George Lenny & John Healey were both killed in an explosion of firedamp on February 3rd 1880 at the Silkston pit of the Silkstone & Haigh Moor Coal Company Ltd. Lenny was 27 and single. Healey was ???? a married man with 5 children.
THE FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR CASTLEFORD.
Dr. Grabham, Coroner, Pontefract, yesterday opened an inquest at the Anchor Inn, Allerton Bywater, on the bodies of George Lenny, 27, single man, bricklayer, and John Healey, a married man with five children. The deceased met with their deaths by an explosion of fire damp, early on Tuesday morning, at the Silkstone pit of the Silkstone and Haigh Moor Coal Company Limited. About 30 bye-workmen were in the pit at the time. Had the explosion taken place in the daytime the result would doubtless have been much more serious, as from two to three hundred men work at the pit. Mr. White, the certificated manager at the colliery, assigns as the cause of the explosion the sudden outburst of one of the "feeders," a purely accidental occurrence. Naked lights are used.
The CORONER asked if the fire was out?
Sergeant BIRKENSHAW said that it was not. He had seen Mr. White only a short time previously, and he informed him that he was very busy trying to get it out, and hoped they would not call him away to the inquest. The CORONER. - I only wanted to know so as to be able to fix the adjournment, for it will want to be out before the Government Inspector and others can go down and inspect the workings. I have called a jury together this afternoon simply as to identification, in order that the bodies may be speedily interred. I intend to adjourn the inquiry, in order that the fire may be got out, and that the Government Inspector may properly examine the workings, so that a just conclusion may be come to.
The Jury were afterwards sworn, and went to view the bodies. On reassembling, the first witness called was Elizabeth Stephenson, widow, Allerton-Bywater, who said one of the bodies just viewed by the jury was that of George Lenny. He had lodged with her for over five years. He was a bricklayer, and worked in the Silkstone Colliery. He was about 29 years old, and single. He was a native of Ipswich. He left for work about nine o'clock on Monday night, and was then in very good health. Yesterday afternoon his body was brought home about four o'clock.
Sarah Healey said I live at Preston row, Great Preston. One of the bodies just viewed by the jury is that of my husband, John Healey. He was a bye-workman at the Silkstone Colliery, Allerton Bywater. He left home for work at five minutes past nine on Monday night, and was then in his usual health. His body was brought home at half-past four yesterday afternoon. He has worked two years at the pit.
The CORONER said that this was all the evidence he proposed to take, and he would give certificates for the burial of the deceased. The question now was as to the adjournment. The manager had just informed him that the workings could not be cleared in less than ten days, the district in the colliery where the explosion occurred being filled with after-damp.
The inquest was consequently adjourned for a fortnight.
Dr. Grabham, Coroner, Pontefract, yesterday opened an inquest at the Anchor Inn, Allerton Bywater, on the bodies of George Lenny, 27, single man, bricklayer, and John Healey, a married man with five children. The deceased met with their deaths by an explosion of fire damp, early on Tuesday morning, at the Silkstone pit of the Silkstone and Haigh Moor Coal Company Limited. About 30 bye-workmen were in the pit at the time. Had the explosion taken place in the daytime the result would doubtless have been much more serious, as from two to three hundred men work at the pit. Mr. White, the certificated manager at the colliery, assigns as the cause of the explosion the sudden outburst of one of the "feeders," a purely accidental occurrence. Naked lights are used.
The CORONER asked if the fire was out?
Sergeant BIRKENSHAW said that it was not. He had seen Mr. White only a short time previously, and he informed him that he was very busy trying to get it out, and hoped they would not call him away to the inquest. The CORONER. - I only wanted to know so as to be able to fix the adjournment, for it will want to be out before the Government Inspector and others can go down and inspect the workings. I have called a jury together this afternoon simply as to identification, in order that the bodies may be speedily interred. I intend to adjourn the inquiry, in order that the fire may be got out, and that the Government Inspector may properly examine the workings, so that a just conclusion may be come to.
The Jury were afterwards sworn, and went to view the bodies. On reassembling, the first witness called was Elizabeth Stephenson, widow, Allerton-Bywater, who said one of the bodies just viewed by the jury was that of George Lenny. He had lodged with her for over five years. He was a bricklayer, and worked in the Silkstone Colliery. He was about 29 years old, and single. He was a native of Ipswich. He left for work about nine o'clock on Monday night, and was then in very good health. Yesterday afternoon his body was brought home about four o'clock.
Sarah Healey said I live at Preston row, Great Preston. One of the bodies just viewed by the jury is that of my husband, John Healey. He was a bye-workman at the Silkstone Colliery, Allerton Bywater. He left home for work at five minutes past nine on Monday night, and was then in his usual health. His body was brought home at half-past four yesterday afternoon. He has worked two years at the pit.
The CORONER said that this was all the evidence he proposed to take, and he would give certificates for the burial of the deceased. The question now was as to the adjournment. The manager had just informed him that the workings could not be cleared in less than ten days, the district in the colliery where the explosion occurred being filled with after-damp.
The inquest was consequently adjourned for a fortnight.
- The Leeds Mercury - 5th February 1880
THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR CASTLEFORD.
THE INQUEST.
The inquest upon the bodies of George Lenny (27) and Jno, Healey was opened yesterday afternoon at the Anchor Inn, Allerton Bywater before Dr Grabham, coroner, Pontefract,
The deceased men met with their deaths by an explosion of fire damp, which took place early on Tuesday morning at the Silkstone pit of the Silkstone and Haigh Moor Coal Company (Limited), Mr White, the certificated manager at the colliery, assigns, as the cause of the explosion, the sudden out burst of one of the "feeders," a purely accidental occurrence. Naked lights are used.
The jury were sworn and went to view the bodies. On reassembling, the first witness called was Elizabeth Stephenson, widow, Allerton Bywater, who said one of the bodies just viewed by the jury is that of George Lenny. He was a bricklayer,and worked in the Silkstone Colliery. He left for work about nine o'clock on Monday night, and on Tuesday afternoon his body was brought home about four o'clock.
Sarah Healey was next called, and said: One of the bodies just viewed by the jury is that of my husband, Jno. Healey. He was a bye-workman at the Silkstone Colliery, Allerton Bywater. He left home for work at five minutes past nine on Monday night. His body was brought home at half-past four on Tuesday afternoon.
The CORONER said that was all the evidence he proposed to take then.
The inquest was adjourned to yesterday fortnight.
THE INQUEST.
The inquest upon the bodies of George Lenny (27) and Jno, Healey was opened yesterday afternoon at the Anchor Inn, Allerton Bywater before Dr Grabham, coroner, Pontefract,
The deceased men met with their deaths by an explosion of fire damp, which took place early on Tuesday morning at the Silkstone pit of the Silkstone and Haigh Moor Coal Company (Limited), Mr White, the certificated manager at the colliery, assigns, as the cause of the explosion, the sudden out burst of one of the "feeders," a purely accidental occurrence. Naked lights are used.
The jury were sworn and went to view the bodies. On reassembling, the first witness called was Elizabeth Stephenson, widow, Allerton Bywater, who said one of the bodies just viewed by the jury is that of George Lenny. He was a bricklayer,and worked in the Silkstone Colliery. He left for work about nine o'clock on Monday night, and on Tuesday afternoon his body was brought home about four o'clock.
Sarah Healey was next called, and said: One of the bodies just viewed by the jury is that of my husband, Jno. Healey. He was a bye-workman at the Silkstone Colliery, Allerton Bywater. He left home for work at five minutes past nine on Monday night. His body was brought home at half-past four on Tuesday afternoon.
The CORONER said that was all the evidence he proposed to take then.
The inquest was adjourned to yesterday fortnight.
- The Yorkshire Post 5th February 1880
THE COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR CASTLEFORD.
Yesterday Dr. Grabham held the adjourned inquest at Allerton Bywater on John. Healey and George Lenny, who met with their deaths at the Silkstone Pit, Allerton Bywater, by an explosion of gas on the 2nd February. Mr. Wardell, Government Inspector of Mines, was present, and cross-examined the witnesses. The evidence of the deputies and underground viewer was given, and showed that the two men had been allowed to use a flaming lamp in a return air way, into which gas from a goaf found its way. They were engaged putting up bars when the explosion occurred. It has been the custom to allow candles and flaming lamps to be used regularly in the pit where no gas was reported, and the deputies considered it was safe to use them in the place where the deceased men were working. It was the opinion of the witnesses that the cause of the explosion was a sudden outburst of gas from the floor. Since the explosion safety lamps have been substituted for naked lights all over the pit. Mr. Wardell expressed the hope that naked lights would never be used again in the pit. He condemned the use of mixed lights in a pit. He said he had been present at the recovery of the bodies, and he saw some of the fire. He agreed with the opinion that gas had erupted from the floor. The coroner, in summing up, said there seemed to be no culpable negligence on the part of anybody. It was, however, to be hoped that safety lamps in pits would be made compulsory. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."
Yesterday Dr. Grabham held the adjourned inquest at Allerton Bywater on John. Healey and George Lenny, who met with their deaths at the Silkstone Pit, Allerton Bywater, by an explosion of gas on the 2nd February. Mr. Wardell, Government Inspector of Mines, was present, and cross-examined the witnesses. The evidence of the deputies and underground viewer was given, and showed that the two men had been allowed to use a flaming lamp in a return air way, into which gas from a goaf found its way. They were engaged putting up bars when the explosion occurred. It has been the custom to allow candles and flaming lamps to be used regularly in the pit where no gas was reported, and the deputies considered it was safe to use them in the place where the deceased men were working. It was the opinion of the witnesses that the cause of the explosion was a sudden outburst of gas from the floor. Since the explosion safety lamps have been substituted for naked lights all over the pit. Mr. Wardell expressed the hope that naked lights would never be used again in the pit. He condemned the use of mixed lights in a pit. He said he had been present at the recovery of the bodies, and he saw some of the fire. He agreed with the opinion that gas had erupted from the floor. The coroner, in summing up, said there seemed to be no culpable negligence on the part of anybody. It was, however, to be hoped that safety lamps in pits would be made compulsory. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."
- The Wakefield Free Express - 21st February 1880