1911, The First Explosion

Transcribed from the Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Tuesday 22 August 1911

MINE DISASTER

THREE KILLED BY EXPLOSION AT MALTBY MAIN

EIGHT OTHERS GASSED

CADEBY RESCUE TEAM DO GOOD WORK

Maltby Colliery was early yesterday morning the scene of an internal explosion, which involved the loss of three lives and the “gassing” of some eight would be rescuers and workers.

The victims were:- Horace Jepson 26, Tom Turton 28, and John Charles Butler 31.

All the men, who were single, lived at the Model Village, Maltby.

The cause of the explosion, which was not particularly violent, has not yet been ascertained. The men died from burns, the bodies being found charred.

The deceased men, with 21 others, went to work at 10 pm. The previous night, and it is stated that the reason for so few men being on the night shift was the stoppage caused by the railway strike. Otherwise there would have been about 100 workers below ground at the time of the explosion, but that does not imply that all would have been in the danger zone.

The men were engaged in driving No. 4 heading in the No. 2 shaft, 300 yards from the pit bottom. All went well until about three o'clock yesterday morning, when a slight explosion was heard. The alarm was given, and assistance was forthcoming, the colliery manager (Mr. W. H. Dyson) rapidly organising some Maltby workers to investigate, and if necessary rescue the men in the “heading” involved. But gas was met with, the manager, H. Sykes, foreman sinker, and a miner named Ross being seriously affected, while some four or five more men were prevented by the foul fumes from penetrating the danger zone.

In the circumstances, it was decided to telephone to the Wath rescue station for further assistance, and about 6.45 a rescue team from Cadeby Main, in charge of Sergt. Winch, arrived with their apparatus. Mr. W. H. Chambers, managing director of the Denaby and Cadeby Collieries, Limited, was also early on the scene.

The Cadeby party descended the mine, and fortunately did not meet any obstacles. They found the roof tender, and had to cope with small outbreaks of fire, but the situation did not present much difficulty to them, and the bodies of the three victims were recovered, and brought to the surface about 8.30.

The local ambulance men rendered first aid to the manager and the others affected by the gas, and subsequently Dr. Wood, of Maltby, arrived, and gave his valuable assistance. Drs. Caley and Duffy were also prompt with their services, and though the condition of Mr. Dyson and the two others was at first serious, it was found possible to remove them to their homes by motor car. The reports later in the day were to the effect that all were recovering satisfactorily.

The small damage done confirms the statement that he explosion was not violent. Air pipes were thrown about the airways, and the ventilation was considerably interfered with, but this was remedied during the day.

Mr. W. H. Pickering, H. M. Chief Inspector of Mines, made an inspection during the morning with Mr. Deakin, managing director of the colliery.

Another account says the explosion was felt as far away as the Model Village.

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