He kept his head down to allow the explosion to pass over him, but as soon as the explosion had occurred stood upright as much as possible to avoid the afterdamp. |
Deaths were mainly caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, known as afterdamp. |
The afterdamp and smoke passed directly to the airshaft from the split of the ventilating current in the section. |
Explosions made headlines, but falling rocks killed more miners, who could also be poisoned by underground gases, which they variously named stinkdamp, blackdamp, firedamp, and afterdamp. |
As they had been almost completely destroyed it was impossible to enter owing to the afterdamp which prevailed. |
These men had survived the force of the explosion, but had succumbed to the effects of the afterdamp. |