It is our painful duty to record another of those dreadful catastrophes of so frequent occurrence in the coal mines in the district. On Tuesday morning, the 5th September between the hours of six o'clock and seven o'clock, an explosion of hydrogen took place in the pit of High Heworth, by which four men, John Scott, Joseph Hunter, John Southwell, and William Bailey, have now been hurried to a premature grave. Nine or ten others have been injured — one of them, John Tulip, so dangerously, that his life is despaired of. The colliery itself, which is the property of Messrs. John Brandling & Co has received considerable damage. Yet, notwithstanding this loss of life and property, the consequences of this explosion are considered less disastrous than ordinary. On Wednesday, an inquest was held by Michael Hall, Esq, coroner at the Shakespeare Public House, kept by Robert Greener at the High Felling on the body of John Scott, one of unfortunate sufferers. We subjoin the deposition of the witnesses who were examined and beg to call the particular attention of our readers to their testimony upon which we shall offer such remarks as the occasion seems to call for.

Coroner: You have seen the body and have, I doubt not, made the necessary observations. If, from the evidence which shall be called before you, it will be your duty, however you may regret it to return a verdict of manslaughter. I hope, however, it will not appear to have been caused by negligence.

Mathew Rodgers: I live at Holly Hill. I am a waggon-way-wright. About a quarter before seven o'clock yesterday morning (5th September) I was down the pit at High Heworth, at a place called the foot of the Machine Bank. I felt the wind of a blast in the colliery, as if an explosion had taken place. I made my escape into the workings, and remained there about an hour, and then returned to the bottom of the shaft. I came to bank. In about a quarter of an hour, I returned and went into the workings to try to discover the people that were missing. I found the body of Joseph Hunter. He was dead. There were no marks or wounds on him. We came to the shaft and sent him to bank. We then went into the workings, but did not find another person at this time. I was down about three hours. We found the body of John Scott. He was dead and very sore burnt. We sent him to bank. I came out of the pit at eight o'clock the night before this accident. The pit was in a good state. I went down about three o'clock, yesterday morning. She appeared then to be in very good state. I can't tell how this accident happened. We worked with candles. The accident is supposed to have begun where Scott was. We worked with candles and common lamps together. We had no Davy Lamps nor steel mills. I don't consider there was any person to blame on account of this accident. The pit was in good working state always as far as my knowledge goes, and properly ventilated. I think that the death was occasioned by fire-damp and fire.

George Arckless, Viewer of High Heworth: I was down the pit on Monday morning last, the day before this accident. I went down about half-past six, and came up between ten and eleven o'clock. I examined the workings near where the accident happened, and found them all then as apparently as could be. It was perfectly ventilated. I did not examine the waste. The explosion took place in the waste, which I did not examine. I was very near it, and everything appeared to be right. I went down about half-past six o'clock on Tuesday morning. I found the part where I was, in very good working state. This was between thirty and forty yards, not more than forty yards, from where the explosion took place. An explosion did take place at that time. We got out of the way to where there was some fresh air. I went back in about twenty minutes or half an hour. We went in search of William Rodgers. We found him alive and brought him out of the shaft a quarter of an hour, and then went down again. The whole of the mine was then, I found, from the stoppings having been blown out, in an unventilated state. I gave orders to have the stoppings put up, and got the ventilation restored. We then went in search of Joseph Hunter, we found him lying, not quite dead. We brought him out and sent him to bank. We then went in search of a boy of the name of John Tulip. We found him alive and sent him up. We then went in search of John Scott. We found him quite dead. He was very much burnt. I have no doubt that the explosion was the cause of his death. I have no reason to think that this was caused by the neglect of any person. I cannot account for it in any other way, and I found the mine otherwise right. I cannot say whether the door was left open or not. The boy Tulip kept that door. We work with candles. We thought the pit in so good a state as not to require anything but candles. Every person that in that part of the pit was more or less hurt by the explosion.

Edward Rogers: I live at High Heworth, close against the pit. I am overman to it. I went down the pit at two o'clock and returned at half past ten on the Monday morning. I found her in a good state, as good a state as ever she was in. She was well ventilated. We had no reason to dread that any explosion would take place. I went down again on Tuesday morning. I found the pit then in a good state, as usual. I was not in the part where the explosion took place ; it was near seven o'clock when it took place. I was about ninety yards off. I found there was an explosion from a sudden gust of wind. I could not tell exactly where it exploded ; I was a little hurt by the explosion. We retreated the pit mouth and endeavoured to get into the fresh air. We remained there about only about half a minute and then proceeded towards the crane. We got to the crane and stayed there about a quarter of an hour. There was a little boy of the name of John Tulip keeping a door; we went to endeavour to get him out but could not proceed for the after-damp. We came back and consulted what was to be done. I then went to seek my son. We heard a man moan, and found it to be William Rodgers, my son. He was alive. After we got him out we went in search of others. We found the body of John Scott at the North side of the crane ; he was dead. He was badly burnt. We got him, Joseph Hunter, and John Southall out. They were all dead. Southhall was a stranger, who had just come down the pit the day before. I have no doubt the explosion killed them. On Thursday last I travelled round this place, and there was nothing the matter. I know nothing that could cause the explosion but the leaving a door open improperly. We were through the pit on Thursday last. She was in a good state. I can't tell whether it was by neglect of the men going through or the boy. I think it was the neglect of the boy, Tulip, as far as I could judge. Unless the blame is to be attached to John Tulip, I don't know of any other person. John Tulip is eight or nine years of age. He is much burnt.

John Richardson: I live at High Felling. I am on-setter at High Heworth Colliery. I was at the bottom of the pit when the explosion took place. I went down about four o'clock yesterday morning. I remained at my station at the bottom of the pit. I was in the habit of going down early every day. She was always in a good ventilated state, as far as I know; she was not at all foul. The accident happened between six and seven o'clock. I felt the wind of an explosion, and went to bank as soon as I could. I saw John Scott and forty minutes before it took place he was at the shaft, Scott was going towards where Mr. Arckless was, when this happened. I went down again, after I had been about 40 minutes on the bank. I have no idea what was the cause of the explosion. I don't' know that any person has been to blame. (This witness was examined by mistake for another man who was also an on-setter, but was understood to be the last person that saw deceased, John Scott, alive.

Chistopher Lee: I live at Windy Nook. I am waste-man at Heworth Colliery. I was in the habit of going down the pit of High Heworth every day. It was always kept in a proper state and well ventilated. I went down yesterday morning at about two o'clock. After that I went down to meet Mr. Arckless and the deceased, Scott at the north part. I waited for some time. About half-past six o'clock, Arckless came to me. He sat down at my left side and had sat about a couple of minutes only when the explosion took place and came to us where we were. We then made our escape as we could. We went to the crane and remained there about twenty minutes. We then proceeded to see if we could find William Rodgers, and made our way to the bottom of the shaft. We set to work then to endeavour to get the air into the workings. After we got the air so that we could proceed, we succeeded in finding Hunter. He was dead. We found Scott too, and he was also dead. He had been killed by the explosion. He was sore burnt. I don't consider that there was any person to blame.

Verdict Of The Jury: The jury almost immediately returned a verdict of accidental death.

Comments By The Tyne Mercury Newspaper

That a dreadful explosion took place is quite clear; yet from the strangely concurring testimony of the witnesses it is alleged that "the pit was in good working state, and properly ventilated"; that "she was always in a good ventilated state, not at all foul" What is the result of all this ? What inference is to be drawn? Are we to conclude that it is impossible to prevent explosion in coal mines ? This is too much to admit. The evidence is as to one important particular singularly defective. The on-setter, who was the last person that saw the deceased alive was never called before the jury. He might have been able to have stated, from the unfortunate Scott, what led to the explosion. But taking the evidence as it is, we by no means think that it shews that all care has been taken that ought to have been taken. The first witness, Mathew Rodgers, declares, "We worked with candles …..We had no Davy Lamps, nor steel mills". This is confirmed by others. Why did they use candles ? Mr. Arckless, the viewer attempts to explain it by saying they "thought the pit to be in so good a state as not to require anything but candles". Is this any justification for the use of candles? It might have been an excuse if we were just beginning to get acquainted with coal mines ; but when their dangerous nature is so well known, it seems to us preposterous. Assuming that the account given is strictly true — taking for granted that, "She was in good working state"; … "perfectly well ventilated, and not at all foul", does this clearly shew that she may become foul in an instant and explode, to the destruction of the miners? Why then use candles by which an explosion is rendered probable, and the lives of the workmen are placed in manifest jeopardy. But it seems neither the Davy Lamps, considered now by some a protection, nor the steel mills, formerly considered the best safeguard, are employed. Is this right? The next point to which we shall advert is, what is assigned by some as the cause of the explosion the improperly leaving a door open. It is admitted that this might cause the explosion. Is it reasonable then, is it proper, to leave to a boy of eight years of age this important office, the keeping of a door, by which all the miners may be hurried to eternity in an instant? It may be said in some collieries, candles are still used, it may be said that in all, boys are employed to keep the doors, in the same way. This is no answer. Is it right that it should be so ?

Text transcribed and provided by Brian Proctor B.A. from microfilm copies held in the Local Studies Section of Newcastle City Library