Following an explosion of Fire Damp (Methane) at the Allhallows Colliery, on the 10th July 1877, Thomas Hayton, a Putter, aged 18, died as a result of the injuries he sustained.
Contemporary newspaper reports
The West Cumberland Times, 21st July 1877
Colliery Explosion at Mealsgate.
One Collier Killed and Seven Injured.
On Tuesday an explosion of fire-damp took place at Allhallows Colliery, by which eight men and boys were more or less inured, and one of them so seriously that he died yesterday. The colliery, which is a new one, is the property of Messrs, Fletcher & Co., and stands near to Mealsgate Railway Station. About 80 persons are employed in it. For the last 18 months the miners have been engaged in working a small seam of coal in the pit, and sinking is still going on in order to reach the main seam, the practice being to work one shift of eight hours at the present seam of coal, and two shifts of eight hours each in sinking. The coal is drawn now from what is called the “dib” working, where places are being driven to prepare for working by what is known as the “long wall.” On Tuesday morning about nine o’clock man named Thomas Forsyth, who is employed at the pit as a shot lighter, was engaged in blasting the coal. His duty was to make a hole, put powder in it, place a fuse in the powder, and then fill the space round the fuse with what is called “stemming,” so as to prevent the air from getting to the powder. For stemming purposes Forsyth used very small coal, and the presumption is, from what occurred subsequently, that this part of the work was not done properly. Be that as it may, when the fuse was lighted the “stemming” was blown out, and the fire communicated with some foul air which had accumulated in the working. A loud explosion warned the men in other parts of the pit that something serious had happened. There were twelve persons in the working where the explosion took place, and the whole of them, bruised and as soon as they were able, rushed to the bottom of the shaft. Those who were injured were sent to the top as quickly as possible. Mr. Robert Martin, the manager of the colliery, was down the pit when the accident occurred, and exerted himself to the utmost in order to get the injured men and boys conveyed to their homes and properly attended to. One of them, named James Robinson, walked home on reaching the pit top. The remainder were sent home in carts, with the exception of a young man named Thomas Hayton, who lived at Grasslot, near Maryport, and who proceeded to his residence by train. His injuries were, however, so severe that he died yesterday. The injured men and boys have been attended since the accident by Dr. Pritchard, of Aspatria. The following is a list of them:-
- Thomas Forsyth, of Fletcherown, shot-lighter: arms slightly burnt.
- James Robinson, of Fletchertown, hewer: face and neck burnt.
- Andrew Blaylock, of Brough Hill, hewer: arms and face bruised and burnt.
- George Lowman, of Brough Hill, brakes-boy: knee cut.
- Joseph Routledge, of Whitehead Brow, driver: face slightly burnt and knees cut.
- Michael Fearon, of Blennerhasset, driver: face and hands burnt.
- Stephan Evans, of Blennerhasset, shiftman: knee bruised.
- Thomas Hayton, of Grasslot, Maryport, putter: face and arms burnt. (Since dead.)
Thomas Hayton died at three o’clock yesterday morning, at his residence at Grasslot, He was 18 years of age. An inquest touching the death was opened yesterday afternoon at the Station Hotel, Maryport, by Mr. William Lumb, coroner, and was adjourned for a week in order that a communication concerning the accident might be made to the Government Inspector of Mines. Another of the injured men is reported to be dangerously ill.
The West Cumberland Times, 21st July 1877
The Fatal Explosion at Allhallows Colliery, Mealsgate
The Adjourned Inquest
[To be transcribed]
The Carlisle Patriot, 5th October 1877
WIGTON [Police Court]. Tuesday
(Before Sir R. Brisco, Bart., Sir Wilfrid Lawson, Bart., M.P., H. J. Percy, Esq., W. Banks, Esq, and W. Elliot, Esq.)
Action Under the Mines Regulation Act
Robert Martin, colliery manager for the Allhallows Colliery, was charged with “failing to comply with rule 1, section 57, of the • Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1872, ‘by not having an adequate amount of ventilation constantly produced in the mine to delate and render harmless noxious gases to such an extent that the working places of the shafts, beds, stalls, and workings of such mine and traveling roads to and from such working places should be in a fit state of working and passing thereon.” The case had been laid by Mr Willis, acting under the instruction of the Secretary of State. Mr Webster, of Whitehaven, appeared tor the prosecution, and Mr Waugh, junr., of Cockermouth, for defendant. In connection with the charge there were two other charges against the same defendant, for having “unlawfully had in his possession gunpowder in a certain mine called Allhallows Colliery, and within three months after inflammable gas bad been found in the said mine, such gunpowder not being in cartridges” – On July 10th last there was an explosion of fire-damp in the Allhallows pit, by which several men were injured by fire and bruises, and one of them died of his injuries. Mr Willis, the inspector, was present at the inquest afterwards held, and made an inspection of the pit, and out of this it seemed that the present cases arose. The case was gone into with great minuteness. After a lengthy hearing the Bench imposed a fine of 5l.