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Full Details

Surname
ARCHBOLD
Forename
William
Day
19
Month
08
Year
1905
Age
28
Occupation
Hewer
Mine/Quarry Name
Choppington
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Bebside Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Choppington
County
Northumberland
Details of Event
Deceased and his brother worked together in a longwall face in the Harvey seam. The stonemen had been in their road the night before and shot in the caunch to the face of the coal and built a pack wall to the face on the right side and nearly to the face on the left side. The place was examined by the deputy at 1.15 am., when the stonemen were in and again at 4am. Deceased and his brother started work at 8.30 a.m. and the survivor stated at the inquest that on first going to the place, they did not think it looked safe and they sent for the deputy, who came at 11.80 a.m, and examined the roof and found it sprung at one point and he set a pair of gears next the face having, however to wait until the putter brought suitable timber from the flat as the props at the place were not of sufficient length. The survivor stated they should have liked more props set but that there were no more. The deputy, however stated that the putter brought five props in and he would have set more had they been required. About l.25 hours after the deputy's visit they fired a shot in the coal and then retired to get their bait. On returning, they made no examination of the roof and while deceased was filling a tub a stone 7 yards long by 6 feet wide and 14 inches thick fell from the roof upon him displacing the pair of gears last set. The stone was relieved by a slip all round it was a flat cauldron arse. The Local Inspectors expressed the opinion that it was a pure accident and no blame attached to anyone.