mr. McKENNA: I understand that the
chief inspector has been for some time
making an inquiry with regard to this
class of mine, but I will bear in mind what
my hon. Friend says. I can only say that
I have given all the information I have at
the present time, and I have not been able
to find out whether in fact machines are
used of the kind named. The chief in
spector says that the evidence points to
the possibility of the explosion being due
to an underground fire. I hope to give my
hon. Friend further information either
later in the day or to-morrow.
Mr. W. E. HARVEY: As this is a very
important matter I called at the Home
Office this morning with regard to it, and
I know personally that there are pits in
that district subject to spontaneous com
bustion, and I want to know whether we
can have a special inquiry into this matter
with a view to preventing this serious loss
of life in our mines.
Mr. McKENNA:! think the special in
quiry for which the hon. Member asks with
regard to this particular kind of mine is
already in hand, but, if it is not, I will cei-
tainly see that it is started-
BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE.
Summer Vacation.
Mr. BONAR LAW: Can the Prime
Minister make a statement as to business ?
The PRIME MINISTER : It may be for
the convenience of the House if I make a
statement of the business we propose to
transact before the House rises for the
August Adjournment. We are anxious to
conclude the necessary financial business
of the year before M^e rise. We hope to
make some progress w r ith some tw r o or
three Bills of a non-controversial char
acter, and subject to that we shall confine
ourselves to Supply, of which six days
remain to be taken, the Appropriation Bill,
the Indian Budget, the Second Beading of
the Trades Union Bill, and the Finance
Bill. I am hopeful that this work may be
accomplished in time to allow the House to
rise on Friday, the 2nd August, or Satur
day, the 3rd August. With regard to the
statement that the Navy Vote would be