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THE COLLIERY DISASTER AT GARNANT.
The coroner's inquest, which was adjourned from the 17th inst.,
touching the death of the ten men who were killed by the fall
of a cage in the shaft of the Garnant Colliery, Cwmamman, on
Wednesday, the 16th of January, was resumed on Tuesday. The
inquiry was held at the Raven Hotel, Garnant. The coroner was
assisted by Mr. T. Wales, Government Inspector. Mr Simons, Merthyr
, was present to represent the colliery company ; Mr. W. Howell,
Llanelly, appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of Thomas
Michael, who has been arrested and charged with causing the
death of the men by tampering with the apparatus working the
"keeps" of the cage. Michael was present in person,
having been remanded by the Llandilo magistrates on bail. Mr.
Linton, solicitor, Cardiff appeared on behalf of Sir George
Elliot and Co., of Cardiff, the makers of the rope which parted.
Mr. W. Abraham (Mabon), the agent of the Miners' Association,
was present representing that society. Mr. Hay, the colliery
manager, and other officials were also present. John Davies,
overman at the colliery, said he was not at the colliery when
the accident happened, but arrived on the spot about ten minutes
after it occurred. When he arrived the bodies were being taken
out of the cage at the bottom of the shaft. Saw the ten bodies
and recognised them all. They were all dead. The top of the
cage was broken in, and had been taken off to enable the men
to take the bodies out. Witness's duty as overman was to see
that every man was in his place at work. He had nothing to do
with the rope in the way of examining it. By Mr. W. Howell :
The "keeps" were in proper working order. Had never
had any complaints from the banksmen about their working. They
were worked better by a sharp pull of the lever than by an easy
movement, but not necessarily by a jerk. He had cut a small
piece of wood in the side, with the object of making them recede
further from the face of the shaft. The colliers had expressed
a wish on Monday to have the piece of wood cut. The cage in
which were the men who were killed was the ordinary cage, but
it had been used as a horse cage. In consequence of its being
specially fitted for horses there was a cross-bar fastened by
bolts for tying the horses' heads ; but witness did not think
this made the lowering of the cage more dangerous. If the bottom
of the cage cleared the "keeps" the whole of the cage
would go down all right, provided the "keeps" were
kept back during the whole time the cage was passing. The lynch-pins
extended a little out beyond the face of the cage, but not so
far as the bottom plate of the cage. They (the lynch-pins) could
not catch in the "keeps" because they were not in
the position where the "keeps" projected. Had never
known the "keeps" to catch in any part of the cage
before. The rope which broke had been at work about sixteen
months, and was put on the day after it came from the makers.
The banksman knew very well that it was his duty to lower the
cage. Never in his (witness's) knowledge was anyone except the
banksman allowed to lower a cage. Could not at that moment point
out the rule relating to it. Mr. Simons pointed out Rule 77,
which referred to the banksman. It was in these terms:-"He
shall, when persons descend or ascend the shaft, or whilst persons
are examining or repairing any pit or riding in it during ordinary
working hours, be and remain close to the signal-wire to give
he necessary signal to the engineman in case of accident."
The Coroner expressed the opinion that this rule did not tie
a man down to the double work of signalling and lowering. It
apparently gave some latitude. By the Coroner: There were two
shifts at the colliery. There were about 136 men in the day
shift, and about 50 in the night shift. On the day of the accident
the day shift were going to work three hours earlier that the
colliers should attend a funeral. The men agreed to go down
at four o'clock, and witness was there at that time, but they
had begun to work. A man came to his house before he had left,
and said an accident had occurred. Dr. H. Rees was the next
witness called. He described the injuries which he saw on the
bodies when he viewed them at the works on the morning of the
accident. Mr. John Hay, the manager of the colliery, was next
called, and said the concern was in the hands of the Garnant
Collieries Company, the office of which was at Cambrian-place,
Swansea. He had had experience as a manager for ten years. He
was responsible for the working of the colliery, and all the
officials were under his command. The duty of the banksman was
to attend to matters at the top of the pit-in landing the coal
and landing the men. It was also his duty to see to the men
going down the pit. No other man was allowed to attend to that
duty without his (witness's) authority, and if it was done it
was quite contrary to the rules of working. When a man was taken
on at work he was supplied with a copy of the rules by the overman
and firemen. The same cages were used for horses and men, but
doors were put on for keeping the horse in. It was more sure
when the door for a horse was on. The cage was lowered by the
engineman under the direction of the banksman. If the "keeps"
were kept back so as to allow the cage to pass, and pressed
back during the descent, there was no possibility of any part
of the cage catching. When the cage was at a standstill there
was 24 feet of rope from the top of the cage to the sheave,
and 72 feet from the top of the sheave to the drum. The rope
was of steel wire, manufactured by Messrs. Elliott and Co.,
Cardiff. The diameter was an inch and an eighth. It was composed
of six strands, each composed of seven wires, and all wound
round a hemp cord in the centre. The rope was purchased by the
company on the 14th of September, 1882. It was 140 yards long.
According to Messrs. Elliott's table the breaking strain was
calculated at 33 tons. The working load was stated at 4 tons
3 cwt., but the maximum work which was put on it in the colliery
was 2 tons 10 cwt. The proper number of men to go down in the
cage was eight, no difference being observed whether they were
boys or men. One horse and a man was sent down at a time. If
a greater number of men went down in the cage than eight it
was against the rule. During the time the rope had been in use
it had been daily examined, but never taken off to be examined
specially. For examination the cage was lowered down very gently,
and the rope ran through the engine man's hand very slowly.
The rope was covered with rope grease, to prevent corrosion
of the wires. If a broken wire was found the engineman would
report it unsafe and it was not again used for men. The colliery
had been in full work since the rope had been in use. He considered
it quite safe to carry on the working by this rope for sixteen
months without special examination. Had seen the broken ends
of the rope, and examined them carefully. The breakage took
place 50ft from the attachment of the bridle of the cage. The
fracture was not in line across, but the strands were broken
in different parts. Examined the wires, and found that they
were worn. The greatest wear and tear of the rope took place
just above the place where the fracture took place. It was,
however, in his opinion, quite competent to carry on the work
if there was no special strain. No accident of this sort had
ever occurred before since he had known the colliery. The fellow
rope, which was of the same size and quality as this one, lasted
three years and two months, when a broken wire was discovered,
and it was stopped from raising men. It was, however, used for
other purposes. He calculated the weight of a horse and man
going down as 12½ cwt., and the cage and
bridle would weigh about a ton. Eight ordinary sized colliers
would weigh about the same. There must have been two too many
men on the rope, according to the rules, and the banksman was
responsible for that, together with the men themselves. Supposing
there was a hitch in the lowering after the signal the slack
would be between the sheave and the drum. The cage was lowered
at the rate of about nine feet per second, the whole 77 yards
of rope being run out in 26 seconds.
Mr Wales (to the witness): You say that after the accident you
examined the rope, and still considered it safe for work? -Witness:
Yes, sir. Mr. Wales: Well, how do you account for it breaking?-Witness:
By some sudden jerk. Mr. Wales: Were there any other parts of
the rope worn like this?-No, sir. Mr. Wales: And how do you
account for that?-Witness: I don't know how to account for that.
Mr. Wales: During the night that part of the rope was exposed
to the steam?-Witness; Yes, sir. Mr. Wales. How long?-Witness:
From the 19th of November, when the other rope was stopped.
By Mr. Howell: I am also manager of the Brynamman Collieries,
and they are my great employers. I did not attend this colliery
daily, nor necessarily once a week, but when occasion required.
Made an examination of the rope on the 11th of January, but
it was only a general examination. Mr. James May, the representatives
of Sir George Elliott and Co., was next called. He said the
rope was, he believed, made by the firm he represented, and
was sent to Garnant in September, 1882. It was a well made rope.
When they spoke of the breakage strain and the working load,
it depended a good deal on how it was used, and the wear and
tear it had had. He believed the rope in question had every
fair play, and the machinery was perfect. It appeared when he
examined it after the fracture that it had been worn in one
part, and corrosion had taken place inside. Looking at however,
before the breakage, it would have been very difficult to say
that it was worn, and he would not have condemned it. It was
in about the usual condition of such ropes. Under some circumstances
it was a disadvantage for a rope to be exposed to steam; but
there were other cases in which it had been to the advantage
of the rope to be exposed to the steam. His firm was celebrated
for ropes, and was always very careful in the selection of its
materials. If a load of a ton and a half fell six feet that
would be a momentum of about 30 tons. He did not think the rope
in its then state would bear that strain. In fact the rope when
new would not bear the strain which in is opinion actually broke
it. Had taken out a piece of the rope near where the fracture
occurred, and found it equal to a breakage strain of 22 tons;
another piece nearer the drum was tested, and found equal to
a breakage strain of 28 tons. The reason he assigned for the
fracture was that the rope received a sudden jerk and snapped.
After a little further evidence, the inquiry was adjourned.
WEDNESDAY
The inquiry was resumed on Wednesday. David Jenkins, the banksman,
recalled, in reply to the coroner, said there had been no repairs
to the keeps where the accident occurred.To Mr. Symons. He had
never allowed more than eight men to go down at once. Had been
warned by the manager and overman to prevent more than eight
going down, and report if more than eight came up. He never
had occasion to report. The men were pushing into the cage on
the 16th, and he told them to be quiet. He had to open the keeps
on the other side of the shaft for the ascending cage, which
contained men and horses, which prevented him getting quickly
back to the other lever to let the other cage down when he was
attending to the ascending cage. Thomas Michael was at the other
lever, and the cage had begun to go down, and had come to a
stop before he could get to the lever. He then signalled the
engineman, and Thomas Michael had let the handle loose. He did
not pull the handle back after Michael let it loose.
To Mr. Howell: He did not recollect telling him that he had
his hand on the lever when the cage moved, and that all was
clear. Joseph Jones, Albert Cottage, Cwmamman, engine driver
at the Garnant Colliery, explained the signals, and said that
when he received the knock to stop, about seven feet of rope
had run out. The engine was then stopping of its own accord,
because the weight was off. He put the break on. Thomas Bartlett,
haulier, said he saw the men go into the cage which fell. Thomas
Michael gave the signal, and drew the lever. The cage went down
level to the surface, and the top caught in something-the keeps
he thought. Thomas Michael was by the lever the whole time.
David Jenkins gave the knock to stop: there was a smash, and
the carriage disappeared. Mr. T. H. Osgood, recalled, said that
a weight of 30 cwt. falling three feet clear would be equal
to a strain of 20 tons 16cwt. That would be sufficient to snap
a rope like that was. Thomas Bartlett, labourer, son of the
former witness, said the men crushed in the cage. Thomas Michael
gave the signal and opened the keeps. Mr. H.T. Wales, inspector
of mines, said the result of the two examinations of the rope
was that not a single wire was broken except where the fracture
took place. That morning he examined the "fangs" or
keeps, and found that if they were closed after the bottom passed
the top would not catch the fangs. He was of opinion that the
cage did not catch the fangs on that morning, and that the breakage
of the rope was due to its being too weak at the point of fracture
to carry the weight it had to carry, and not to any jerk or
fall. He believed that the weakness was caused by that part
of the rope having been more or less exposed to the steam issuing
from the upcast shaft during the whole of the months the rope
had been worked.
To Mr. Simons: If the cage had been stopped, it would have hastened
the crisis, but it would not alter his opinion as to the state
of the rope. His assumption was that there was no stoppage,
but, if there was, it would not change his opinion. The rope
was a remarkably good one in all other places except the fracture,
and the machinery was very good. To Mr Linton: the rope was
perfectly constructed; it was a thoroughly good rope. The condition
of the fractured part was not to be attributed to any defect
in its manufacture or construction. He did not recollect having
ever examined as good a rope.
Mr. Hay, the manager, recalled, in answer to Mr Howell, said
that if the cross-bar had not been on the cage it could not
have caught, but if the keeps were properly worked it could
not catch even with the bar. The coroner's summing up occupied
an hour and a half, and the jury took an equal time to consider
their verdict. Eventually 12 of the13 jurors agreed as follows:-"The
accident took place by the breakage of the rope caused by a
jerk, the jerk of the cage having caught the fangs (or keeps)
in consequence of the mismanagement of the lever working them.
We consider the conduct of Thomas Michael reprehensible, but
not culpable." The Coroner said that was a verdict tantamount
to accidental death.
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