An inquest was held at the Durham County Hospital on Friday by Mr. John Graham, coroner for the Chester Ward, relative to the death of Martin Chapman, aged 36 years, horse-keeper, of Coxon's Row, Edmondsley, who died in the institution from burns received at an explosion in the Hutton Seam of Edmondsley Colliery. Mr. James Wilson, Colliery Manager, Mr. R. D. Bain, H. M. Inspector of Mines, Mr. Wm. Walker, Assistant Inspector, and Messrs. Forster and Hughes, Miners' Delegates, were present at the inquiry. Mr. John Hall was foreman of the jury.

John Chapman, deputy overman, living at Pleasant Row, Edmondsley, identified the body as that of his brother, aged 36 years, who was a horse-keeper employed at Edmondsley Colliery. On the 12th instant, whilst his brother was underground he was burnt, and witness was present when deceased was brought to bank. Deceased told him that he was putting his lamp on the top of a corn bin at the stables when there was an explosion. Witness did not know what kind of a lamp deceased used on this day, but he generally used an oil hurricane lamp. His brother was attended by Drs. McCready and Hill, and next day was sent to the Durham County Hospital.

Charles S. Brebner, house surgeon at the hospital, deposed that deceased was admitted on the 13th instant suffering from severe burns, chiefly on the upper part of the body, and he died on the morning of the 14th instant from shock, due to burns.

Thomas Anderson, shifter, living at Edmondsley Farm, said that he saw the deceased in the main coal seam before he was burnt at about a quarter to 4 o'clock. Deceased was going to attend to the horses, and carried a big hurricane oil lamp. Deceased would have to go to a lower seam, viz., the Hutton Seam, which was about 14 fathoms below the other.

Richard Simpson, master shifter, of 74, Pleasant Street, Edmondsley Colliery, said he went down to the Hutton Seam at 3.15 p.m. on the day in question, the barometer at the time of going down standing at 28.60, which was very much lower than on the previous day. Witness was about a mile from the stables, and about 400 yards from the shaft, when he heard that an accident had happened to Martin Chapman. Up to that time he had not met with any gas at all. Witness sought the assistance of two men, and then went towards the stables. When he had proceeded about a quarter of a mile he met the afterdamp, which was not coming very strong at first, but as he went forward it was stronger and then it got better. On arriving at the stables witness found Chapman lying somewhere near the overhead air crossing. This crossing was made of brickwork, balks, and battens. Witness saw Chapman was burnt, and other men came to his assistance and took deceased to the shaft. Witness was so overcome that he did not see deceased taken to the shaft. Witness examined the place the next night, and saw that the air crossing had been canvassed. — Mr. Walker How long before this day did you examine the place? The night before. — Did you see any gas then? No. — Did you examine the place for gas? I examined it, but did not find any. — Witness further stated that he had known the place for 11 or 12 years, and had never heard of any gas being there before. Before he went to the stables he met Roddam, a waggonwayman, who was burnt about the hands and face, and a man named Hutchinson. Roddam told him of the accident.

John Black, back overman, of Edmondsley, said he was in the Hutton Seam on the afternoon of the day in question, and did not find any gas anywhere. About 6.15 p.m., after he had come to bank, he heard of the unfortunate occurrence, and went down the pit and took assistance. They found deceased near the stables, and just underneath the air crossing, where they also found Simpson. Chapman was burnt, and Simpson seemed quite unconscious. Witness got the men removed as soon as possible, and doctors were sent for. The air crossing was examined, and it was seen that the battens, which formed the top of the crossing, were disarranged, A little gas was coming out from the returns through the opening of the planks at the bottom of the crossing. They sent for some canvas and repaired this, in order to put the ventilation right and to prevent any more gas or bad air coming out. Shortly after that they went to the stables, and found a tub upset and a pony dead. The animal, which was the only one in the stable, was slightly singed about the tail, and witness was of opinion that it was the afterdamp that killed it. They were not able to find definitely where the gas came from, but the goaf was a likely place for gas to accumulate. Under ordinary circumstances the gas from the goaf did not come into the pit at. all, but a sudden drop in the barometer might cause the gas to do so. From 9 a.m. to 4.45 p.m. on the 12th of November the barometer dropped thirty-three 100 parts of an inch, which he considered was the cause of the gas coming into the pit. The gas would come down the old waggonway, where the stables were, and with such a lamp as deceased had it would very easily fire. If it occurred at the corn bin the shock of the explosion would account for the planks opening out. He had known the place about nine years, and gas had never been found over the old waggonway. — The Coroner Was that the reason why the horse-keeper was allowed to carry an open lamp? Yes, sir. — If he had had a safety lamp the probability is that this might not have happened? No, sir. — In answer to Mr. Forster, witness said he considered it better now that the horse-keeper should carry a safety lamp. — The Coroner: Everyone is agreed on that.

Messrs. Stangroon and Surtees, working men inspectors, presented a report, which set forth that they had visited the scene of the explosion and found it all right, it being properly ventilated and there being no signs of any gas.

Mr. Wilson gave evidence, and said that deceased's lamp was smashed all to pieces. It was a hurricane lamp, and was supplied with petroleum oil. His opinion was that the gas came up from the goaf through the hitches, due to the rapid fall of the barometer and deceased, with his lamp, had gone straight into the gas and fired it, his lamp being really a naked light. The explosion of the gas would smash the lamp. He was of opinion that the pony had been suffocated. — The Coroner As an explosion, you would call this a small explosion? A very slight explosion. — Answering Mr. Walker, witness said that he gave particular orders to the men on this day that they had to keep a sharp look out, as the barometer had fallen. — In reply to the Coroner, witness said there was no record during the 50 years' working of the pit of any previous explosion.

The Coroner said it was so long since there was an explosion in the Chester Ward that he had forgotten the time, and he was very glad to say so (hear, hear). Taking it generally for 12 or 13 years, in all the very extensive coalfields that there were in the Chester Ward, which was the ward containing the greatest coalfields in the county and between the sea on the east and the lead mines on the west, there had not been a gas explosion attended with fatal results (hear, hear). And coming to this particular pit he found that this was the first explosion that had occurred. He referred to this explosion as being slight, in its character, but he did not mean to say that because an explosion was slight means ought not to be taken to prevent even a slight explosion. The manager had directed his attention to the occurrence, and had of his own accord made a very proper order that under no circumstances was a naked light to be taken into that seam again by anybody. A similar danger would be met in future with having safety lamps provided for the horse-keeper. Under the circumstances the jury could not find fault.

The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," and exonerated the manager from all blame. They were glad to hear that naked lights were to be discontinued, and that safety lamps were to be used.