100 " Mr. F. A. Abel [April 28, 



to the effect that the disastrous results of this explosion were mainly 

 if not entirely ascribable to the action of coal dust, supporting this 

 opinion by the results of a minute examination into the condition of 

 the pit, of the sufferers, &c., after the accident. 



When the terrible calamity which occurred at Seaham Colliery in 

 September 1880, was officially inquired into, the suggestion was very 

 decidedly put forward by the miners' representatives, that the coal dust 

 which existed in large quantities in some parts of the mine, and 

 especially near the spot where it was surmised that the explosion 

 had originated, might have had much to do with the accident. Indeed 

 the opinion was strongly entertained by some that it was entirely due 

 to the ignition of coal dust, in the absence of gas, by the flame from 

 a blown-out shot. The lecturer was consequently requested by the 

 Home Secretary to make experiments with samples of dust collected 

 in different parts of the mine, and the results obtained with them 

 led to an extension of experiments with dust from other collieries 

 in different parts of the kingdom. These experiments, carried to a 

 certain point for the immediate purpose of the Seaham inquiry, have 

 been interrupted for some time, but the Royal Commission has now 

 resumed them with the object of obtaining more precise data in 

 connection with certain results which were elicited by the first part 

 of the investigation. 



The earlier experiments were carried on at the Garswood Hall 

 Colliery, where a constant and abundant supply of pit gas (a so-called 

 blower) is brought to the surface, and was kindly placed at the service 

 of the Commission by Messrs. Smethurst and Co., together with many 

 conveniences, for the purposes of these and other important experiments 

 upon which they have been engaged. The apparatus used at Garswood 

 for the experiments with the Seaham and other dusts, was similar in 

 character to those employed by Freire Marreco, Galloway, and others, 

 great pains being taken to secure accuracy and uniformity in the 

 velocity of the air currents passing through the gallery, in the pro- 

 portion of pit-gas, or fire-damp, used with the air, and in the intimacy 

 of the mixture. In order to raise the air current in the gallery to a 

 temperature similar to that of the atmosphere in colliery workings, 

 the air supply was drawn through a system of heated pipes, so that, 

 when passing at as high a velocity as 1000 feet; per minute, its tempera- 

 ture would be raised up to 80° or 85° F. even in the very severe 

 weather during which some of these experiments were made. 



The samples of coal dust experimented with were examined with 

 respect to fineness, proportions of volatile matter and ash, and one or 

 two other points, and they were all carefully dried before use. 



Experiments were made in the first instance with a view of 

 ascertaining the smallest proportion of fire-damp which, when mixed 

 with the air passing through the apparatus, would furnish an 

 atmosphere capable of firing at a naked flame of a particular size, 

 placed in the gallery. It was next ascertained what quantity of gas 

 below that proportion was needed to impart to the mixture of air with 



