§ Mr. BARKER(by Private Notice) asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the latest and fullest information in connection with the mining disaster in South Wales?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)I am afraid I can add very little to the full accounts which have already been published. The Divisional Inspector reports that it seems probable that the explosion originated in the Black Vein Seam. Its cause is still a mystery; it is stated that no shot-firing is done in that seam.
In the Old Coal Seam there were 32 men at the time of the explosion (one a.m.). Seven of these were able to walk out by the return airway, and two were carried out by the others. Sixteen men unfortunately attempted to get to the shaft by the intake and were caught by the afterdamp. There is no news of the remaining seven, hut there can, I fear, be no doubt that all have perished. Access to the bodies was impeded by a fall of 385 several hundred tons, but I have just had a telegram from the. Divisional Inspector to say that all the bodies have been recovered.
In the Black Vein Seam there were 30 men. Two were brought out alive yesterday morning, one of whom died on reaching the surface. Exploration showed that the district was full of gas and there was no possibility of any of the others being alive. The gas is being cleared, and the Divisional Inspector expected that the bodies would be brought out in the course of to-day.
I fear, therefore, that the total death-roll will be 52.
The Divisional Inspector reports that all the principal officials of the company were down the pit within an hour of the explosion, and that everyone has behaved with great gallantry. I am glad to say that the rescuers who were gassed are doing well.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs it known whether the mine had been worked in constant shifts? Was it working a single shift, or was this one of three shifts? Was the system of continuous working such that the mine was not allowed, to cool, or that there was not sufficient inspection as to the presence of gas?
Sir P. CUNLIFFELISTERThat is a question which obviously I could not answer without notice. The hon. Member knows there must be the fullest possible inquiry into this most unhappy disaster, and I world like to wait until we have got the full report before answering any questions of that kind.
§ Mr. HARDIEBut is it a three-shift mine or a one-shift?
§ Mr. VARLEY(by Private Notice) asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can give the latest information regarding the disaster at the Bilsthorpe Colliery, Nottingham?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe latest reports from the divisional inspector give the following particulars of the Bilsthorpe disaster.
The shaft in process of being sunk is 276 yards deep. Twenty-two yards from the bottom is a scaffold—4 yards from 386 the bottom was a 500 horse-power pump suspended from the head-gear. Water is carried from the pump to the surface in 8-inch steel tubes. About 3 a.m. yesterday morning nine men were working at the bottom of the shaft, and eight others were descending in the hoppit. At the scaffold three men got out of the hoppit. Just as the hoppit was starting down from the scaffold level the whole of the rising main pipes broke away and fell down the shaft. It was impossible to move the hoppit after the accident. A new hoppit was brought into use and was lowered to a depth of 200 yards, at which level it was found that the broken pipes prevented its further descent. A rope was lowered, and by this means three men on the scaffold, who proved to be not seriously injured, were rescued about noon yesterday. These men said there was no sign of anyone else alive on the scaffold or below it. Early this morning a body was recovered from the scaffold, but access to the shaft below is prevented by the heaped pipes and debris, and by the water which has now risen nearly up to the scaffold. Steps are being taken to lower the water, but I fear there can be no doubt that the 13 men unaccounted for have lost their lives. There is nothing at present to show what caused the pipes to fall, but an inquiry will, of course, be held.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe Bilsthorpe disaster did not occur during a working shift, because in this case a shaft was being sunk, and the men who lost their lives in the hoppit were being lowered at that moment.