Page 3

Ashton Reporter

28 August 1909

THE WHALEY EXPLOSION

A Third Victim

Shortly before eight o’clock on Tuesday morning Percy Southern, who was injured in the explosion at the Fernilee Gunpowder Works on August 12th, died at the Devonshire Hospital, Buxton, as a result of the injuries he received. This makes the third victim of the terrible calamity, the other two being Joseph Hill and George Raven. Southern was not as badly hurt as the other two, and last week hopes were entertained of his ultimate recovery. The injuries, however, combined with the fearful shock, proved fatal in spite of the best medical skill and the most careful nursing.

Percy Southern was about twenty years of age, very popular, and highly respected. He was a teacher at the Whaley Bridge Wesleyan Sunday School, and only the Sunday before the accident occurred read the lesson from the school desk. He was formerly the registrar in the school, and a popular member of the Wesleyan Circuit Club. Deceased was the son of Mr J.W. Southern, a foreman at the Powder Mill. The greatest sympathy is expressed with the family in their great trouble. The third death in connection with the explosion has made a very deep impression on all concerned with the works. This is said to be the most serious accident there has been at the works, which have been in existence three-quarters of a century or more.

Inquests

PROPOSED RELIEF FOR SUFFERERS

On Thursday afternoon, in the Parish Room, Horwich End, Whaley Bridge, Mr S. Taylor, B.A., coroner for the High Peak, resumed the inquiry into the deaths of Jos Hill (32) and George Raven (26), who died as a result of the injuries they received in the explosion at the Fernilee Gunpowder Works on August 12th.

The Coroner said that since the inquest was adjourned Percy Southern, the third man who was injured, and who was expected to recover, or it was hoped would recover, had died.

The jury’s primary duty was to inquire into the two previous deaths, but he would swear them in again to inquire into Percy Southern’s death, and then they could take the three inquiries together.

Mr W.J. Andrew, solicitor, of Cadster, Whaley Bridge, appeared on behalf of the Chilworth Gunpowder Company.

Mr T. Hutton was again foreman of the jury.

Mr W.J. Andrew said: “I desire, on behalf of the chairman and directors of the Chilworth Gunpowder Company, and of their manager, Mr Cox, to express their heartfelt sympathy with the relatives of the three brave men who have lost their lives whilst performing the duties of their employment. They also wish to pay a tribute to the nerve and discipline of their workmen, who, without any prompting, brought out the fire apparatus and took every precaution to prevent the disaster spreading, and meanwhile rendered first aid to the injured, and all this on the spur of the moment. They would thank Dr Cox and Dr Flint, of Buxton, who fortunately happened to be on the adjoining moors, and who grasped the gravity of the explosion, and hastened to render their valuable assistance and relief. Finally they recognise the splendid behaviour of the matron of the Devonshire Hospital in coming alone, without a moment’s delay, to superintend the conveyance of the injured to her hospital. Although no money can be any recompense in so sad a case, they have instructed me to inquire into the circumstances of the relatives, and meet them in any scheme for their more permanent relief than is provided by the Workmens’ Compensation Act. As it has been mentioned in the newspapers, that Mr Cox, the manager, was away on holiday, I should like to explain that this was taken on the urgent advice of his doctor, and that he returned immediately on hearing of the accident.”

The Coroner said that since the inquest was adjourned the jury would have heard a good deal by way of talk and gossip about the matter. In order that they might be clear upon what had been proved in evidence, he thought it better to read over his notes of the evidence already given. The Coroner then read the depositions.

Samuel Hill, recalled by the Coroner, said the correct name of the deceased man Hill was Jos. Henry Hill.

TALKS WITH THE VICTIMS

Mrs Sarah Raven, Fernilee, mother of the deceased man Raven, stated that she saw her son several times at the hospital in Buxton between the accident and his death, which occurred on August 14th. He spoke to her several times, but not to tell her anything that happened. She was quite satisfied that from the accident to his death everything possible was done for him.

Elizabeth Southern, Old-road, Whaley Bridge, stated that she was the mother of Percy Southern, who was 19 years of age. He was a messenger at the Powder Mills. She did not see the deceased before he was removed to the Buxton Hospital, but she saw him on the following day at the hospital. Since then she had seen him several times, and he had been able to talk to her. He had never told her what happened on the day of the explosion, and had never referred to it. She thought he had said something to his father about it on the Friday. Her son died on Tuesday. She was satisfied that everything was done for him after the accident, in fact; he expected to be home in three weeks. Up to Sunday it was expected he would recover.

John Wm Southern, father of Percy Southern, stated that he was the night foreman at the Powder Mill. He had seen his son several times at the hospital. Deceased had told him that he was on the bridge and that something struck him in the stomach. He also said it knocked him into the river or he would have been far worse burned. Deceased had nothing to do with the corning mill, and was outside the building.

John Thomas Mellor, foreman at the works, was recalled, and stated that after the explosion Raven was found in the stream. Southern was in the stream on the opposite side from the corning mill. Hill was beneath the ruins.

Southern was filling water tubs, and that would take him past the corning mill. He had nothing to do with the corning mill. There would be eight to nine hundredweight of gunpowder in the corning mill. The limit to be in at one time was 2,000 lbs. There were no other explosives about the works except powder.

The Coroner: “Can you suggest what caused the bump which Raven heard?”

“A piece of wood might have gone through, and that would make a bump.”

He added that amongst the wreckage there was no trace of anything that would throw a light on the explosion. The rollers were made of phosphor bronze, and were so made to minimise the danger. He had examined the rollers and there was no sign of anything being in the corning machine. The Coroner said that if the jury had heard any rumours which they wished to clear up, now was the time to ask questions. He did not wish the jury to go away and think any questions had been omitted.

A JUROR’S QUESTIONS

A juror asked the witness several questions about the corning machine, and in answer to one he said the powder made its own pressure on the rollers. He produced a rubber band, which allowed the rollers to part when anything passed between them. When they got hard they were renewed. A metal spring would be rather dangerous.

To another juror, witness said they used up the powder which went on the floor.

The juror: Suppose a bit of grit gets in? ---- Witness replied that the room was clean. The men who worked there had special boots, and they never went outside in them. The machines were examined four times a day. He thought they could tell more about the machine when it was in motion than when it was stopped during the meal hours.

Answering other questions, witness said that in his opinion there were two explosions, and the last one was of greater intensity. He did not know whether the explosion on one floor set the other off, but the second explosion was immediately after.

The Coroner: Is it possible for anything to drop from the roof? Witness said all the roofs were of matchboard, and copper nails were used. Every precaution was taken to guard against danger.

The Coroner: Would a piece of wood cause an explosion? Pieces have gone through many a time without causing an explosion.

Mr Mellor, a member of the jury, said the cause seemed to be a mystery. If there could be some satisfactory explanation it would be some relief to the men who worked there.

The Coroner: Yes; but unfortunately the nature of gunpowder is such that all evidence of that kind is destroyed.

Mr Andrew: It would be a great relief to the company if they could find it out. They have tried every means, but have not been successful.

Mr Ashby, the cashier at the works, stated that directly after the explosion he saw Raven, who made a statement to the effect that he thought something came through in the powder, and he heard a bump. Witness asked Raven if he heard Jos Hill call out, and he replied “No: he did not know what struck him.”

John Thomas Mellor, recalled, said this was the safest type of machine, and the Government Inspector said so.

The Foreman: The Government Inspector gave a splendid report of the machinery.

The Coroner: Yes: he spoke very well of it.

The Coroner, summing up, said he would like a little more evidence, if he could get it, as to how anything got into the stuff and caused the explosion. But the very nature of the thing they were dealing with blew away all evidence of what might have caused the explosion. He did not think anything could be gained by adjourning the inquiry, or he would adjourn it. In a case of that kind they felt inclined to ask if there were any unusual circumstances. There were two unusual circumstances in this case. One was that the day of the explosion was one of the hottest there had been this summer, and it was also the first working day after being closed for the holidays. It was explained in evidence that there was no glass to focus the sun and cause the explosion, and that also the machinery had only been cleaned, not repaired, or anything new put into it. It was run empty for three hours before it was started on powder, and then it ran satisfactorily from 7 o’clock until 2 o’clock on the day of the accident. If anything had been wrong with the machine it was likely it would have been found before the explosion. The statement of Raven that something went through the machine, and he heard a bump was, no doubt, what happened. It was desirable they should know what that something was, but they would agree that it was utterly impossible to find out. In a letter to the Coroner, the Inspector of Factories said “no doubt that some hard article passed through the cracker rolls and fired the powder: or, perhaps, a nut or some piece of metal might have fallen into the rolls from the roof of the building, although this, I may add, is extremely unlikely.” The Coroner added that the jury might return an open verdict, or, having regard to the precautions taken at the works, they could find a verdict that it was an accident due to something which could not have been reasonably prevented.

In all three cases the jury returned a verdict that death was caused by an accidental explosion of gunpowder, and that all due precautions were taken.

Ashton Reporter

4 September 1909

FUNERAL of Mr P. SOUTHERN of WHALEY

many people at the ceremony

The funeral of the late Mr Percy Southern, of Whaley Bridge, the third victim of the Fernilee gunpowder explosion, took place on Friday afternoon at the Fernilee Wesleyan Burial Ground. As in the case of the two previous funerals, the greatest respect and sympathy were shown, the blinds at all the cottages being drawn, and the tradesmens’ shutters half closed.

The obsequies were impressively conducted by the Rev. J. Bonsall, Wesleyan minister, of Chapel-en-le-Frith, there being a large congregation in the chapel.

There were also present a large number of employees of the Chilworth Gunpowder Co., including the following officials: Messrs J. Ashby, J.T. Mellor, A. Shaw, D. Sherwood, R.D. James, G. Macbean, G. Vaughan and J. Roberts. Deceased was a member of the Whaley Bridge Ambulance Division, which was represented by eleven members of the corps under Sup. S. Bagshaw. The Whaley Bridge Wesleyan Sunday School was represented by Messrs E. Ashby, R. Fergie and A.H. Burgess (superintendents), the “Rock” Division of the Sons of Temperance by Bro. A. Weate, G.W.P., and J.W. Lomas P.G.W.P., the Whaley Bridge Cricket Club by Mr Harold Collier (secretary) and the Whaley Bridge Post Office (deceased being the firm’s private postman) by Mr W. Scholes. Mr Gosselin-Grimshaw, of Errwood Hall, Mr T. Shuker and Mrs John Lowe attended.

The bearers were Corporal H. Allen, Privates J. Lomas, W. Lamb and R. Clayton of the Ambulance Brigade, and Messrs H. Morten junr., F. Wharmby, W. Harrop and O. Goddard of the Wesleyan Sunday School.

The mourners were:- Mr and Mrs J.W. Southern (father and mother), Mrs S. Jodrell and Miss E. Southern (sisters), Messrs Joseph and Ernest Southern (brothers), Miss Neate (fiancée), Mr and Mrs G. Jones, Buxton (uncle and aunt), Mr S. Goddard (uncle), Mr T. Goddard (cousin), Mrs Jos Southern (sister-in-law), Mr S. Jodrell (brother-in-law), Mrs J. Jodrell, Mrs R. Goddard, Mrs Morris, Mrs Chas Bagshaw, Mrs Hill, Mr Fred Brookes, Miss E. Corrigan, Miss J. Corrigan, Mr M. Heary, Mr J. Barnes and Mr James Southern.

There were many floral tributes, including the following:- From Father, Mother, Ernest, Eliza, Polly, Stephen, Mary, Jos and Hester “In affectionate remembrance of our dear Percy;” Uncle Sam and Family, Aunt Eliza and Uncle George, Elsie; from his companions, F. Brookes, F. Wharmby, W. Harrop, F. Collier, A. Morten and H. Morten, his Cousins at Buxton, Officers and teachers of the Whaley Bridge Wesleyan Sunday School, the Chilworth Gunpowder Co., Mr E. Kraftmeir (managing director), Mr Cox (manager of the works) and Mrs Cox, Mrs Gosselin-Grimshaw and Mrs Preston, Mr and Mrs Preston, Mr and Mrs Rowley (Fernilee), Mr J. and Mrs Corrigan and Family, Mr & Mrs Herbert Burgess, Mr and Mrs Allan Heather and Family, the Post Office staff at Whaley Bridge, the Servants at Fernilee Hall, the Staff at the Fernilee Mills, artificial wreath under glass globe, Mr G.W. Little, Park House, Whaley Bridge Ambulance Division, Whaley Bridge Cricket Club, 2nd eleven, Mr T. Redfern, May and Will Neate, Mr and Mrs F. Jowle, Mr and Mrs Mellor, Mr and Mrs W. Jodrell, Lizzie, Frank and Clement Morris.

The superintendents of the Wesleyan Sunday School conducted a short service at the house, and at the graveside Bugler Haughty sounded the “Last Post”, the scene being most impressive and moving many to tears, as they thought of the many good qualities of the young man who had been laid in an untimely grave.

Messrs Collier Bros., who had charge of the previous two funerals, conducted this one also.

MEMORIAL SERVICE

A special service in memory of the late Mr Percy Southern was held at Fernilee on Sunday afternoon. A procession was formed at Whaley Bridge comprising members of the “Rock” Division of the Sons of Temperance, the employees of the Chilworth Gunpowder Co., the scholars of the Whaley Bridge Wesleyan Sunday School and the Whaley Bridge Ambulance Brigade. The procession was headed by the Whaley Bridge Public Band playing hymn tunes. There was a great crowd of people at Fernilee, and it was quite impossible to accommodate them in the Wesleyan Chapel. The service was accordingly held in the burial ground adjoining at which it was estimated there were 700 people present. Many other stood on the road and it is stated there must have been at least a thousand people there, the most numerous congregation there has ever been at Fernilee. The preacher was Mr E.E. Daish, of Whaley Bridge, who made touching reference to the sad calamity and the deceased young man’s useful life. Hymns of an appropriate character were sung, and Mr Shuker ably presided at the organ. Miss Wainwright sang a solo very sweetly. The service was of a most impressive character.

Many years later....

DEATH OF MRS RAVEN (no date)

An old and esteemed resident of Fernilee passed away on Tuesday morning in the person of Mrs. Raven, widow of Mr. J. Raven. Aged 71, Mrs. Raven had been in poor health for some time. She was particularly well known in the hamlet where she had a small shop and made teas. Her maiden name was Lomas and she spent all her long working life in this district. Mrs. Raven was associated with the Wesleyan Chapel in Fernilee. She leaves a son and daughter. One of her sons was killed in an explosion at Fernilee Gunpowder Mills. The funeral takes place to-morrow (Saturday) at Fernilee Wesleyan Chapel.

FUNERAL OF MRS RAVEN (no date)

The funeral took place on Saturday at Fernilee Wesleyan burial ground of the late Mrs. Raven of Fernilee, whose death has been noticed. Rev. A.C. Baker, superintendent minister, officiated. Mourners were: Mr. and Mrs. J. Raven (son and daughter-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. H. Southern (daughter and son-in-law), Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Nadin (sister and brother-in-law), Mrs. Deacan, Mrs. Bleakley, Miss M. Raven, Master J. Raven (grandchildren, Mrs. Collier, Mrs. J. Horsfield, Mr. Horsfield, Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Boothby, Mr. and Mrs. J. Lomas, Mr. and Mrs. West, Mrs. Powell. Bearers were Messrs. J. Lomas, W. Nadin, J. Horsfield, J. Salt. There were floral tributes from: Jim and Sophia; Maggie and Harry; sister Lizzie and family; all the grandchildren; sister Hannah Mary and nephews and nieces; Lily, Mary, Osmond and Allan; sister Annie, Jim and Florrie; Hannah, Jim and family; brother Jim, Mary and family; all at Goyt Vale; Cissie, Allan and family; all at Folds Farm; Jack, Martha and children; Mrs. Lupton and Annie; society of Fernilee Wesleyan Chapel; Mr. and Mrs F. Bagshaw, George and Fred; Mr. and Mrs. Jodrell and Vera; Mr. and Mrs. Hill; niece and nephew (Mary and Fred); David and Annie (nephew and niece); Jim and Jessie. – Messrs. Collier Bros. satisfactorily carried out the funeral arrangements.

This silver cup was donated to the Whaley Bridge branch of the St. John’s Ambulance Brigade by the Chilworth Gunpowder Mill owned by the Williamson family of Fernilee.

It was presented annually to the Brigade’s most outstanding member