Carfin Colliery shaft explosion, 1891

On 26 November 1891 four sinkers were charging shot holes with dynamite in a sinking shaft at William Dixon's Carfin No. 1 when two cartridges, sent down still frozen, exploded under the tamping rod, killing Bernard Gillon and James Laird.

Cause

Frozen dynamite cartridges exploded while being pressed home with a tamping rod.

What happened

There were four men in the shaft, charging three shot holes. One of the two who died was pressing home two cartridges with a tamping rod when they went off, fatally injuring him and one of the other sinkers. The pitheadman had been instructed to keep the cartridges in a warm place so that they would be fit to use, but these had come from the magazine shortly before and been sent down the shaft before they had thawed.

Investigation & inquiry

The inspector of mines found that the leading sinker and the other man who escaped admitted knowing the cartridges were frozen and had talked about it, but had decided to use them despite knowing the danger of handling frozen dynamite.

Recorded claims

Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.

• On 26 November 1891 two sinkers, Bernard Gillon and James Laird, were killed in the sinking shaft of Carfin No. 1 when dynamite exploded as it was being stemmed. ^1,2
• The cartridges had been brought from the magazine shortly before and sent down before they had thawed, though the pitheadman had been told to keep them warm. ¹
• The leading sinker and the other survivor admitted they knew the cartridges were frozen and had spoken of it, but decided to use them. ¹
• The colliery belonged to William Dixon Ltd. ¹

Related terminology

Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.

• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “The inspector of mines found that the leading sinker and the other man who escaped admitted…”
• Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “…four sinkers were charging shot holes with dynamite in a sinking shaft at William Dixon's Carfin No. 1 when two cartridges, sent down still…”
• Shaft Sinking (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “On 26 November 1891 four sinkers were charging shot holes with dynamite in a sinking shaft at William…”

Sources

1. (primary) Scottish Mining Website: 1891 Deaths — Scottish Mining Website
2. (primary) Carfin Colliery — Durham Mining Museum

Record created: 21 October 2026 · Last researched: 21 October 2026