29 To Mr Young – I have seen the gas turn one hour after a shot was fired in the number three level. I have seen a flash from a shot but I cannot say whether it was caused by the ignition of the powder or of the gas. The fact of the gas burning for one hour after a shot was evidence that the coal was giving off gas. I did not consider the slope dangerous from the presence of coal dust because the coal dust I have reported to as causing the explosion in Mount Diablo was stirred up and this was always quiescent. Part of the dust might be stirred up by a heavy shot and in that condition it would not be dangerous unless there was a light near it but in all probability it might be dangerous if there was a light near it. It would depend upon the combination. Shots three or four in number might be fired one after another. I have known shots to have been fired in succession according as they were ready. I have heard several shots fired in that slope within half an hour. I have fired two shots myself within that time. In high places a considerable quantity of gas might accumulate without my knowledge. The face in the places in where I worked in the cross cut in the slope was wet. The dust was watered to my knowledge. I have never known of it being watered. To Mr Drake [?2 L] There was no gas accumulation in my place to my knowledge and I have no knowledge of any other persons working. To a Juryman I had no apprehension of any danger in that mine until I saw the smoke over the pulleys – after the explosion. I had no fears from any coal dust in this mine as it was not heated high enough to become ignitable. To the Cormer The temperature of the air inside cools the atmosphere in the mine. The ignitability of the dust