Lan Colliery suffocation, 1900

Two colliers were suffocated by carbonic acid gas in an old shaft of the Llan Colliery, Pentyrch, on 25 June 1900, the second going down the rope to help the first.

Cause

Carbonic acid gas (blackdamp) had collected in an old shaft that was entered without first being tested.

What happened

On the morning of 25 June 1900 colliers from Evan Owens and Co.'s level near Pentyrch were sent to reopen and deepen an old pit belonging to the company, a shaft about 8 yards deep that had been covered with planks and brushwood. Evan Thomas, 46, was lowered on a rope from a windlass without a light being sent down first. He was seen to fall off the rope, and Thomas Price Jones, 51, at once slid down the rope to help him. Both were overcome by carbonic acid gas. A candle let down on a string went out; the men above worked a burning bundle of brushwood up and down the shaft to clear the air, and the two colliers were brought up dead.

Rescue & recovery

A candle let down the shaft went out; a burning bundle of brushwood was worked up and down to clear the air before the bodies were raised.

Investigation & inquiry

The inquest jury found the manager and the owner severely to blame for carelessness or negligence, and the fireman also, but did not return manslaughter, citing contributory carelessness by Evan Thomas and those working with him. It recorded its admiration for Thomas Price Jones.

Recorded claims

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

• On 25 June 1900 two colliers of Evan Owens and Co., Evan Thomas, 46, and Thomas Price Jones, 51, were suffocated in an old shaft belonging to the Llan Colliery near Pentyrch. ^1,2,3
• The old shaft, about 8 yards deep, held carbonic acid gas; Thomas was lowered on a rope to deepen it, was seen to fall off the rope, and Jones at once slid down the rope to help him. ^1,2,3
• A lighted candle let down the shaft went out; the men cleared the air by working a burning bundle of brushwood up and down, and both colliers were brought up dead. ¹
• The inquest jury found the manager and the owner severely to blame for carelessness or negligence, and the fireman too, but stopped short of manslaughter because of contributory carelessness by Thomas and those with him; it praised Jones's bravery. ¹

Related terminology

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

• Chokedamp (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s cause: “Carbonic acid gas (blackdamp) had collected in an old shaft that was entered without first being…”
• Fireman (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s investigation: “…the owner severely to blame for carelessness or negligence, and the fireman also, but did not return manslaughter, citing contributory…”
• Level (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “On the morning of 25 June 1900 colliers from Evan Owens and Co.'s level near Pentyrch were sent to reopen and deepen an old pit belonging to…”
• Shaft (contextual relationship)
  Named 5 times in this record, first in the summary: “Two colliers were suffocated by carbonic acid gas in an old shaft of the Llan Colliery, Pentyrch, on 25 June 1900, the second going…”
• Windlass (contextual relationship)
  Named in this record’s narrative: “…planks and brushwood. Evan Thomas, 46, was lowered on a rope from a windlass without a light being sent down first. He was seen to fall off the…”

Sources

1. (secondary) Fatalities 1900 — Welsh Coal Mines
2. (secondary) Accident record: Evan Thomas, Llan, 1900 — Northern Mine Research Society
3. (secondary) Accident record: T. Price Jones, Llan Level, 1900 — Northern Mine Research Society

Record created: 8 October 2026 · Last researched: 8 October 2026