1306

THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN.

December 24, 1915.

GASSING ACCIDENTS.

Dr. Lewis G-. Irvine, in a paper read before the
Witwatersrand branch of the British Medical Association
(and published in the Medical Journal of South Africa) deals
with .accidents from poisonous and asphyxiating gases in
mines, and proffers some suggestions on the treatment of
such cases, which will be useful to men on the mines.
Carbon monoxide and nitrous fumes are the main active
agents in causing gassing accidents. The former is almost
invariably produced in dangerous quantities after ordinary
blasting, and the latter is also not uncommonly present in
dangerous amount, especially where the combustion of the
explosive has been incomplete. In all cases of gas poisoning
prompt and efficient first aid treatment is of the first
importance.

Dr. Irvine .says the following points should be remembered
in attempting rescue :—

(1)	When a gassing .accident happens, the first thing to
do is at once to turn on compressed air into the place in
which /it has occurred, and to keep it turned on throughout.
This at once supplies purer air to those overcome, and makes
it safer for rescuers to enter the danger zone. It seems an
obvious precaution to take, but neglect to do so has not
infrequently resulted in disaster to those attempting rescue,
and in fatal delay in extricating those already overcome.
No one should enter the danger zone until it has been well
blown out for several minutes.

(2)	No man must enter the danger zone alone. Loss of
life has occurred from this. Four men are the proper
number to form a rescue party, so that if one is disabled the
others may be able to help him. Men who have already
been engaged in rescue work should not enter the danger
zone a second time if fresh men are available.

(3)	Rescuers should carry with them one or two candles to
test the air, and also electric lamps, or, failing these,
acetylene lamps. Never take it for granted that the air
is safe because candles continue to burn, but always regard
it as an urgent danger signal if candles burn low or go
out. If this happens, rescuers should at once withdraw, and
wait until the place has been more thoroughly blown out,
unless rescue can be effected immediately and easily.

(4)	The next thing to do is to bring the affected man as
quickly as possible to the nearest place where the air is
fresh, and then at once to attend to the breathing. To bring
the man to the surface before commencing treatment will, in
bad cases, give that treatment little chance of success, and
in cases where artificial respiration is required the delay will
render treatment hopeless. Yet this sort of thing still
happens.

OBITUARY.

Mr. John Mercer, coal merchant, of Hawthorne-place,
Clitheroe, died last week at the age of 63 years.

Mr. Edwin Phillips, of High Lea, New Mills, whose death
is announced at the age of 60 years, was for a long period
the engineer at the Pingott Colliery.

Mr. George Barnes, of Lister-street, Accrington, died last
week at the age of 66 years. He had been agent for the
Wigan Coal and Iron Company in the Accrington district
for 37 years.

While James Ramsay (41), under-manager, who resided
at County Houses, Parkside, Cleland, was at work in the
Murdostoun Coal Company’s Westwood Colliery, on Monday,
lowering a coal-cutting machine from one section to another,
he fell down the shaft to the pit bottom—a distance of
12 fathoms, and sustained injuries to which he succumbed
soon afterwards.

Mr. Henry Speakman, of Brooklands, Cheshire, who died
with tragic suddenness last week at Brooklands railway
station, was head of the firm of Messrs. Henry Speakman
and Sons, asbestos merchants -and colliery furnishers, of
Arcade Chambers, St. Mary’s Gate, Manchester. He was
well known in colliery trade circles in Lancashire.

Coun. John Johnson, of Sunderland, was one of the victims
of the terrible railway smash at Tyne Dock, last Friday. It
was about 1890 when Mr. Johnson took up his father’s busi-
ness of colliery agent and coal merchant. The firm is now
known as J. D. Johnson and Company, Sunderland, and
Mr. Johnson was managing partner. His son, who was
also killed in the accident, was an electrical engineer.

The death has occurred, at his residence at Leatherhead,
of the Right Hon. Sir Henry Roscoe, F.R.S., in his 83rd
year. Henry Enfield Roscoe was born in London, January 7,
"1833. He went to Liverpool High School, and learned
chemistry from Balmain, the inventor of luminous paint.
Next, at University College, London, he worked under
Thomas Graham and A. W. Williamson. But in the
autumn of 1852, after taking his B.A. degree, with a prize
of ^610 in chemistry, he went to the university of Heidelberg,
and became a pupil of Robert Wilhelm Bunsen. In 1857
he was appointed professor of chemistry in Owens College,
Manchester. In 1885 Roscoe was elected Liberal member
for South Manchester. His services were often called upon
by the Government in scientific matters. In 1881 he was
appointed member of the Royal Commission on Technical
Education, which led to the passing of the Technical Instruc-
tion Acts of 1889 and 1890, and to the devotion of large
sums of public money to the service of technical education.
He was knighted in 1884.

We regret to announce the death of Mr. Albert Stanley,
member of Parliament for North-West Staffordshire, and
the agent for the Cannock miners. Like many other miners’
leaders, Mr. Stanley was the son of a pitman, and com-
menced work in the mine at a very early age. Deceased
entered Parliament in 1907. As agent for the Cannock
miners, he was one of the best miners’ representatives in
the country, and as a miners’ leader and a member of
Parliament he did much to advance the practical interests
of the miners, and to render the mining industry at once
safer and more efficient. When barely 10 years of age, he
commenced work beside his father, in the collieries at
Stirchley. He had not been in the pit long before his atten-
tion was forcibly turned to the dangers by which miners
were beset. On one occasion he became involved in a fall
of roof, which broke his arm, and on several other occasions
was injured more or less seriously. In 1884, when he was
still only 21 years of age, he was elected agent to the
Cannock Chase Miners’ Association, which office he retained
down to the time of his death. Six years afterwards he was
appointed secretary of the Midland Miners’ Federation,
which comprises about five districts in Staffordshire, and
also Warwickshire, Shropshire, and Worcestershire. When
the great strike occurred in 1893, he attended the Rosebery
Conference, at which the wages dispute was settled, and

out of which arose the Conciliation Board, under which the
miners have worked ever since, and in the formation of
which Mr. Stanley took part. Until recently he was also
a member of the executive committee of the Miners’ Federa-
tion of Great Britain. Deceased was appointed magistrate
for Staffordshire in 1907.

News has reached Middlesbrough of the death at
Alexandria, by apoplexy, of Mr. Frederick William Manson,
of the well-known Broad-street firm of merchants, Messrs.
Back and Manson, who have considerable interests in Egypt.
Mr. Manson was chairman of Messrs. Richard Hill and
Company Limited, whose extensive Newport Wire Works
are situate at Middlesbrough.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR COAL AND COKE.

For Contracts Advertised in this issue received too late
for inclusion in this column, see Leader and Last
White pages.

Norwich, December 31. — The Norwich Corporation
Electricity Department are prepared to receive offers for the
immediate supply of 1,000 tons of good slack, to be delivered
f.o.r. Norwich at the rate of not less than 150 tons per week.
Quotations to be sent to the city electrical engineer, Corpora-
tion Electricity Works, Norwich, not later than Friday,
December 31.

Teddington, January 3.—The Teddington Urban District
Council are desirous of receiving tenders for the supply
of rough slack, either for six or 12 months, delivered in
quantities as required at the Sewage Works, Broom-road,
Teddington. The approximate supply for six months would
be 800 tons, and for twelve months, 1,600 tons. Sealed
tenders, endorsed “ Tender for Coal,” must be received by
the undersigned not later than noon on Monday, January 3
next. The Council do not bind themselves to accept the
lowest or any tender. G. H. Salmons, clerk, Council Offices,
Teddington.

Abstracts of Contracts Open.

Ghorley, December 28. — Coal, for the Ghorley Joint
Hospital Board. Forms from Mr. R. E. Stanton, clerk.

Christchurch (Hants.), December 31.—230 tons of good
house coal, for the Guardians of Christchurch Union. Forms
from Mr. A. Druitt, clerk, 16, High-street, Christchurch.

Dover, December 28.—About 1,000 chaldrons of coke of
Newcastle coal and 50 tons of fine coal, for the Town Council.
Forms from Mr. R. E. Knocker, town clerk, 69, Castle-street,
Dover.

Grimsby, January 3.—Steam coal, for the Corporation.
Particulars from Mr. H. Gilbert Whyatt, borough engineer
and surveyor, 170, Viictoria-street, Grimsby.

Oxford, December 29.—Gcod screened cobbles, for the
Corporation. Tenders to the town clerk, Town Hall, Oxford.

Redditch, December 28.—Double-screened nuts or good
rough slack, for the Redditch Urban District Council.
Tenders to Mr. R. N. Mayne, engineer and manager,
Electricity Works, Redditch, Worcestershire.

Winchester, January 7.—House coal and steam coal, for
the Guardians. Forms from Mr. F. Faithfull, clerk, 105,
High-street, Winchester.

The date given is the latest upon which tenders can be
received.

CONTRACTS OPEN FOR ENGINEERING, IRON
AND STEEL WORK, Ac.

Darlington, January 12. — Coal Handling Plant. —
Erection of coal bunkers, elevators, etc., for the Corporation.
Specification from borough electrical engineer, Electricity
Works, Haughton-road, Darlington, on deposit of one
guinea.

London, N.W., January 10.—Steelwork.—For the steel
constructional work in extension of power house, for the
St. Pancras Borough Council. Specifications at 57, Pratt-
street, Camden Town, N.W.

Southampton, January 14.—Cylinder, etc.—Supply of (1)
about three tons of cast .iron cylinder, etc.; (2) .about five
tons of steel cylinders, 2J tons of steel rising main, and
one ton of wrought iron pump and hanging rods, for the
Corporation. Particulars from the waterworks engineer,
33 and 35, French-street, Southampton.

Torquay, December 29.—Tar Plant.—Provision at the gas
works of plant for dehydrating coal tar, and capable of
dealing with 1,000 galls, of crude tar per 24 hours, for the
Town Council. Particulars from Mr. F. Chalmers, gas
works engineer.

Workmen’s Compensation : New Rule.—The following
Rule, dated November 18, 1915, shall stand as Rule 64a of
the Consolidated Workmen’s Compensation Rules, 1913,
viz. :—(1) In the case of the death of a dependant for
whose benefit any amount has been ordered to be invested,
applied, or otherwise dealt with by the court, the following
provisions shall apply; (2) the balance of such amount
remaining at the death of the dependant shall be subject to
any order which may have been or may be made by the
court for the variation of the order or award pursuant to
paragraph 9 of the First Schedule, and to Rule 64; (3) in
default of and subject to any such order, the court may
on application made in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3
of Rule 64, without the filing of a petition, order that such
balance be paid out or transferred to the legal personal
representative of the deceased dependant.

Partnerships Dissolved.—The London Gazette announces
the dissolution of the following partnerships :—T. W. Allan,
senior, and F. Niemeyer, electric lighting and power
engineers, at Endell-street, Long Acre, London, under the
style of Allan and Company, so far as concerns F. Niemeyer;
J. Hill and F. W. Poyser, coal dealers, at City-road Wharf,
under the style of Hill and Poyser; W. H. Freeman, J.
Thomas, and G. Elsmore, lamp and tin-plate manufac-
turers, at Victory Lamp Works, Benacre-street, Birming-
ham, under the style of Freeman, Thomas and Company,
so far as regards G. Elsmore; A. Woodcock and T.
Wheelock, merchants in metals and minerals, commission
merchants, experts in and inspectors of steel, at Dartmouth-
street, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, under the
style of A. Woodcock and Company; F. W. Bowen and T. J.
Lewis, electric welders, at Giantawe Chambers, Wind-street,
Swansea, under the style of South Wales Electric Welding
Company.

THE FREIGHT MARKET.

The volume of chartering done on the outward freight
markets during the past week is again very small, and
business appears to become more difficult as time goes on.
The demand for steamers is still very heavy, and the supply
of boats quite inadequate to meet shippers’ requirements.
Rates are, of course, prohibitive in a good many cases, but,
owing to complications which have taken place in the coal
trade during the past week or two, exporters have been
able to cover their needs at slightly reduced figures and,
whilst the general state of markets continues to be strong,
there are notable weak spots. At the Tyne, loading turns
are very well filled for a. considerable time, and, for Bay
and North French ports especially, it is exceedingly diffii-
cult to get cargoes away. This fact has had a considerable
influence on rates and, whilst coasting business is firm on
the basis of 16s. to London, the tone of the North French
market is decidedly weak. There is a fair enquiry for
tonnage, but rates have fallen from 25s. to 21s. 6d. for
Rouen, from 25s. to 22s. for Dunkirk, and from 25s. 6d. to
24s. 6d. for Caen. The Bay is very dull and easier, the
only fixture recorded being one for Bordeaux ,a.t 31s., a
decline of 2s. 6d. on last week’s figure. Rates for all French
ports are still falling. The Mediterannean shows great
strength, and the position is complicated by very severe
congestion of discharging turns at Genoa, where, it is
reported, between 40 and 50 steamers are awaiting berths.
A fixture to Trondhjem at 19s. is interesting as showing the
current value of trans-North Sea voyages. The influences
bearing on the South Wales market are practically identical
with those under which business at the North-East Coast
is labouring, and the result is similar. The effect of a very
small business done for North France during the week has
been a reduction of rates for Caen or Rouen of 6d. Other
ports are neglected. The Bay has been heavily fixed for at
from 42J fr. to 44 fr. to Bordeaux, rates about equal to those
paid last week; but St. Nazaire has been fixed for at
reductions of from 1 fr. to 2 fr. The undertone of this
market is easy. There would seem to be no limit to the
^advance of Mediterranean rates. This week, Genoa has
paid up to 66s., a rise of 5s. on the week, and Port Said
and Alexandria have paid 70s. and 72s. 6d. respectively,
these figures, of course, constituting further records. The
River Plate is firmer at 40s. to La Plata.

The homeward market continues to be troubled by tonnage
shortage, and business is largely held up from this cause.
From the River Plate, steamers can rarely be secured at
117s. 6d. for January loading, and 120s. is now firmly
established as the rate of January-February cancelling. A
fair business is being transacted for grain at North America,
and 13s. 6d. has been repeated for the Bristol Channel from
the Northern Range, while 19s. per quarter would probably
be obtainable for West Italy. Tonnage for horses is in
considerable demand, and case oil requires boats at the Gulf.
There is ta fair enquiry for steamers in the Eastern section,
and 130s. is obtainable for rice from Burinah to Marseilles.
Bombay has been fixed for at 97s. 6d. on scale terms for
Dunkirk, and 105s. is indicated on d.w. for United Kingdom.
From Kurrachee, the rate asked is 100s. on scale terms.
Koshichang has fixed for Marseilles for April-May cancelling
at 132s. 6d.

Tyne to Algiers, 2,000 , 40s.; Bagnoli, 4,000, 65s.; 3,000,
65s.; 5,000, 65s.; Barcelona, 2,200 , 50s.; 2,000, 47s. 6d.;
Bordeaux, 1,500, 31s.; Calais, 1,800, 24s.; 1,000, 23s.; Caen,
900, 24s. 6d.; Cadiz, 1,500, 40s.; Copenhagen, 1,600, 19 kr.;
Dunkirk, 2,000, 22s.; Genoa, 3,000 , 66s. 6d.; 2,700, 64s.,
reported; 6,000, 65s.; 4,000, 66s. 6d.; 4,500 , 66s. 3d.; Mar-
seilles, 1,600, 50s.; Las Palmas, 1,600, 36s. 3d.; Oran,
2,600, 41s.; Oporto, 1,000, 37s. 6d.; Porto Ferrajo, 4,000,
62s. 6d.; 3,000, 62s. 6d.; 5,000, 62s. 6d.; Palermo, 2,000,
62s. 6d.; Rouen, 600, 33s. 6d., coke; 1,500, 24s.; 1,400,
23s. 6d.; 1,350, 23s.; 1,800, 22s.; 1,500, 21s. 6d.; River
Plate, 2,200, 43s.; Savona, 5,200, 66s. 6d.; Toulon, 1,600,
52s. 6d.; Trondhjem, 1,200, 19s.; Trouville, 600, 30s., coke.

Cardiff to Arzew, 2,000, 67 fr. coal, 68 fr. fuel: Alexandria,
3,100, 72s. 6d., 800, Jan. 15; 8,000, 70s.; 5,100, 70s. 74d.,
700; 5,000, 72s. 6d., 700; Algiers, 2,300, 65 fr., 500; 4,500,
60fr.; Buenos Ayres, 5,200, 40s.; Bizerta, 6,000, 64fr.,
1,000; Bordeaux. 2,200, 44 fr. ; 1.650, 42J fr.; 1,950, 43 fr. ;
2,450, 43 fr.; 4,200, 43| fr.; 2,800, 42 fr.; 2,200, 42 f r. ;
Caen, 1,700, 22s.; Fecamp, 300, 23s., coke, on coal basis;
Genoa, 3,300, 65s., guaranteed terms; 5,000, 65s.; 4,000,
66s.; Gibraltar, 2,000, 32s. 6d., 500; Leghorn, 4,000, 66s.;
Lisbon, 4,500, 30s. 6d., 500; 1,700, 32s. 6d., 400; 1,200,
32s., 400 ; 3,200, 32s., 400; 2,100, 32s. 6d., 450; 2,100,
31s., 400; La Plata, 5,200, 40s. ; Malta, 1,900, 55s.; Malaga,
1,700, 35s.; Marseilles, 7,500, 73 fr.; 4,700, 75 fr.; 5,000,
73 fr.; 3,300, 73 fr. ; Mostaganem, 2,000, 67 fr. coal, 68 fr.
■fuel; Naples, 5,000, 58s. 9d., 1,000; 4,400, 58s., 800; 4,000,
66s.; Port Said, 4,500, 68s. 9d.; 3,000, 70s.; Rouen, 1,600,
22s. 6d. ; 1,000, 22s. 6d.; Rio de Janero, 5,000, 42s., 300;
River Plate, 4,300, 38s. 6d.; 4,600, 39s. ; St. Nazaire, 1,500,
40fr., 2,000, 38 fr. ; Savona, 3,300, 65s. ; guaranteed terms;
4,000, 66s.; Spezzia, 3,300, 65s., g. t. ; 4,090, 66s.; Tunis,
3,000, 80 fr. ; Valencia, 1,500, 36s.

Swansea to Rouen, 1,600, 22s. 6d.: 600, 23s.; 750, 22s. 6d.;
2,000 , 22s.: 1,500, 22s.; Honfleur, 850, 22s. 6d.; Granville,
520, 22s.; Bordeaux, 3,300, 47 fr.: 900, 45 fr., general cargo;
Philippeville, 1,700, 65 fr. coal, 76 fr. fuel; St. Malo, 750,
19s.; Dieppe, 980, 23s.; 950, 22s. 6d.; Caen, 980. 22s. 6d.;
650, 22s.; Marseilles, 2,600, 78 fr., Dec.; Genoa, Savona, or
Spezzia, 7,000, 65s. coal, 65s. 9d. fuel; Savona, 2,000,
63s. 6d.; Algiers, 4,200, 64 fr. coal, 65 fr. fuel; Calais, 850,
22s. 6d.; Leghorn, 3,300, 61s, coal, 62s. fuel.

Port Talbot to Marseilles, 5,100, 75 fr.; Nantes, 1,600,
41 fr.; Bordeaux, 2,100, 44 fr.; 2,400, 42 fr.; Algiers, 4,200,
65 fr.; Trouville, 750, 22s.

Newport to Rouen, 1,600, 22s. 6d.: 1.100, 22s.; 850,
22s. 6d.; 2,300, 22s. 6d.; 2,100, 22s.; Huelva, 1,400, 32s.;
Bahia Blanca, 6,000 , 39s. 6d., Dec. 25; Naples. 5,200,
57s. 6d., 1,000 ; 3,400, 57s. 6d.. 1,000: Lisbon, 2,200, 31s.,
500; Seville, 2,000, 34s. 6d.

Seaham Harbour to Dunkirk, 800, 23s. 6d.

Leith to East Norway, 1,100, 19 kr.

Newport River to Algiers, 1,950, 66 fr., 400, fuel.

Wear to Boulogne or Caen, 1,500, 24s.; Dunkirk, 1,800,
23s.; London, 1,100, 16s. 6d.

Hull to Calais, 1,050, 24s. 6d.; Rouen, 1,600, 20s.; 1,150,
20s.; Dunkirk, 900, 21s.; 250, 30s., coke.

Glasgow to Bayonne, 1,200, 47 fr.

Blyth to Havre, 1,200, 20s.; 800, 20s.