History
Newspaper Extract
Explosion at Fence Colliery George Ward, killed
December, 1864An inquest was held yesterday by Mr. Coroner Webster, at Woodhouse Mill, near Sheffield, on the body of a man named George Ward, who was killed by an explosion of fire damp, in which several other men were badly injured.
The deceased worked in the Fence" Colliery, and it appeared that he was with a number of other men and boys in the mine early in the morning, when a violent report shook the ground, and dense volumes of smoke were discharged through the "upcast" shaft.
The manager immediately descended, and took the most prompt measures to send out the men and boys, whom he found in a dreadful state of alarm.
They said there was a flash, gathering in intensity as it rolled along, then a roar like thunder, and then a "blast" which swept through the pit and prostrated all before it.
Fortunately there was a good current of air, and though some of the stoppings were blown down, most of the people were enabled to get into good air, and so save themselves from the choke damp.
The exceptions were George Ward and three brothers named Goodall. The latter were promptly found, but the search for Ward was long and very dangerous. It appears that he had been so dreadfully burnt, although not killed on the spot, as to have run blindly about the workings, and he got into the choke damp and was killed. The brave men who went after him incurred very serious risk.
At the inquest, which was attended by Mr. Dickinson, the Government Inspector of Mines, it was shown that there had been a sudden and enormous rush of gas into the workings from a fault in the roof, and that the fire damp was caused to explode by the naked lights which the men were allowed to use. It was also shown that the underground viewer had not used proper precaution in trying the place with his Davy lamp before he allowed the men to work there. The Coroner remarked that his experience showed him that every mine ought to be worked with safety lamps, as there could be no safety without them.
The jury found a verdict of "Accidental death" coupling with it a strong censure of the viewer for his carelessness.
The brothers Goodall are in a dangerous state.