It is a deeply moving and personal story, thank you for telling it for my family and for the families who lost their loved ones on that day in the mine.
Captin John Kewley is my great, great grandfather. My grandma, Maureen Parkinson still lives on the island & I scattered my great grandma's ashes at Laxey over looking the sea
One critical point missed, is that the mine would have likely of been partly cleared of carbon monoxide after the fire, if it wasn't for an air ventilation door - a level above the fire - that was left open. All doors should have been shut apart from the lower level, therefore allowing air circulation on all levels, however as this door was left open, no air circulation reached the lower levels allowing the carbon monoxide to fill (upto the open door level) It was standard practice for miners to stick their candle 🕯 on the wall side or timber before it burns out (old wet timbers don't burn too well) then use the flame to light their next candle. The old candle should then be snubbed out.. however poor practice has been recorded a few times and it may smoulder or reignite. The level that collapsed from the fire was being fitted with new timbers as they were expanding it.. fresh timber is more likely to catch fire and there is a risk of cotton catching fire too. Whoever was on that level constructing the beams that Saturday and didn't ensure to snuff out their old candle and whoever left the ventilation door open are both (or one person) to blame for this tragic event.
It is a deeply moving and personal story, thank you for telling it for my family and for the families who lost their loved ones on that day in the mine.
Underrated Chanel, the isle of man is surprisingly rich in history and culture!
Captin John Kewley is my great, great grandfather. My grandma, Maureen Parkinson still lives on the island & I scattered my great grandma's ashes at Laxey over looking the sea
One critical point missed, is that the mine would have likely of been partly cleared of carbon monoxide after the fire, if it wasn't for an air ventilation door - a level above the fire - that was left open.
All doors should have been shut apart from the lower level, therefore allowing air circulation on all levels, however as this door was left open, no air circulation reached the lower levels allowing the carbon monoxide to fill (upto the open door level)
It was standard practice for miners to stick their candle 🕯 on the wall side or timber before it burns out (old wet timbers don't burn too well) then use the flame to light their next candle. The old candle should then be snubbed out.. however poor practice has been recorded a few times and it may smoulder or reignite.
The level that collapsed from the fire was being fitted with new timbers as they were expanding it.. fresh timber is more likely to catch fire and there is a risk of cotton catching fire too. Whoever was on that level constructing the beams that Saturday and didn't ensure to snuff out their old candle and whoever left the ventilation door open are both (or one person) to blame for this tragic event.