Explosion of Fire-Damp at Brightside Colliery
On 25th October, 1865 an inquest was opened at Sheffield, on the bodies of three men, who were killed by an explosion of fire damp at Brightside Colliery.
The pit was owned by Unwin and Shaw, and it concerned one of two shafts adjoining the Parkgate seam.
The recklessness of colliers which led them to lay aside the safety lamps was the cause of this and hundreds of explosions.
On the Monday morning, 300 men and boys went into the pit at 6 a.m. The managers allowed them to work with naked lights in the belief the mine was free from gas.
The mine was ventilated by an upcast shaft upon a plan - common to the district.
A loud explosion was heard near to the main level at about 7.30 a.m. A large volume of deadly gas has rushed out from a fissure in the coal face and it ignited by a naked light being used by Francis Milburn. He was severely burned and the force of the blast threw him against a pillar, fracturing his skull. Death was instant.
The blast passed down the workings and struck George Parker, and his son of 14 years. Both died later that day.
At the Inquest a miner who had been employed in the same mine, complained strongly of the delay before the Government Inspector would examine the mine. He asserted that ventilation was bad. The Coroner said he was aware of the fact and it was the duty of the proprietors of the pit to give immediate notice to the Home Office, and no doubt they had done so.
