Written for the Canadian Mining Journal by E. Jacobs.
January 1, 1910
An explosion which resulted in the loss of 32 lives took place on the morning of October 5th in No. 2 mine of the Wellington Colliery Company’s Extension colliery, situated about ten miles from the town of Ladysmith, Vancouver Island, British Columbia. An exhaustive enquiry, extending over eight days was held,with the object of ascertaining the cause of the disaster. The Provincial Government secured the services of Mr. James Ashworth, a well-known English coal mining engineer, to give expert testimony, and was represented as well by Mr. Wm. Fleet Robertson, Provincial Mineralogist; Mr. F. H. Shepherd, Chief Inspector of Mines ; Mr. Archibald Dick, Inspector of Mines for the Coast District, and by counsel. The Wellington Colliery Company also had counsel in attendance, while Messrs. J. H. Hawthornthwaite and Parker Williams took part in the enquiry on behalf of the miners.
During the enquiry a mass of evidence was taken. A brief summary of that given by Mr. Andrew Bryden, colliery manager at Extension ; Mr. Alexander Shaw, overman at the mine in which the explosion occurred; Mr. F. F. Shepherd, Mr. W. F. Robertson and Mr. Jas. Ashworth follows, also the finding of the coroner’s jury.
Mr. Shaw deposed that at the time the explosion took place he was in the mine, on the slope, accompanied by a fireman. This was about 8.45 o’clock on the morning of October 5th. He felt at first as if the air had been taken completely from him. As no gas had been reported in No. 2 mine that morning, he could not understand what had occurred. He and the fireman at once went into some of the mine workings to investigate but were soon met by afterdamp. After going back they entered the counter level, and eventually found some of the miners, whom they directed out to the slope. He worked in the mine until 3 p.m. ; meanwhile it had been fairly well determined where the trouble had occurred.
After half an hour’s respite he returned to the mine, but could not stand further effort in the mine, so left it, Mr. Andrew Bryden remaining in charge of operations. Mr. Shaw was submitted to a long cross-examination. Mr. Andrew Bryden was also closely cross-questioned.
In the course of his evidence he told of his investigations in company with Inspectors Shepherd and Dick, and Mr. Thos Graham, General Superintendent of the Western Fuel Company, Nanaimo. In all there were probably 50 or 60 men working in the part of the mine where the explosion took place. Of these 32 were killed, 17 bodies having been recovered on Wednesday and the remainder early Thursday morning, He stated that a ‘cave’had occurred in the mine, and gave as his opinion of how the explosion had occurred as follows:
“When the cave occurred there was a certain amount of gas, about half an inch or so, and the breaking of the coal during the caving process, created probably, a certain amount of dust. It may or may not have come in contact with a naked light, because, wherever a force may have struck a blind end, heat was generally there to a considerable extent. My reason for believing that the ‘Cave was the cause was because evidence of force extended from both ends of the cave and at two widely separated points. These blind ends are the only places where any scorchings are shown on the timbers.”
Chief Inspector Shepherd gave very full evidence, first as to the preliminary investigations he and others made, and afterwards of the examination of the working places in the part of the mine where the cave and explosion occurred. Much detailed information of this examination was included in this testimony.
The ventilation was dealt with and deductions were stated, these supported by indications of the direction of force and indications of flame. After stating that the mine was universally damp, as shown by hygroscopic observations mentioned in evidence, the probable condition of the atmosphere was thus indicated:
“The evidence would tend to show that on the morning of the explosion the percentage of gas in the atmosphere of the mine was something below two per cent., but there was no evidence to show how much below. It might be conceded that marsh gas was present in the atmosphere of the mine that morning, but there was no body of standing gas or explosive gas reported that morning, nor more recently than August 14th.”
After quoting at length from an article on “Pressure as Affecting Explosive Conditions,” and giving information on “Flame in Compressed Air Pipe,” and other relevant matter, Mr. Shepherd continued:
“I am of the opinion that such conditions obtained in the present case. A large cave had occurred, as shown, in No. 2 I/2 level, extending along the level for more than 500 feet. This cave contains about 1,000 tons of fallen material, principally coal, which fell about seven feet. This represents a dynamic force of 7,000 tons, or a sudden displacement of 27,000 cubic feet of air, transmitting its velocity through the narrow drivages of the mine, which, upon meeting resistance at the dead ends, or sul de sacs of the mine, created a compression of the mine atmosphere, which converted the partly charged atmosphere, which under other circumstances, would not be considered dangerous, into an explosive condition. The character of the explosion was of low intensity, which fact was, in my opinion, due to the absence of ‘contributing factors, such as coal dust, to the damp condition of the mine, ‘and the large area into which the explosion could take place.”
Mr. Shepherd was submitted to a long cross-examination by Mr. Hawthornthwaite.
Mr. W. F. Robertson, Provincial Mineralogist, corroborated the evidence of Mr. Shepherd regarding the condition of the working faces and, generally other conditions stated by the Chief Inspector of Mines. In his opinion the cause of the explosion was directly connected with the cave in No. 2 I/2 level. The cave, he thought, occurred before the explosion, as there are none of the timbers left that show any evidence of heat in any shape. All the indications point to the explosion following. Dust blown on the top of the cave would indicate that the cave was down before the explosion occurred. The caved area is in the neighbourhood of 515 to 520 feet. There is no doubt in his mind that, by evidence given, previous to October 5th there had been no sagging or weighing on the timbers. He went on top of the cave and examined it very carefully and found a geological condition which, to a considerable extent, accounted for the suddenness of the caving.
In this particular part of the roof there is a roll. In this cave it does not come up regularly; it commences to steepen at this point, and gradually increases in pitch until it takes a sudden roll, and seems to extend the whole length of the cave. It seems to have been a coincidence that the roll follows the level right along. Much other testimony was also given by Mr. Robertson.
Mr. James Ashworth, mining engineer, said that he was one sent by the Department of Mines to give expert testimony with regard to this explosion. He corroborated Mr. Shepherd’s evidence in regard to the conditions of the faces of each stall and the positions of the different bodies found. He had seen, though, in one place, a hole and evidence of a badly blown out shot. After going into some detail as to conditions, he stated that the force which came along with the cave was followed by the fall of the roof, which brought down gas, and a man having a naked light the gas was ignited at a point he indicated. He was of the opinion that the cave occurred before the explosion. Dust was deposited on the top of the cave after the explosion.
At the request of Chief Inspector Shepherd, the coroner appointed two competent miners to investigate the place where Mr. Ashworth considered there was evidence of a blown put shot, but their testimony did not agree with that of the expert engineer.
After a lengthy consideration of the evidence, the coroners jury returned the following verdict :
“We, the jury empanelled to enquire into the cause of the explosion which took place in No. 2 Extension mine on October 5th, 1909, have come to the conclusion, after investigating the evidence of the different sworn witnesses, that the explosion was caused by the cave in No. 2 1/4 level. Gas being present in its atmosphere, gas and dust being liberated by the cave, the sudden displacement of the air creating the compression, causing the partly charged atmosphere to become dangerous, and coming in contact with naked lights, exploded.
“Taking into ‘consideration the unnatural and faulty conditions of the roof of this particular cave, and in view of the fact of no evidence to show bad timbering, we can in no way hold the company responsible, and therefore exonerate the company from criminal negligence.
Recommendations.
- Taking into consideration the volume of work entailed in this particular department, and after taking from the statements of the Chief Inspector of Mines, and evidence in general, we are of opinion that the Coast District, being so large, it is impossible to make as thorough or systematic inspection as is absolutely necessary. We therefore recommend that the staff be increased
- That Rule 9a, Sec. 1, Coal Mines Regulation Act, be strictly enforced.
- That every collier in British Columbia be compelled to equip its mines with up-to-date oxygen life-saving apparatus.
- That where safety lamps are necessary, only re-lighting lamps of the Wolff principle be used.
- That the maps of the mines be extended and kept up-to-date, and that index hand boards be placed in conspicuous places in different parts of the mines, showing the nearest way to the face, and that the management see that the men are instructed regarding them.
- That greater precautionary measures be taken by the Inspector of Mines when gas of approximately 2 per cent, exists.
- That coroner’s juries, in cases where enquiries extend over one day, should be reasonably compensated. This enquiry having lasted eight days, we respectfully petition the Minister of Mines to consider our case, and compensate us accordingly.”
“William Gr. Fraser, Foreman.”