Kinneil Colliery explosion, 1899

On 6 December 1899 two brushers firing their own shots in the Six Feet seam of the Furnaceyard Pit, Kinneil Colliery, were killed by an explosion of firedamp, in the same dusty, gassy section where three men had died the year before.

Cause

Firedamp ignited by shots the brushers fired themselves, with no fireman's inspection, in a dry and dusty section known to give off gas.

What happened

Miller and Russell were brushing a branch road in a section that was dry and somewhat dusty, where firedamp had often been seen and reported, and which was worked with safety lamps. The night fireman had absented himself; in the temporary absence of the certificated manager the oversman took it on himself to appoint a contractor from another section as fireman and shot-firer. That man made no inspection of the place and arranged with the two brushers that they should light their own shots. They did so, and an explosion followed. They were the only men in the section, so there was no direct evidence of the cause, but at least three shots had been fired.

Investigation & inquiry

The inspector of mines, describing it as the third fatal explosion of firedamp in his report, said it disclosed, as the explosion of 31 March 1898 in the same section had, a lamentable state of matters: no manager or under-manager was exercising daily personal supervision, the brushers were firing their own shots, and no inspection was made by a fireman.

Recorded claims

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

• On 6 December 1899 an explosion of firedamp in the Six Feet seam workings of the Furnaceyard Pit, Kinneil Colliery, killed the brushers Andrew Miller and William Russell. ^1,2
• With the night fireman absent, the oversman appointed a contractor from another section as fireman and shot-firer, who made no inspection and arranged for the brushers to fire their own shots. ^1,2
• The inspector listed the breaches of the Mines Acts: no manager or under-manager exercising daily supervision, brushers firing their own shots, and no inspection by a fireman. ¹
• It was in the same section of the Six Feet seam as the explosion of 31 March 1898 that killed three men. ¹

Related terminology

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

• Firedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “…Furnaceyard Pit, Kinneil Colliery, were killed by an explosion of firedamp, in the same dusty, gassy section where three men had died the year…”
• Fireman (contextual relationship)
  Named 3 times in this record, first in the narrative: “…seen and reported, and which was worked with safety lamps. The night fireman had absented himself; in the temporary absence of the certificated…”
• HM Chief Inspector of Mines (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “The inspector of mines, describing it as the third fatal explosion of firedamp in his…”
• Overman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…himself; in the temporary absence of the certificated manager the oversman took it on himself to appoint a contractor from another section as…”
• Ripping (contextual relationship)
  Named 5 times in this record, first in the summary: “On 6 December 1899 two brushers firing their own shots in the Six Feet seam of the Furnaceyard Pit,…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Scottish Mining Website - 1899 Deaths — Scottish Mining Website
2. (primary) Kinneil Colliery — Durham Mining Museum

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