5th. October 1844
Blackbrook.
Messrs Stock’s pit one man was killed and another dangerously burned, a young man and a young woman. the accident was the result of the man’s carelessness having been cautioned the day previous by two workmen not n any account to work in an opening mad without having a Davy lamp with him. He disregarded this advice. (Galloway)
February 1845
Blackbrook
J Whittle was killed when he fell down the pit. (Mining Journal).
08-1845
Blackbrook
E. Mercer and J. Lawley were killed when they were thrown from the tub when descending the pit. (Mining Journal).
13th. January 1851.
Two men, Samuel Daniels and Ringley were killed by a breakage of a hook in the downbrow. (Mines Inspectors Report, Mining Journal).
25th. January, 1851.
Henry Roughley was crushed to death by wagons on the inclined plane.
26th. February 1851.
W. Jarvis was killed by an explosion of firedamp which occurred on the 20th of the month. (Mines Inspectors Report).
30th. April 1853.
Joseph Wright aged 20 years, was killed by a fall of roof coal. (Mines Inspectors Report).
3rd. September 1853.
Thomas Kilshaw aged 38 years was killed by falling from a basket in ascending the pit having been struck by a hose which was being used to extinguish a fire. (Mines Inspectors Report).
10th. October 1853.
William Coxhead aged 16 years was killed by the falling of materials while extinguishing a fire in the seam. (Mines Inspectors Report).
20th. December 1853.
Thomas Stock aged 63 years was killed by a fall of coal. (Mines Inspectors Report).
22nd. December 1853.
T. Robinson aged 21 years was killed when he was crushed between waggons. (Mines Inspectors Report).
13th October 1854.
P. Commons, a boy, was killed by a box waggon running down a brow. (Mines Inspectors Report).
1st. September 1854.
At an inquest into the death of William Platt, collier, was held at the Queen’s Arms, Parr. He was killed at the colliery on the 22nd inst. the jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’. (Wigan Examiner).
10th. December 1855.
Susannah Norcross was killed when she was caught in machinery at the surface. (Mines Inspectors Report).
11th. October 1856.
Three men, William Price, John Naylor and Samuel Briers were killed in an explosion of firedamp in the Rushy Park Mine which set the coal on fire. (Mines Inspectors Report).
11-10-1856
EXPLOSION OF FIREDAMP AT THE COLLIERY
Some firedamp that had accumulated in the goaf was accidentally fired by an inexperienced collier working with his lamp uncovered. The explosion did not extend much beyond the goaf but the coal if very dry and it started it in the fire. The flames spread rapidly to the extremity of the workings where a number of men and boys were employed.
The person who fired the gas escaped personal injury but the three others were suffocated by smoke and gasses from the burning coal. One of the sufferers a boy of 18 years had not been found.
Steam at high pressure has continually been forced into the workings which have been stopped since the accident but up to this time, the fire had not been extinguished altogether.
In all probability, the men might have put the fire out after it had ignited but they left their places and did not inform the underlooker until they reached the pit bottom when the fire had raged and spread a considerable length. (Mines Inspectors Report)
25-10-1856
At the inquest into the deaths of the three above at the Royal Arms, Parr it was stated that they met their deaths by chokedamp. LAWRENSON who was the cause of the explosion was working with a naked candle because the ventilation was good and was acting under the orders of THOMAS JOHNSON the underlooker who, since the explosion had been discharged. All the witnesses agreed that the ventilation was good. Mr Higson the Inspector read the rules of the colliery relating to naked lights and the jury brought in a verdict of Accidental Death. (Mines Inspectors Report, St. Helens Intelligencer),
27-01-1857
WHITTLE Thomas drawer fell down the pit.
31-01-1857
The inquest on THOMAS WHITTLE aged 11 years was held at the Ship Inn owned by Mrs. Banks. Verdict: Accidental Death. (St. Helens Intelligencer)
26-02-1858
HILL William 29 Collier Fall of stone from the roof.
27-03-1858
BREACH OF THE RULES
At St. Helens Petty Sessions on Tuesday last before the chairman Robert Neilson Esq. a full bench of magistrates heard PETER BROMILOW charged with a breach of Special rule 18, taking the top off his lamp and smoking down the pit where lamps are extensively used. He pleaded guilty.
Mr Molyneaux, the manger stated that on the morning of the 16h he was in the Rushy Park Mine and he saw him take the top off his lamp and light his pipe. There were one hundred men in the pit at the time and such an action put their lives at risk as there was a good chance that gas was present. He testified as to the accused good character and he was strongly admonished and fined 20/- plus costs. (Colliery Guardian)
10-04-1858
ALLEN John 45 Collier An explosion of gunpowder
07-04-1858 ST.H I. and 17-04-1858
At the inquest into the death of JOHN ALLEN collier aged 45 tears at the Nelsons Inn owned by Mr. Campbell it was heard that in Saturday last he died from the effects of burns received in Chain Pit when he was carrying some powder through the workings and at the same time held a naked light. As he turned around the powder fired and severely burnt his face. The jury thought that the powder should have been carried in a tin. He let a wife and eight children. Verdict: Accidental Death. (Colliery Guardian)
08-05-1858
ACCIDENT REPORTED
There was an accident at Chain Pit last Saturday when WILLIAM BINHAL a collier was removing props and a large portion of the roof fell on him fracturing his ribs and severely crushing his head and chest. He has removed him and Mr Blundell surgeon was in attendance but the internal injuries are severe and it is feared that he will not survive. (Colliery Guardian)
22-05-1859
BUCKLEY James 66 Labourer.
Crushed between the drum and the chain in the jig brow.
14-05-1859 ST.H I.
JAMES BUCKLEY aged 66 years a hooker-on at Chain pit had three fingers torn away and his arm fractured. He was in the act of hooking waggons on to the endless chain when the engine suddenly started and he was caught and dragged against some boxes. He lies in a precarious state.
08-06-1859
FLETCHER John 25 Collier Fall of the roof.
11-06-1859
At the inquest into the death of JOHN FLETCHER 25 collier who was killed in Chain Pit when a wall fell on him the verdict if the jury was accidental Death. (St. Helens Intelligencer)
12-07-1859
ANDREWS Peter 33 Collier Injuries received in an explosion of firedamp
22-07-1859
At the inquest into the death of PETER ANDERS at the Druids Arms in Parr it was found that there was nothing to show how the accident had occurred. (Wigan Observer & St. Helens Intelligencer)
11-11-1859
THOMAS KNOWLES was severely crushed about the back and head by a fall of top coal in the Rushy Park mine on Monday due to lack of propping, His life is despaired of. (Wigan Observer)
19-12-1859
On Monday a collier named THOMAS KNOWLES was killed by a fall of top coal in the Rushy Park Mine at the colliery. (Wigan Examiner)
14-03-1860
SWIFT Thomas 10 drawer Fall of the roof.
24-04-1860
BUCKLEY James 65 Barrowman.
He was caught in a pulley on which the endless chain revolved.
04-08-1860
ACKETT William 9 No occupation.
He was playing at the pit bank when he fell from the stage 15′ high.
01-03-1861
At St. Helens Magistrates Court THOMAS HARRISON a fireman at the colliery was sent to gaol for fourteen days for neglecting Rule 47 by not sending the overlooker word of his inability to attend to see the workings. (Wigan Observer)
29-05-1861
CHEETHAM Thomas 16 Drawer.
At the bottom of an incline when the tubs started and killed him.
01-06-1861
On Wednesday morning Thomas Cheetham was killed by being run over by waggons as he lay across the rails sleeping. He died two days later. (Wigan Observer & Colliery Guardian)
09-09-1861
CROMPTON John 10 Waggoner.
Crushed by two waggons at the surface.
04-07-1864
PENKETH James 31 Labourer.
Looking out of the cage whilst ascending.
08-07-1865
At an inquest into the death of JAMES PENKETH collier aged 31 years who put his head out of the cage at the Chain Pit and caught it on a bar the verdict was accidental death. (Wigan Observer)
21-04-1866
FUNERAL
The funeral of the late Joseph hill that was accidentally killed at Bromilow’s colliery in Blackbrook took place last Saturday. The mortal remains were followed by numerous miners who showed their respect to the deceased by seeing him conveyed to his last resting place. All wore black sashes provided by the Miners Provident and Benefit Society. They conducted themselves with order and decorum. It is hoped that the miners of Haydock and St. Helens will put themselves within the benefit of the Society. (St. Helens Standard)
08-05-1869
At the magistrate’s court in St. Helens Harriet Groves stole 45lbs of coal from the colliery P.C.108 saw the accused with the coal taken from a coal waggon. She said that she thought it all right to take the coal as it was off the colliery premises. The bench took a lenient view and dismissed the case. (St. Helens Standard)
09-11-1866
MEETING OF MINERS.
Peter Banks requested the management to pay the usual yardage and said that he had the support of the men and the Society was taking steps to safeguard their interests. (Wigan Observer)
2nd. January 1864
Coal Stealing.
William Dixon, a youth residing at Blackbrook pleaded guilty to stealing coal from a wagon belonging to Messrs. Johnson while on the railway. It was stated that his father was transported for life and another member of the family was also undergoing penal servitude also for the felony. The bench discharged him with a caution as the owners did not wish to press charges. (Prescot Reporter)
26-06-1899
HURST John T. 27 Haulage hand.
Three tubs were being hauled up by a tail rope attached to the endless rope. The full tubs got off the rails appear to have knocked out a prop capping a bar and causing the roof to fall on him as he was filling a tub.
30-09-1901
SMETHURST William 26 Dataller.
He was clearing dirt that had been displaced by an electrical heading machine when his foot slipped on the wet rock floor and his leg was caught in the revolving cutters and he was drawn in. Died the same night.
04-10-1901.
KILLED BY ‘IRON MAN’. STRANGE COLLIERY ACCIDENT AT HAYDOCK. Mr F. A. Jones held the inquest into the death of William Smethurst 26, Slag Lane Ashton-in-Makerfield at the Waggon and Horses Hotel when he had an accident with an electrically driven coal cutter at the colliery. Mr Matthews that Inspector was present and Mr H.L. Riley appeared for the relatives.
The man’s father said that when he went to work on Tuesday night he found his son being brought up injured. The deceased had been working with the machine for a fortnight and before the accident, he had received a slight electric shock from it. Elijah Derbyshire, electrician, of Lower Lane Ashton said he started and stopped the machines, which were in use at the colliery, then the men could shovel the dirt that had been ‘holed’ from under the coal. A man named Heaton worked the lever regulating the distance of the cutters from the coal. They had changed the position of the machine and started again in about half a minute when the deceased shouted ‘Stop it’. He cut the current at once but the machine went on for some time as it was running at speed. He thought that the deceased had slipped when he was getting down into position by the side of the cutter.
His left leg had been caught and drawn in. His foot might have slipped or he might have got too near it. He worked about 20ins from the cutters and space had to be left between the guard and the blades or the dirt would clog the machine.
James Heaton said that he assisted the deceased whose leg had been caught and pulled off by the machine. The deceased said “I think it’s all over with me Jim” and the witness said, “I think it is Bill”. When the deceased shouted he saw the machine take him under ‘Like a gun’. He had slipped on the floor many a time because it was hard and damp. The accident happened at 7.30 and the deceased died the Cottage Hospital at 10.50 p.m.
Mr. Matthews said that he did not think that the machine could not be protected any more than it was Verdict Accidental Death. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
??-??-1933
A half-inch chain broke 550 yards from the engine and three were injured as they jumped off before it came to a standstill. (Mines Inspectors Report)
