I was looking through the Durham Mining Museum web site when I came to a section, which included the names and occupations of people who had lost their lives while working in the pits. I was absolutely staggered, the list seemed never ending, I knew that thousands upon thousands of miners had been killed over the years, but actually reading the details of when and how the accidents happened, and the ages of the children, well, it really got to me.
As I continued to read, the immense horror of it all hit me, this was only a fraction of the number of miners who were killed in coal mines. The exact number may never be known because there was no accurate recording of deaths in coal mining until early in the 19th century.
Coal mine legislation developed very slowly and only in response to countless numbers of pit disasters, these included fires, explosions, falls of ground, floods ( or inrushes as they were known as ), transport related deaths, and mine shaft disasters.
Contents.
Small improvements.
Using a cage, to transport miners underground was introduced in 1834, this was for safety reasons.
The Royal Commission 1840s, focused on children, but it was women and girls who were most immediately affected by the report, which led to the exclusion of all women and girls from British mines.
The 1842 Mines and Collieries Act, banned all women, and children under 10 from working underground.
An Act of Parliament in 1850 required mine owners to maintain plans of each mine, and for them to notify fatal accidents to the Secretary of State responsible for inspectors.
1860 Act of Parliament, included:
a higher minimum age.
requirements for the safe operation of underground transport systems.
precautions against inrushes of wet material.
the fencing off of dangerous places.
the locking and care of flame safety lamps.
1862, January 16th. was the date of the New Hartley disaster, a mineshaft incident that killed 204 miners. At the top of the shaft was a cast iron beam weighing 43 tons, half of the beam projected over the mouth of the shaft. The beam snapped in two and fell down the shaft, 21 tons of uncontrollable cast iron, which dislodged sections of the shaft lining as it fell. The shaft was blocked off and the miners were entombed. Tremendous efforts to rescue them failed.
The shaft was their only way out, the disaster led to the introduction of an Act Parliament making it compulsory for every colliery to have two shafts.
Drawing displayed courtesy of Dave Edwards.
Click here to email Dave Edwards.
Links for further information on the New Hartley Disaster.
Photo's of the New Hartley Disaster Monument.
John Weedy. The New Hartley Disaster
THE HARTLEY FAMILIES. The New Hartley Disaster
In 1867 a system of voluntary inspection of pits by workmen was introduced in some Durham pits.
This system was made compulsory by an Act of parliament in 1887.
Contents.
Coal Mining Deaths Continued
Some of the accidents I was reading about made me shudder if you have read some of the events on my disaster page and if you followed the links to other web sites you will be familiar with many of the heartbreaking events that have occurred in the history of coal mining.
Please take a little of your time to read and reflect upon some of the accidents I have listed below and then visit the Durham Mining Museum web site where you can read the names of these miners who were killed while trying to earn a pittance of a wage.
Contents.
A small sample of how children were killed in coal mines.
These children should have been at home, or playing in the fields, or enjoying themselves, instead they were working in a dirty, dangerous coal mine, and they never saw the light of day again.
Their little bodies were often mutilated in some of the most horrendous accidents imaginable.
A trapper, only 10 years old killed in an explosion.
A horse driver aged 11. Crushed by horse.
A driver, aged 14 fell off limmers and was crushed between the tubs and a door.
A token keeper aged 14. Crushed by surface wagons on branches.
A screenboy aged 12. Crushed by surface wagons.
A trapper aged 12. Crushed by tubs.
A driver aged 12. Horse fell on him.
A bank boy aged 11. Caught by cage.
A driver aged 12. Head crushed between tub top and a plank while riding on limmers.
A trapper aged 13. Head crushed between cage and bunton while riding to bank.
Boy aged 7, [Not Employed]. Run over by wagons while taking his father's dinner to the works.
An engine Lad aged 15. Wrapped around the winder, of an engine.
Tub Cleaner, aged 13. Fell down the shaft off a pumping engine.
Boy aged 14, drowned.
Boy, aged 7. Killed in an explosion.
Trapper , aged 9. Killed in an explosion.
Water Leader, aged 12. Fall of stone.
Heron, Henry Ord, 24 Sep 1903, aged 7.
Driver, aged 14. Crushed against wall by a horse.
Screen Boy, aged 15. Head crushed between a tub and screen legs ; too little room.
Contents.
A small sample of how senior citizens were killed in coal mines.
Then I noticed at the other end of the age scale men who had probably worked all their lives and who should have been retired were still working and were being killed in the same horrible type of accidents. The coalmines were no respecter of age.
A wasteman aged 72. Crushed by tubs in self acting incline.
A wasteman aged 76. Crushed by tubs in engine plane.
A shifter aged 70. Crushed by a tub.
Labourer, aged 78. Run over by locomotive.
Furnaceman, aged 75. Descending the shaft he stepped out of the cage about 18 feet above the landing place, he was crushed between the cage and bunton.
Wasteman, aged 84. fall of stone.
Trapper, aged 72. Killed in an explosion.
Trapper, aged 75. Killed in an explosion.
Furnaceman, aged 73. Crushed by tubs.
Hewer, aged 72. Died from injuries received.
Rolleywayman, aged 72. Fall of stone.
Wasteman, aged 75. Crushed by a tub in the tramway.
Contents.
A small selection of miners killed in the pits along with their occupation and the year of the accident.
1776.Killed by gunpowder explosion whilst sinking the pit.
1833.Driver. Horse ran away and the wheels of the laden wagon ran over his body.
1834.An empty corf fell down the shaft at the time five men were ascending, two were killed, the rest severely injured.
1836.Hewer. Fell down shaft.
Killed in explosion.
Trapper. aged 10. Killed in explosion.
1841.Killed by a fall of stone.
1844. Sinker. Timber falling upon him.
1848.Hewer. Killed explosion.
1853. Killed after riding in empty tubs which crashed.
1854. Boy, aged 15. Fell down a staple in the South Pit.
1859.
Mason. Fall of stone.
Wasteman, aged 72. Crushed by tubs in self acting incline.
Horse Driver, aged 11. Crushed by horse.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Hewer. Fall of top coal in main coal seam.
Shifter. fall of stone.
Horse Driver. Fall of stone.
Switchkeeper. Killed by wagons on surface.
1860.Hewer. Fell down shaft.
Coupler. Crushed by cage.
Pony Putter. Head crushed against roof.
Deputy. Explosion of gases, supposed to have been generated from the coals on an engine plane or boiler fire, and not from gases generated in the workings of the mine.
Hewer. Explosion of gases, supposed to have been generated from the coals on an engine plane or boiler fire, and not from gases generated in the workings of the mine.
Timber Leader. Explosion of gases, supposed to have been generated from the coals on an engine plane or boiler fire, and not from gases generated in the workings of the mine.
Putter. Explosion of gases, supposed to have been generated from the coals on an engine plane or boiler fire, and not from gases generated in the workings of the mine.
Shifter. Explosion of gases, supposed to have been generated from the coals on an engine plane or boiler fire, and not from gases generated in the workings of the mine; riding the south waggonway.
Furnaceman. Explosion of gases, supposed to have been generated from the coals on an engine plane or boiler fire, and not from gases generated in the workings of the mine; found near the furnace.
Onsetter. Fall of stone.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Hewer. Fall of roof.
1861.
Driver, aged 14 Fell off limmers and was crushed between the tubs and a door.
Hewer. Fell from mouthing in the shaft.
Branch Driver. Crushed by surface wagons on branches.
Trimmer. Crushed by surface wagons.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Hewer. Fell into apparatus hole from pit heap.
Putter. Crushed by a tub.
Putter. Crushed by tub against roof.
Greaser. Crushed between locomotive engine tender and wagons.
1862.
Token Keeper, aged 14. Crushed by surface wagons on branches.
Hewer. Crushed by tubs in engine plane - trying to get upon them when in motion.
Door Keeper, aged 12. Knocked down by horse when opening his door.
Driver. Crushed by tubs.
1863.
Screenboy, aged 12. Crushed by surface wagons.
Horse Driver. Crushed by tubs.
Wasteman. Fall of stone.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Water Leader, crushed by return wheel in underground engine plane.
1864.
Wasteman, aged 76. Crushed by tubs in engine plane.
Trapper, aged 12. Crushed by tubs.
Hewer. Fell down shaft from Main Coal Seam.
Putter. Crushed by tub.
Drum Boy, aged 15. Killed by being wrapped upon the drum.
Station Keeper. Crushed between tub and crowntree.
Deputy. Fall of stone.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Stoneman. Crushed by set amain in engine plane.
1865.
Wasteman. Crushed by tubs in engine plane.
Hewer. Crushed by tubs in engine plane.
Hewer. Fall of stone in a narrow place.
Deputy. Fall of stone while drawing timber out of a jud.
1866.
Driver, aged 14. Crushed by tubs in incline plane.
Onsetter. Struck by a bolt and fell down shaft.
Bank Boy. Crushed by tubs in engine plane.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Coupler, aged 14. Crushed by tubs in engine plane.
1867.
Deputy. Suffocated by smoke from a conflagration of surface erections.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Wasteman. Crushed by a tub in the tramway.
Shifter. Fall of stone.
Horseshoer. Crushed by engine set while riding on a bogie.
1868.
Sinker. A piece of plank fell down the shaft upon him.
Stoneman. Fall of stone.
Deputy. Fall of stone.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Trapper. Crushed by a coal tub.
Pony Putter. Crushed between prop and tubs.
Pony Putter, aged 13. Crushed by pony tub.
Sinker. Fell out of kibble.
1870.
Brakesman. Overcome by heat by going into steam drift into which two engines were exhausting.
Driver, aged 12. Horse fell on him.
Shifter. Fall of stone.
Putter. Fall of stone.
Putter. Crushed by tubs.
Driver. Fell off tub on which he had been riding.
Stoneman. Shot exploded when drawing pricker.
Hewer. fall of stone.
Rapper Boy. Crushed by tubs.
Brakesman. Oiling engine, his partner set the engine in motion, not knowing that he was amongst the machinery.
1871.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Putter. Crushed by tubs.
Sinker. Skylarking with others, fell off a cradle in the sinking pit.
Wasteman. Fall of stone.
Driver. Crushed against roof when riding on a tub.
1872.
Fireman. Run over by a locomotive.
Water Leader. Run over by tubs.
Shifter. Fall of stone.
Driver, aged 12. Travelling on engine plane against rule was knocked down and run over by tubs.
Hewer. Fall of coal.
Switch Keeper. Crushed by tubs on engine plane.
1873.
Putter. Head crushed between tub and prop.
Bank Boy, aged 11. Caught by cage.
Sinker. Drawn up against pulley in staple.
Uncoupler. Struck by a prop.
1874.
Shaftman. Fell from loop while examining shaft.
Shaftman. Fell down pit, He had one foot on the cage when the rope broke.
Hewer. Run over by engine set.
Horse Keeper. fell out of cage whilst ascending the shaft.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Sinker. Fell down a sinking pit from kibble.
1875.
Wasteman. Crushed by tubs.
Shifter, aged 70. Crushed by tub.
Shifter. Fall of stone.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Fireman, crushed by a wagon under screens.
Sinker. Large piece of iron fell from bank on to him.
1876.
Shiftman. Fall of roof while putting in a balk in stables; the stone fell from between two slips.
Collier. He going down to a dip fault with an empty tub, walking before it, his head came into contact with brow of fault and he was strangled.
Plumber. Suffocated by coal gas while repairing a gas pipe at bank with full pressure of gas on from works.
1877.
Putter. Crushed by tubs running back on him, cotter came out of limmers.
Collier. Fall of stone in broken - went to work at loose end of jub contrary to the deputy's order, when he loosened the stone and it fell.
Collier. Fall of stone while driving alongside an old fall bord.
Collier. Fall of roof while working in his wall.
Screener. While lowering empty wagons down to screens, a thing he had no right to do, he fell before them and was run over.
Deputy. Injury to head by fall of stone while drawing some back props.
1878.
Collier. Fall of a large stone from between two slips in the rook, in broken workings.
Driver. Run over by a set of empty tubs while taking them in-bye.
Shifter. Run over by a set of tubs on engine plane.
Plumber. Drowned in Main Coal Seam. Was sent with two men to wedge a pipe and tap in a borehole; orders were given not to touch the boring until the manager had arrived, which order was disobeyed, and the whole put through, when a rush of water mixed with stythe took place, and on being overcome he fell among the water and was drowned.
Chock Drawer. Drawing a jud in broken a large stone fell from roof, crushing his head.
1879.
Collier. Fall of roof while nicking top coal through in a broken jud.
Putter. Head crushed between tub and timber while coming out-bye.
Trapper. Either run over by a set of tubs or crushed between tubs and side, he left his door after set passed.
Collier. Fall of stone.
Shiftman. He appears to have crossed the full way and was knocked down and run over.
1880.
Deputy. Fall of a large stone while drawing a jud in brokens, it broke off at the last chock post stone.
Collier. Fall of stone from between two slips in a broken jud.
Deputy. Fall of stone in a loose side jud while preparing for timber.
Station Boy. Crushed between tubs and a prop while coming round a curve, tub had got off the way on the endless chain road.
Driver, aged 13. Fall of stone; while driving the set along the engine landing a tub got off the way and drew a prop.
Wasteman. Fall of stone in the waste while passing under it.
Deputy. Crushed against the roof while riding outbye on set of tubs.
1881.
Shifter. Fall of stone while engaged pillaring a gateway.
Hewer. Crushed between cage and flatsheets in consequence of the engineman starting the cage before receiving the proper signal.
Attending Ropes. Crushed by machinery; he got over the fence and was caught by the drum of the hauling engine.
Driver, aged 12. Head crushed between tub top and a plank while riding on limmers.
Deputy. Fall of stone while drawing timber out of a wall.
Landing Boy. Killed by full tubs, the boys run the set of tubs too full into landing, when the pony fell and tubs ended up on them.
Trapper. Killed by set of tubs on engine plane, he had evidently left his place.
Screener. Run over by a coal truck near to screens.
Engineer. Descending the pumping shaft along with two other men he fell from the loop.
Hewer. Fall of coal.
Stoneman. Explosion of powder, his candle fell into a canister and exploded it.
Collier. Got into a refuge hole to allow an engine set to pass, the set had been divided and a lengthening chain put on 13 yards long, when the first part of the run passed him he stepped out thinking all was right, the second part of the set knocked him down and killed him.
1882.
Cartman. While trespassing on the pit bank in a state of intoxication, he fell from a gangway fracturing his skull.
Enginewright. Scalded by an overflow of water from an underground condenser.
Trapper, aged 13. Crushed by engine set of tubs, he got out before the set stopped and fell between the tubs and was run over.
Driver, aged 14. Fell before tubs in a landing while riding on chain contrary to orders and was run over and killed.
Labourer. Crushed and killed between two trucks in the coke yard.
Wasteman, aged 67. Fall of stone; while ridding in waste he took out some props.
Driver, aged 14. Leg broken and internal injuries, crushed by tubs.
Screener. Run over by full wagon under screens.
Screenman. Crossing the sidings he was caught by a locomotive and run over.
1883.
Trapper, aged 13. Head crushed between cage and bunton while riding to bank.
Shifter, aged 69. Was said to have received a slight accident by a tub some time previously, but the doctor in giving evidence at the inquest stated that death was from natural causes.
Driver, aged 14. His tubs got off the way and he was crushed between them and a prop ; he must have been riding on limbers contrary to orders.
Screener. Crushed by wagons where he had no business.
Putter. Fractured spine by fall of stone, which knocked out some props. (accident: 1882).
Fitter. Struck on head by crab arm.
1884.
Deputy. Fall of a large quantity of stone in a broken jud that came off at a slip over the coal head.
Hewer. Fall of a large quantity of stone in a broken jud that came off at a slip over the coal head.
Wasteman. Cage started while he was getting into it. He was crushed.
1885.
Hewer. Fall of top coal that he had nicked through and not spragged.
Screener. Died from the effects of an injury to bowels received while spragging a wagon.
Coupler. Head crushed between tubs while coupling at flat.
Signalman. Fell from Main Coal to Hutton Seam, a distance of 70 yards, he signalled himself away instead of waiting until his mate came, and stepped past the cage.
Wasteman. Fall of stone.
Wagon Rider. Fell off wagons and was run over near to the coal depots.
Hewer. Fall of coal he had loosened by kirving.
Furnaceman. Severely crushed by cage; after rapping it away he crept through the safety chain into the cage hole and the descending cage came on to him. (accident: 19 Jul 1883).
Shunter. Ran over by wagons while shunting on railway sidings.
1886.
Horse Driver. Run over by a full wagon, on unhooking the chain he got his foot entangled, which threw him down across the metals.
Putter. Crushed between a tub and baulk which had partly fallen.
Deputy. Fall of stone.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Putter. Fall of stone at flat while sitting dressing himself after his day's work.
1887.
Stoneman. Burnt by powder; while forcing a powder charge into a hole with rammer it exploded.
Heap Keeper. Died from the effects of a broken leg by becoming entangled in a revolving shaft in 1886.
Deputy. Fall of stone while drawing timber out of an old bord.
Landing Boy. Crushed between tubs by pony, limbers becoming fast in engine rope and dragging it along.
Labourer. Run over by small wagons while engaged cleaning way top of coke ovens.
Shifter. Died from blood poisoning caused by a wound to his hand from a fall of stone.
1888.
Hewer. Severe blow on the chest by a large prop falling on him.
Wasteman. Fall of side stone while working in an air way.
Wagon Greaser. He was attempting to get on to a set of wagons while they were running on a private branch railway (a thing he had no right to do) and missing his hold he fell before them and was run over.
Hewer. While engaged along with another man in taking an empty tub up an incline, a tub full of stone ran amain from the top.
Hewer. Caught by the engine set when going inbye to his work and run over.
Hewer. Severe sprain to spine and bowels while lifting a tub onto the metals, died from the effects.
1889.
Boy. aged 11. [Not Employed]. Died from injuries received by being run over by wagons while trespassing on the colliery sidings.
Screenman. Killed by an explosion of coal dust while engaged cleaning out a large coal bunker.
Deputy. Found dead in the workings; post-mortem showed dislocation of the neck, but how it was caused is not known.
Driver, aged 15 While attempting some gymnastic in the pit he fell and injured his bowels, from the effects of which he died.
Trapper, aged 14. A horse having run away he was found to have been run over and killed near to his door.
Engineman. Riding outbye on a full set of tubs, contrary to rules, he was crushed to death.
Wasteman. Fall of side stone.
Rolleywayman. Engine set got off the way and drew out some timber; while resetting some stone fell.
Boy aged 7, [Not Employed]. Run over by wagons while taking his father's dinner to the works.
Tub Coupler. Crushed between tub and side of kip wall at shaft siding.
Locomotive Fireman. Uncoupling wagons his foot? got fast in a crossing and the locomotive and tender ran over him.
Putter. Head crushed between top of tub and a balk while riding on limbers contrary to orders.
Hewer. Burnt about the face, chest, and arms by an explosion of powder while forcibly pressing a charge into a hole of insufficient size contrary to General Rule 12(c).
1890.
Hewer. While walking along the main road carrying a pick in his hand he met the set of tubs and was crushed by side of way, the pick was forced into his abdomen causing instant death.
1891.
Driver, aged 14. Kicked in stomach by pony, inflammation of the bowels set in.
Landing Boy. Changing ropes at junction with a winch he gave a wrong signal, the engine started and the winch handle struck him on the head.
Hewer. Fall of coal while hewing in a place he had no business to be in.
1892.
Signalman. Left his work and went round to a new pit just sunk, he fell into a sump and drowned.
Timber Drawer. Drawing timber out of a broken jud, when a heavy fall of roof took place.
Hewer. Fall of top coal ; he had worked the fast sides, let it loose, and neglected to set props before going to work under it.
1893.
Engineer. Fingers severely crushed while examining machinery, died from blood poisoning.
Trapper, aged 12. Took away a drivers tub and pony, which he had no right to do so, and got his head crushed between the top of the tub and the roof.
Driver, aged 13. Head crushed between tub and prop.
Joiner. Erecting a coal washer he fell off a staging, 20 feet high.
1894.
Hewer. Struck by drag in wagon while it was passing him.
Landing Lad. Winch handle hit his head while coupling ropes.
Landing Boy. Crushed by set getting of the way.
Timber Drawer. Fall of stone while drawing out a jud.
1895. Horse Keeper. Severely crushed by cage moving while he was getting out at a mouthing.
Banksman. Descending the pit on the top of cage, when the two collided at meetings, and he was thrown down the shaft.
1896.
Hewer. Looking along the loose end of a skirting to see how much coal remained to be taken out, when a fall of stone took place in the goaf and caught him.
Landing Lad. Crushed internally by empty tubs, when the empty set was going into the landing the first two tubs overran the tail-rope, and got off the way and caught him.
Winding Engineman. While cleaning one of the engine house windows he fell out a distance of 19 feet on to the branches.
1897.
Stone Putter. While a full tub was being ready in a landing, twenty-nine full tubs ran amain down the landing. He was standing opposite a refuge hole, shouting for other men to get out of the way, when the tubs caught and killed him.
Hewer. Jumping off a set of empty wagons on which he had been riding, and his coat caught, and he was dragged and run over.
Stoneman. Fall of stone.
1898. Shifter. Putting a turn into a place and retimbering it, killed by a fall of stone.
1899. Helper Up. He was sitting at the end of his tub, in a hewers place, waiting for the tub to be filled, when a stone fell from the roof and killed him.
1902.
Deputy. Killed by a fall of stone while drawing timber out of a broken jud.
Hewer. And other 11 men were being let down the shaft in the cage, and when near the bottom the winding engineman did not stop the cage and it went hard on the keps, and deceased was thrown out and crushed between the cage and flat sheets ; the other men were all more or less injured ; the ascending cage was overwound, but the detaching hook caught it.
Hewer. Committed suicide by jumping down the winding shaft.
Timber Leader. Hit his head against a baulk when pushing his timber tram into a working place.
Landing Lad, aged 14. He was coming out-bye on an engine plane in front of the set and either slipped or fell, or got his foot fast in a roller, and before he could get clear the set caught and killed him.
Timber Drawer. He was replacing broken props and strengthening a place preparatory to drawing all the timber out and when putting in a new prop, a large stone fell without any warning.
Putter. Riding out-bye on the full set, contrary to rules, the set got off the way and the main rope became detached ; the tubs then joined together and he was crushed.
Chock Drawer. Repairing an old headways when a very large stone fell; the fall was caused by slips, which could not be seen before it took place.
Timber Leader. Repairing an old headways when a very large stone fell; the fall was caused by slips, which could not be seen before it took place.
1911.
Driver, aged 16. He was found at a curve, pinned between the tail rope and a guide rail; his pony, which he should have taken out with him, was at the landing; there can be little doubt he was riding on the set, and was either thrown off or caught when in the act of jumping off.
Haulage Lad, aged 14. His duties were to disconnect the clips by which the sets were attached to the overhead endless rope; owing to the plane being of an undulating nature it was necessary to use a clip at both ends, the one at the rear end being detached first; this he had already done when the set reached the kip, but apparently he experienced some difficulty in getting the front clip free from the rope, and he kept on walking in front of the set till it knocked him off the kip at a point where it was 2 feet 9 inches higher than the empty road; he received internal injuries and died four hours later; the place of accident was well lighted with electric lights, and there was an electric signal a few yards away by means of which he could easily have stopped the set.
Sinker. He and 11 others under the supervision of the master sinker were placing into position near the shaft bottom a balk about 30 feet long by 12 inches square in order that lofting might be placed upon it, so as to afford protection to workmen who were engaged in building brickwork underneath; one end of the balk had been inserted into a pocket 18 inches deep, and the other end had been raised by means of blocks attached to a derrick to within a foot of the ledge upon which it was intended to rest; suddenly the derrick moved forward and he was carried down and crushed under the balk.
Shaftman. He was standing on the flatsheets at the main coal level, in line with a drift rising 2 inches per yard and 600 yards long, when a full set of 30 tubs ran amain down the drift, and knocked some tubs at the bottom on to him.
Gatewayman. Along with another man, he was building a soft wood chock near the face in a longwall gateway; whilst sawing wood a flag of ramble stone fell on to him.
Driver, aged 14. He was on his way from one district to another, when he was killed by a set of 24 full tubs which had run amain; his death was the result of a combination of careless acts on the part of other Persons; the run-rider had failed to use a cow; he had also failed to report to the big landing lad that the set was made up of 24 tubs instead of the customary 20 tubs; the latter put in four dregs as usual, but the four extra tubs being on the steepest part of the landing, when the main rope was knocked off the tubs ran back; a spring chock was provided to guard against such an occurrence, but unfortunately the pin connecting the spring with the chock was out of place, thus rendering the guard useless; efforts to find out who had taken out the pin were unsuccessful; the pin was not provided with a cotter, but it is unlikely that it jumped out.
Labourer. He was coupling wagons without using a pole and was crushed between the coupling chain hooks; both lungs were ruptured though no bones were broken. He died next day.
Landing Lad, aged 15. It was his duty to divide the main sets up into smaller sets at the main landing of a district, and to despatch them into the various branch landings, but before doing so he had to put the 10 feet length of coupling chain into the first tub of the set; on this occasion he told another boy to rap the set "away" before he had put the chain into the tub, and he was doing this when the set moved away, with the result that his head was crushed between the top of the tub and a balk.
Putter. He was going inbye with an empty tub and was sitting on the limbers when his head was crushed between the tub and a low balk at a place where a second ripping was being taken down; there was a space of five inches between the tub top and the underside of the balk.
1912.
Labourer. He was assisting to pull down some walling at the coke ovens, and while so engaged slipped his pinch bar and fell a distance of 3 feet, striking the back of his head on a concrete floor; he was sent home, and becoming unconscious on the way, was taken to hospital, where he died.
Offtake lad. His duty was to change the clips on the overtub endless rope at a point on the haulage road where the rope was guided round a bend by two horizontal binding wheels fixed on vertical shafts; he also had to work a switch in order to supply a few men with tubs straight along from time to time, and to get to the switch he had to pass round the binding wheel; a boy close by stated that he saw deceased stumble, catch hold of the rope, then pass through between the binding wheels, a space of 3½ inches.
Putter. He was found under a large piece of top coal, 1 foot 6 inches thick.
Putter. Coming into the flat with his pony attached to a full tub, he stood at the points to push the tub over so that it would take the full way; he was hurrying after the tub when he slipped and fell, his head striking the rail.
Boiler Fireman. Coal drawing had ceased for the day, and timber was being sent down the shaft as usual; deceased was in the winding engine house, and when last seen alive was polishing the handrail and quite clear of any moving machinery; the engineman on receiving a shout from the banksman lowered his cage load of timber and then walked round to have a chat with deceased, but found him lying in a mangled condition, having without doubt been crushed by the crank in the crank pit.
Hewer. He was setting a prop, and was driving it up when it bounced back and released a large quantity of stone from the roof; it was afterwards seen that the roof contained a mass of fossils.
1913.
Pony Putter. He was found lying dead at the roadside; it was thought that he was going by the side of his tub to start his pony, the pony having stopped at a canvas door, when the pony moved on and caused deceased's head to be crushed between a prop and the tub.
Coal Cleaner. He told the heap-keeper that his knee had been crushed between the tubs and showed him the bruises; no one saw the accident; his duty was to regulate the empty tubs gravitating to the shaft and he had to move the suitable levers, and may quite easily have been nipped as he described; he died on 18th August, 1913 (accident: 07 Aug 1913).
Fitter. Changing of the three decks is done simultaneously by the aid of auxiliary cages and hydraulic rams; deceased worked at the low level at the shaft bottom, along with the onsetter; the cage loaded with empty tubs came down, and there being no coal, the onsetter rapped "clear;" when he gave the first rap the cage was lifted, one rap meaning "away" for coal work; on giving the second rap the cage stood until all ten raps were given, and the cage taken into the shaft; the onsetter then found deceased lying on the bottom of the auxiliary cage badly injured; unknown to the onsetter, he had gone into the auxiliary cage, and had been getting some "bait" out of a tub in the shaft cage, when the latter moved away and he was crushed; deceased should not have attempted to do this, for the onsetter could not see him from where he was at the rapper.
Spare Putter. He was assisting the onsetter in pushing tubs from the shaft round into the empty tub pass-bye; when the cage appeared he took hold of a tub in the bottom deck with the intention of doing the assistant banksman's work; the cage went on and he was pulled down, and his head and shoulders were crushed between the middle hoop of the cage and the staging at the inset.
Hewer. He was hewing at the face of a skirting in the Hutton seam, where he had bored into an old bord, when a rectangular block of stone 6 feet long, 4 feet wide, and half a yard thick fell from the roof on to him.
Hewer. He was commencing to build a chock near the corner at the fast side of a jud in the Busty seam. A large piece of post, 6 feet long, 3 feet wide and 2 feet thick, fell from a slip and three well-defined joints, on to him; he died whilst being removed from beneath the stone.
Waggonwayman. Signalled a set of 54 tubs out of a landing; the landing lad followed the set through the landing and near the rapper found the waggonwayman's lamp and a few yards further out the man's body; probably he attempted to get on to the set to ride out and slipped between two tubs.
1914.
Hewer, He was undercutting a jud when a fall of about half a ton of coal occurred, fracturing his skull. The coal fell from a "sooty back" at the loose end of the jud.
Hewer. He was driving a leading heading through two rise faults, when a sudden outburst of coal and gas occurred. He was partly buried, and before he was rescued he became asphyxiated.
Traffic Manager. He had instructed a locomotive driver to shunt a wagon loaded with timber; he went on in front for some yards, and then stepped on one side to give orders to other men working near; after this, he stepped back and was caught by the timber wagon; the driver was blowing the whistle all the time.
Steeplejack. He was standing on the edge of the partly dismantled chimney, when he overbalanced and fell inside the chimney.
Putter. He was taking a full tub of stone outbye to a landing when the tub jumped the points causing it to go on the empty way; he remained on the limbers and his head was caught between the top of the tub and a prop; the distance between the tub and the prop was 1¾ inches; the road was practically level; the points were of the fixed type and were somewhat worn; the horse may have crossed over
Shifter. Working with a stoneman taking a canch at the face of a wall, when a large fall, 10 feet long from the canch to the face, took place and buried him.
Putter. After being stopped on the road through a full tub coming off the rails, he started his horse again and then attempted to jump on to the limbers; he was heard shouting "I can't get on the limbers," when immediately his head was caught between the side of the tub and a prop close to the tub side; a brattice sheet was hanging on this prop partially hiding it from view.
Driver, aged 14. He was coming outbye with his pony and a full tub towards a separation door, and presumably was sitting upon the limbers; when the pony restarted to go through the doorway the lad probably lost his balance, and fell with his head either against a shart stone or against the end of the crook in the door frame; his skull was fractured.
Deputy. Visiting a place he found that a tub was catching a prop, which was under one end of a plank spanning the putters' road. He hammered the top of the prop back and knocked it out. A large stone, which lay on the plank, and another 4 feet away, broke down the planks and fell on to him.
Foreman Joiner. Erecting a new coal-washer at the colliery; He stepped off a ladder on to a concrete floor slipped and fell to the ground; he died four hours later.
Pony Driver. Driving one full tub, sitting on the limbers, when a balk fell from the roof on to him, and crushed him between the tub and the baulk. The balk was propped at each end, and no reason could be assigned for it falling.
1922.
Banksman, aged 15. Runaway sets.
Tracer, aged 15. Fall of stone.
Landing Lad, aged 14. Caught by set.
Putter. Struck by tub.
Stoneman. Fall of stone.
1924.
Shaftman. Fall of debris.
Traffic Manager. Crushed by tubs.
Stoneman. Fall.
Banksman. Caught be lever.
1925.
Stoneman. Buried by fall of stone.
Joiners Labourer. Fall of timber.
Putter. Fall of stone
1926.Hewer. Fall of stone.
1927.
Stoneman. Fall of stone.
Drawer. Fall of stone.
1928.
Rolleyway Man. Struck by balk.
Hewer. Fall.
Run Rider. Crushed.
1929.
Attendant. Struck by cage.
Datal, aged 15. Crushed.
Engine Lad, aged 15. Wrapped around the winder of an engine.
Stoneman. Fall of stone.
Landing Lad. Run over.
1930.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Datal. Caught by rope.
1931.
Hewer. Explosion.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Landing Lad. Caught by set.
1932.
Stoneman. Fall of stone.
Air Engineman. Caught by girder.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
1933.
Run Rider. Struck by rail.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Manager. Killed in shunting accident on the surface.
Scalloper. Fall of stone.
Datal, aged 15. Crushed by tubs.
1934.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
Shaft Lad. Struck by wire rope.
1935.
Filler. Fall of stone.
Overman. Struck by prop.
Stoneman. Fall of stone.
1936.
Cutter. Fall of stone.
Puller Up. Fall of stone.
Driller. Fall of stone.
Timber Drawer. Fall of stone.
Hewer. Crushed by tubs.
Drawer. Fall of stone.
Wayend Lad, aged 14. Struck by prop.
Conveyor Man. Asphyxiation.
1937.
Scalloper. Explosion.
Scalloper. Fall of stone.
Deputy. Explosion.
Shifter. Explosion.
Putter. Fall of stone
Wasteman. Caught by tub.
1938.
Stoneman. Struck by rope.
Stoneman. Runaway tubs.
Scalloper. Fall of stone.
Hewer. Fall of stone.
1939.
Stoneman. Fall of stone.
Deputy. Struck on head.
1940.
Shaftsman. Fell from cage.
Waggonway Man. Crushed by tubs.
Landing Lad. Struck by girder.
Belt Keeper. Crushed between tubs.
Pipe Fitter. Caught by set, found with an injury to his head.
1941.
Screenhand. Crushed by tubs.
Shifter. Fall of stone.
Waggonway Man. Caught by trucks.
Bargain Man. Fall of stone.
1942.
Putter. Fall of stone.
Deputy. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by incendive spark created by exploder while shots were fired).
Putter. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by incendive spark created by exploder while shots were fired).
Cutter. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by incendive spark created by exploder while shots were fired).
Filler. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by incendive spark created by exploder while shots were fired).
Drawer. Caught by tubs.
Stoneman. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by incendive spark created by exploder while shots were fired).
Hewer. Fall of stone.
1943.
Stoneman. Fall of stone.
Putter. Fall of stone.
1944. Ass.Traff. Man. Run over by tubs.
1946.
Shot Firer. Fall of coal.
Stoneman. Fall of stone.
Cutter. Crushed by tubs.
1948.
Girder Leader. Caught by tub.
Putter. Caught by tubs.
1950. Man. Caught in hopper.
1951.
Shot Firer. Killed in the 1951 explosion (ignition caused by defective master control box of Joy loader), died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Driller. Killed in the 1951 explosion (ignition caused by defective master control box of Joy loader), died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Cutterman. Killed in the 1951 explosion (ignition caused by defective master control box of Joy loader), died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Deputy. Killed in the 1951 explosion (ignition caused by defective master control box of Joy loader), died from extensive burns caused by the accident.
Joy Loader Attendant. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by defective master control box of Joy loader).
Shuttle Car Driver. Killed in the 1951 explosion (ignition caused by defective master control box of Joy loader), died from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Shifter. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Datal. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Filler. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Stoneman. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Deputy. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Conveyor Maintenance. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Electrician. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Timber Drawer. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Master Shifter. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Electrician. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Cutter. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Mason's Labourer. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Underground Bricklayer. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Master Wasteman. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Back Overman. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites), Rescue Worker, overcome by noxious gas same day.
Fore Overman. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
Hauling Engineman. Killed in explosion (ignition caused by sparks from cutter picks striking pyrites).
1952. Stone fell from roof and he suffocated.
1955. Run rider. Explosion on surface.
1960. Man. Dragged into the conveyor belt while manually cleaning.
1961.Man. Killed on colliery pit heap.
1969.Deputy. Killed by coal cutting machine.
1970.Man aged 20. Killed by locomotives.
1980.Man. Killed by face chain .
1991. Power Loader. Fall of stone.
Remember, what you have read here is only the tip of the iceberg, the actual number of miners killed will never be known.
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