Stanford Main No. 2 Colliery, also known as Paxton Colliery, was a coal mine located at Paxton, New South Wales, Australia. The mine was named Stanford Merthyr No. 2 until 1 May 1931. The mine was started in the 1920s, by the East Greta Coal Mining Company. The Greta coal seam has been mined using bord and pillar mining methods. Coal was transported from the mine via the Paxton Branch of the South Maitland Railway.
The disaster occurred on Sunday 29 October 1905. No one was working underground at the time of the disaster.
Rumours started to circulated that fire was the work of an arsonist.÷The mine manager offeredàa ã300àreward for informationàleading toàa convictionàforàarson. àA labourer called Charles Libeck was arrested and charged with arson andàthe case was dropped due to insufficient evidence. Reports of a man lurking near colliery two hours before the fire
Work atàtheàcolliery hadàceasedàat middayàonàSaturday 28àOctober andàthe menàand boysàhad leftàtheàmine.÷ On Saturdayàafternoonàonly aàfewàdeputies and shiftàmen engagedàin maintenance wereàworkingàunderground andàtheyàhad leftàby 3pm.÷ àWilliam Robert Fenn, engine driver and watchman was on duty at the surface on his Saturdayà11pmàto Sundayà7amàshift when atà1.45amàhe becameàawareàthe electric warning bells wereàringing.÷ He didànothingàimmediately andàreturnedàto theàengine room with the bells still ringing as he assumed that no one was underground.÷ àFenn admitted at theàinquestàthat heàthought someone onàtheàsurfaceàwas playingàaàtrick on him.÷ It was not until a few hours later when he noticed smoke emitting from the tunnels and realised thatàthe mineàwasàon fire thatàhe raisedàthe alarm.÷ Joined by a group of deputies, mine manager Henry MorganàWilliam and under manager William Williams.
The fire continued to burn from 5am to 8am. Finding a great volume of black smoke emitting from both tunnelsàthey decided to seal off portions of the workings and create an airtight barrier.÷ àCartloads of soil and clay were deposited and a crew of bricklayers started constructing a temporary brick stopping in the main tunnel.÷
Approximately 11:30 the first explosion occurred.÷Twenty officials received the full stock of the explosion. The second explosion occurred at 2pm.÷ House from half a mile away felt the explosion and was described as a earthquake.÷ Explosions occurred when filling tunnels and ventilating the shaft with debris to keep flumes down The explosion occurred due to the main tunnel being blocked by dirt. àAll àdeaths occurred in the second explosion.
Volunteers together withàmembersàof theàKurriàKurri FireàBrigadeàand local policeàofficersàassisted inàtheàtask ofàrescueàandàrecoveryàof theàinjuredàand deceased.÷ Doctors were summonedàandàa specialàtrainàordered toàtransportàthe injuredàtoàWest Maitland hospital.
Some claimed that it was due to 'spontaneous combustion' whilst others argued that a lighted lamp had been left in the tunnel after work ceased.÷Another cause canvassed was that a shotàthat hadàfailedàtoàfireàhad explodedàafteràworkmen. Other believed the cause by conglomerate and coal catching alight
Scottish type open oil lamps, attached to miner's caps, were used throughout the mine. Safety lampsÃÂ wereÃÂ only usedÃÂ duringÃÂ the inspectionsÃÂ madeÃÂ byÃÂ mineÃÂ deputies.
The disaster made up 31.6% of the death recorded on coal and shale mines in New South Wales. 5 of 6 deaths were Welsh immigrants.
In 1905 the mine produced 630,054 tons of coal and 369 men and boys with 206 of them working underground. Pit horses were used underground and brought to the surface each day The collieryÃÂ hadÃÂ the reputationÃÂ ofÃÂ producing superiorÃÂ qualityÃÂ coal suitable for ÃÂ gas, steam making and for household purpose. The mine was owned by the East Greta Coal Mining Company.
Coronial Inquest was held on 31 October at Kurri Kurri Courthouse.÷27 people gave evidence and were cross examined by the jury.÷Verdict was handed down on 10 Augustàthat explosion occurred due to gas distilled or generated from fire in the mine coming in contract with flame.÷ àNo evidence to show how the fireàoriginated but caused the limited use of naked flames.
Following a service at the Congregational church, the cortege was led by the newly formed local brass band proceeded to the Kurri Kurri cemetery.÷ ààààThe deceased were interred in a mass grave after a combined religious service at the graveside.÷ A marble monument, funded by the local community was erected over the site. It bore the following epitaph inàboth EnglishàandàWelsh
Tuesday 26 June 1906 the mining reopened All injuries made a full recovery. All machinery was intact with only the fans being damaged. The disaster left 415 men and boys with disaster affecting about 1000 people.
List of Deaths:
List of Injuries