1937-03-13 — Page 13

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.

SATURDAY, « MARCH 13, 1987.

SERIOUS CHARGES IN GRESFORD REPORTS

Theory That Phone Call Caused Ignition of Gas

PIT MANAGEMENT

ATTACKED

"Flagrant Risks for ·

'M'

Maximum Tonnage

【ANSLAUGHTER.

regulations

flagrant breaches of the working of illegal overtime, .

a veritable gasometer"-these are phrases which occur in the reports, issued recently, of the three members of the Commission of Inquiry which has been examining the causes of the 1934 disaster at Gresford Colliery.

It Happened

Two Years Ago

THE Cresford explosion

THE

was on September 22. 1934. It killed 265 men.

The three members of the Inquiry Commission were:

Sir Henry Walker,

Chief Inspector

Mines;

Mr. John Brass, Colliery director and past pre- sident of the Institution of Mining Engineers; and

Mr. Joseph Jones, pre-. sident of the Mine- workers' Federation,

They examined evid- ence for 36. days.

A hundred and eighty- nine witnesses were called.

Great loss of fe

resulting Are.

Was not due the

Sir Henry Walker (the Commissioner who presided over the Inquiry) and the two assessors have been unable primarily to the explosion but ta to agree on many vital points and the report has thrée sets of conclusions.

."

RESCUER FELL ON FRIEND'S BODIES

North Wales Mineworkers' Union, and this was advanced as 'a that the union was Intetive.

reason

Sir Henry states that he has held for many years tnal miners should be members of some effective trade unlon,

to comply with the law dealing with coal dust; failure to carry out Instruc- tions for the withdrawal of workmen; failure to observe statutory rules and orders

explosives; failure observe regulations with regard limitation of hours,

on

to

F

One of the most striking passages Finally Mr. Jones declares that the In Mr. Jones' report is that in which manager lett matters Involving he sets out detailed -nccusations of breaches of law to his under officials serious breaches

the Coal Mines and had never attempted to inculente Act. 1011, and the General Regularespect for the law among the officials mine appointed by him to supervise the

day-to-day operations of the men.

tions against Mr. Bonsail, the manager,

HIS

CHARGES

to

Among the charges art: Failure to keep books; failure maintain adequate ventilation; failure to supply separate meats of egress in top end or 14's district"; failure to cut off cleutric current in # region where over 1% per cent of gas present;

Hs Anal point is that, while he does not Impute incompetency or unfairness to the Commissioner at the Inquiry (Sir

considered Henry), it is his opinion that the Chief Inspector of Mines or any of his assistants should not in future be called on 10 conduct formal investigations of this kind.

"It imposes on any person directly associated with the inspectorate a dual loyalty which must inevitably strain impartiality to the farthest ilmits," he

Cannot concur with the view that the fear of victimisation prevented Fallure to comply with requirement any workman from lodging

shys. com-regarding telephone apparatus; failure plaint.

All three investigators go into care-

The strongest comments come from Mr. Joseph Jones. In one place he says that the Manager appeared to allow the firemen and ful detail to explain their findings. shotfirers to do what they liked.

Sir Henry Walker in particular ex- amines all the evidence given and

"The evidence regarding the man- the mine adjoining “14's district," an quotes long passages between counsel agement revealed glaring instances which Mr. Jones concentrates.)

de- and complete

of indiscipline moralisation among the officials of

the mine, and conveyed quite definite- the Impression that the mine Iacked leadership and character:

ly

That the affleials responsible for the safety were more concerned with output than with the law or safely precautions, and that flagrant risks were taken with the knowledge of all concerned in order that the maximum tonnage could be got per day. "DAILY

BREACHES"

their men to work with increasing

recklessness and open contemp! for the dangers run.

"A VERITABLE GASOMETER"

Mr. Joseph Jones concludes— Regards the suggestion that tgnition was caused at the telephone when it was used for warning as extremely unlikely.

and witnesses. Some of these pass- ages are highly dramatic,

1

In one place Sir Henry reproduces the evidence of John Charles Willams. captain of the Llay Main Ne Rescue Team. (it was Willams who conary gave the evidence that dropped dead about five or six yards inside the airway which the rescue team was about to penetrate.) Considers that a definite chain of Williams spoke of trouble with the carroborated evidence establishes be-breathing apparatus and described yond doubt that "14's district" was

how the other men with him began veritable gasometre awaiting the n-to fall.

Boy Of 5

Found

Strangled

In Snow

Chicago, Mar. 1.

fortunate coincidence of ignition The report recounts Williams's THE body of five-year- which would produce the explosion. struggle through the dark, gas-laden THE

not belleve the explosion mine. He could not distinguish

old Roger Loomis was occurred in the neighbourhoud of thetween two members of the party-found sprawled in the snow.

Dan Hughes and Bill Hughes.

"Even in face of rapidly deteriorat-

Dors the Oremen drovė ing conditions

clutch.

Inadequate supervision of the in- "Many of numerous contraventions sectorate and management must be factor, of the Coal Mines Act and regula- regarded as a contributory

133- ia 14's llons were due directly to personal since the conditions

telet and elsewhere could hardly have action or inaction by the manager, under-manager and the under officials.persisted in the presence of effective supervision and strieter conformity to "On the evidence given a num-the law nod existing regulations. ber of serious charges can be pre- ferred in which the breaches have been repeated as a daily habit... to the grave danger of the men and of the whole mine,"

UNSATISFACTORY

STONE-DUSTING

System of stone-dušting (precaution jogast explosion) was entirely un-

satisfactory. Evidence showed

near

RÁDIO BROADCAST

London Item Gives A Humorous Sketch

DANCE MUSIC RELAY

Radio Programme Brandenst by Z.B.W. on wavelengths of 353 metres metres (0.52 (845 kc's.), 31.40 m.c's.).

H.K.T.

1.03

1.20

1.30

12.30 Light Orchestral-Selection. 1 p.m.

Time and Weather. Songs by Leslie Hutchinson. 11awallan Music.

Reuter and Rugby Press;

the "I examined Bill Hughes Us covered road nose clip was off, and he was an outskirts of suburban Lom- parently deal. I could see. Dan

bard, Chicago, with a man's weather, Time and Announcements

Musical Comedy. white muffler twice knotted around his throat.

Hughes in front. In difficulties, very

unsteady on his feet.

Case,"

left Bill Hughes and I assisted Dan Hughes out for 49 or 50 yards until fell on top of him. Something

Investigators termed the mur- had gone wrong, arashen 1 exam- ined my apparatus the feed-pipedor "Another Bobby Franks from the oxygen cylinder had become

but the coroner, after disconnected off the barrel, and that

atate failed to examination. At the beginning of his report Sir | while a suffleient quantity of stone-

is what brought me down. I was

whether the boy was maltreated Henry Walker explains:

dust was sent down the mine it was practically exhausted.

before he died. pil "DAN WAS "Throughout the proceedings the lowed to accumulate near the Court and the parties laboured un-ballom, so much so that for some der the heavy handicap that hard-distance men had to walk through it.

that

ALIVE"

It did not reach the places where it "I did try to maite up this union

ly any of the evidence and much was interided for, or where it was re-

rejoint but I had not me, My only

of it was contested or challenged

"bu

evidence-could

be

other verified or checked by any insper- tion of the workings.

That handicap has been_kreaty felt in the preparation of this report,"

quired. The job was done perfunc-alternative was to push the pipe in

my mouth to save myself. forily and inadequately.

After the explosion four other lives (in addition to 261 killed) were lost during the course of "ells- astrous and B-conceived explora- tion.

Loeb-Leopold

It is recalled that in the Fracks case Loeb and Leopold received life prison termS,

1.40

2 p.m. 2.15

Dance Hits of To-day. Close Down.

4-7 p.m.

Chinese Programme, 7 p.m. A Light Concert. Choral Now is the month of May- The ing (Morley, arr. Fellowes).....

Arabes- English Singers; Pianoforte

Mai-

7.30 Hongkeng Stock Exchange and Exchange Market Summary Report. "

que No. 1 in E; Arabesque No. 2 in G (Debussy)..... Marguerite Long Songs-I know of two bright eyes (Clutsam); I'll sing the songs of Araby....

..(Wills

Ben and Cloy) Davies (Tenor); Viola Solo...Vera- tian Gondola Song No. 1 (Mendels- sohn)....Lionel Tertis, Alto Saxo- phone Solo-Variations sur "I then had to leave Dan Hughes Roger was the adepted son of Mr. borough (arr. Combelle)....Marcel and Dan was alive at the time-on and Mrs. George Crane Loomis. Mr. Mule: Songs Sleepy River; Song of -his-knees, crumpled up, but alive. Loomis was formerly merchandise Freedom (Ansell)....Paul Robeson

Tor the United States (Bass) "I could see lights at the top end inspector Supporting his charge of complete of the airway, a matter of 40 or 50 Customs. More than half of Sir Henry's re-demoralisation among the officials at yards away... They dragged me out!

The boy disappeared yesterday port (which covers 114 pages) deals this mine, he directs attention to "the neck and crop. The assistance afternoon. Neighbours reported see- with the ventilation of the mine, fact, which was proven, that a rescue wanted was not for myself but ing him enter a motor-car with a which he clearly regards as the im-team of five men were sent Into No. Don Hughes.” portant consideration.

29's return' (in another district) on Dealing with the supervision of the strange man, the instruction only

deputy mine, Sir Henry points out that unti[Dobby Franks, thirteen-year- old of # named Hurold Thomas.

heir to £1,000,000, was murdered kowsky); two years before the explosion, in "Notwithstanding the fact that the addition to the other officials, there

"for a thrill" near Chicago in 1924 condition of the atmosphere was was an agent of the colliery, but that

by two wealthy students.} ascertained within six yards of the office had not since been filled, Mr. entrance to this airway by using a Bonsall being left to carry on

dropped mine without the guidance of any instantly dead. Harold Thomas sent the technically-informed superior official. brigade forward without a lifeline "COULD NOT and without a reserve brigade altendance.

Sir Mr. John Brass differs from Henry on this point, and contends that the explosion was the outcome of a defect in the telephone, which ignited fire damp.

IMFORMATION WAS canary, which

WITHHELD

Sir Henry concludes

The mine was badly ventilated. The initial mistake which led to the explosion was fallure to carry out big scheme of ventilation some years previously.

A fall took place in "14's district"

(a part of the mine which Mr. Jones

in

REMEMBER WHEN"

for

the

OLD VESSEL

IS NO MORE

grow

7.35 p.m. Regimental Band of H. M. Coldstream Guards.

"Swan

Ballet Lake"

(Tchaj- Marche

de Heroique Szabady (Massenet, arr. Dan God- frey); The Sololst's Delight (God- frey); Selection of Wilfred Sunder- son's

songs.

Weather Report and Time, Announcements.

8.03 A Variety Programme, Vocal-Pennies from Heaven.... Bing Crosby; Hawaiian-Waltzing to the Guitar.. Len Fillis; Vocal- Sweetheart, let's old together ...Kitty Masters; Plano Solo--Sugar Rose....Carroll Gibbons and His Boy Friends; Vocal-"Land Without.

Booth Music" Medley....Webster with The Lindonel Three.

Mr. 8.25 p.m. Robb Wilton as Muddlecombe, J.P., in "The Court of

Please!" The Not-So-Common,

Adrian Thomas. (Electrical Record- p.m. A Variety Programme

Slow Fox Trot-Love me; Quick- Step Crooning...... Gerry Moore, Vocal-Queen of Hearts.... (Piano);

KETCH WHICH FREIGHTED SUPPLIES IN NAPOLEONIC

FOUNDERED

Finds t therefore, "dimeull to "Mr. Bonsall visited the several dis- escape, the conclusion that Harold tricts in the Dennis Section from time Thomas was guilty of manslaughter to time, but for the two months be- in respect of the loss of four men of fore the explosion he had spent most

WARS. a brave rescue team. dive emerged all Only one of the of his time in the South-East scclion where belt-conveyors were being As regards the manager of the installed.

The oldest ketch in the world in mine, Mr. W. Bonsall, the evidence

service, "He had been underground during active

the fifty-four-ton gazomotor on May 24, five months "clearly establishes that he was the night shift, but it was so long ago) Ceres, of Bude, built in 1811, sank gasomoter") on May 24, five months guilty of 14 breaches of the Coal he could not remember when." before the disaster,

In Barnstaple Bay recently. Mines Act, 1011, and the

General In "14's district," Sir Henry re- The position then became so pre- | Regulations.

the only people ports, little regard was paid by officials skipper and mate. carious that drastic remedies were Also alleges that the under-manager or workmen to the requirements of on board, were rescued by the Apple- necessary and should have been and the other subordinate officials, the Explosives in Coal Mines Order. dore lifeboat.

deputies and shot-frers have been "similarly guilty

taken.

of flagrant and Precautions would have involved persistent breaches of the Coal Mines stoppage of work on several coal Act and General Regulations, and all faces until a return aircourse for re-should be dealt with the Inw moved from the intake was made.

These seem drastic remedies, but even

directs."

THEIR LAMPS

WENT OUT

ww

The Ceres, which was bound from

By

of consolation....Bing Crosby; In-. strumental-A musical journey from New York to California.. .Ken Harvey, (Banjo); VocalPlaisir

"To my mind the record of shota fired proves beyond question that Swansea to Bude with a cargo of of frequent occasions und in some slag, developed a leak the night Gracle Fields; Vocal--Just one word instances regularly some of the de- puties and shotfirers...fred more fore off Baggy Point. There was a shots per shift than they could dense fog.at the time. If they had been taken the initini

possibly have fired with proper The skipper, Captain Oswald - Jef- error would still have remained, and

care and proper attention to the fery, of Appledore, was resting when d'Armour (Love's Joy)....Jessica until it was repaired the position

requirements of the Order." would not have been entirely satis-

the mate, Walter Ford, run below to Dragonette; Plano Solo"Whoopee" Sir Henry makes outspoken eriti tell him that the engine room

was-Medley....Rale da Costa; Vocal factory.

I'm putting all my eggs in one basket Does not agree with Sir Henry that fciams of breaches of the Elght Hours rapidly Alling with water. The Ceres

Act in which workers as well

....The Boswell Sisters; Vocal--- held from the Court of Inquiry by works altould have been stopped on the management were, in his opinion, to Was Mited a short time before with Shipping through my fingers, Jesale

coal faces specified after the fall on blame.

Important Information was with-

certain witnesses.

Mr. John Bruss concludes—

"I does not, of

course,

15

له

a Diesel engine,

The pumps were worked until the

ments.

In May, 1938, it became known (to May 24.. Sir Henry) that at some time in May

CX CUSC Has come to the conclusion that the breaches of the law to say that the two men were exhausted, but the or June, 1934 a door or doors had point of origin of the explosion was men were willing to work overtime. vessel continued to make water, and been placed at a point not shown on near the Clutch (point on a main road But in such a case it does not ile with Captain Jeffery ordered the small the ventilation plan or on the general of the mine), due to fire damp being those representing the men to blame boat to be launched. Rockets

were plan produced at the earlier sittings ignited by the use of the telephone

int by flares, the heavy rolling of the A Macs Department test with a spectors:

management and the

water-logged vessel making i impos- similar type of telephone explosive mixture: (li was stated in The question of preventing the sible to light matches.. evidence) slowed

was working of illegal overtime capable of producing sparks which within the power of the men them

selves and their trade unions, and could ignite fire damo.

of the

e inquiry, during which it had

been sworn by the manager and the

the

only the

Matthews.

9.15 London News and Announce-

0.35 Alfred Plecnver (tenor) with Fritz Krelater and His Violin. Tenor Solos-I heard you singing, (Coates); Trusting eyes (Gartner); Violin Solos-Variations (Tartini— Kreisler); Andantino (Padre Martini Тепог Solo-Wait! ---Kreister); When all the rockets but one had (D'Hardelot, Salmon); Violin Solo- been fired, the men abandoned the polichinelle Serenade (Kreisler); regret the increasing extent to which last rocket between the ribs of the ler); Tenor Solo-Beauty's eyes.

kelch Captain Jeffery fixed the Violin Solo-Fair Rosemary (Kreis been given it is dificult to under-The position of some of the bodies of recent years it has taken up the boat and fired, and thus was seen stand unless it be that it was lent support to the view; and the time of H.M desired to hide the lack of a sufft receiver was found hanging down by croached on their proper duties of arrived, the Ceres was too far sub-

10 pim. Bly Ben. Inspectors and en- From 'Appledore, When the Ilfeboat

A Relay of Dance Music from the

(Continued on Page 5.)

ager that there were no

in the Dennis section of

Why such evidence should have

to the

that - TE

in an

S

one

1

cient quantity of air in "14's dis-the cord. In reconstructing the attending to matters directly co-merged to be towed ashore. Workmen and officials were respongus dice counes on conclusion that cerned with health and safety. sible for breaking the law with regard the Clutch--the highest point of the

"It was a distressing feature of the

that there were inquiry

gestions made about the cause and the VICTIMISATION

The Ceres, which had been owned 50 many for eighty-five years by Petherick & were Sons, of Bude, had had a remarkable

to shot firing and the eight-hour day. working and that the men working worlanen, who knew of and

While he does not discuss the argu at the face of the drift had their lamps alarmed at conditions which they career. She carried supplies during ments for or against the several sug- put out by It.

considered dangerous and yet took the Napoleonle wars, being "-several no steps to secure for themselves or times chased by French privateers. their sellow workers the protection to |A hundred years later she carried wilch they throught they were en- munitions in the Great War and narrowly escaped being torpedoed.

point of origin of the explosion, Sir

Henry says he, "looks with

suspicion on the circumstances exist

NOT ACCEPTED

They therefore gave the alarm. Utled.... ing in connection with 24's airway in They tried to telephone, and In, doing 2. 90's district." (This is a district of so ignited the gas.

A large proportion of the workers She was the oldest vessel registered were not effective members of the at Lloyd's.

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