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Dick

75

Sometimes more reckless than green hands Once the explosion got started the large quantity or current of air would increase its violence. The air going down the shaft is dampened as it goes down. Cannot say that the velocity of the air would increase the dust. To Mr Young - I do not think it possible for the air to go up the diagonal over the lagging Gas might collect in a pot hole if there is no air there to carry it away. Previous to the explosion I did not believe that coal dust would explode unless gas were mixed with it. If such men as Galloway, Scott and other eminent mining engineers differ in regards to coal dust why my opinion is not worth much. I myself think that coal dust will not explode without gas. I have never know coal dust to explode of it self. The explosion of the "Queen of the Pacific” is no criteria for this explosion. The engineer in his evidence at that inquest said that it was gas and that it started from his lamp. This confirms me in my opinion that it requires gas as well as coal dust to make an explosion. I think that stopping that could he blame out by an explosion are better than them that would not be blown out. I think all of the stoppings were good safe stoppings but {?thick] stoppings along the main gangways would be an improvement. It would be better if stoppings were so put in as to confine the explosion if any to each separate split of the air. A wooden door is better than a canvas on the main level. A wooden door can be made tighter than canvas and would not be so liable to be knocked down