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Full Details

Surname
COULTHARD
Forename
William
Day
16
Month
11
Year
1911
Age
51
Occupation
Back Overman
Mine/Quarry Name
Black Prince
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Weardale Steel, Coal & Coke Co. Ltd
Location
Tow Law
County
Durham
Details of Event
The attention of the deputy Hanlon had been drawn to some stone which had fallen on a driving road and he was engaged in clearing it away preparatory to putting some planks across, when Colthard the back-overman arrived suddenly and without any warning a large frame of stone 16 inches thick, 19 feet long and 3.5 feet wide fell and instantly killed both officials. The stone fell from between two strongly marked jacks, one running close along the coal side, and the other 2.5 feet from the pack on the other side. The road was only 6 feet wide between the coal and this pillaring. The roof was strong post and one of the cracks was known to exist. The road had been in use for many years without any change, and the fall was probably caused by the approach of a goat in the main coal seam 16 fathoms below. 2 killed.