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Full Details

Surname
DODDS
Forename
Parkinson
Day
31
Month
07
Year
1905
Age
47
Occupation
Labourer
Mine/Quarry Name
Wearmouth
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Wearmouth Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Sunderland
County
Durham
Details of Event
Died August 7. This accident occurred at the staiths on the River Weir, about 500 yards from the Colliery, where alterations had been in progress for some months. A balk of timber, 30 feet long by 12 inches by 6 inches and which would weigh about 7cwt was being raised out of the river by a steam crane. Previously, similar balks had been lifted by an 11-16 inch chain but deceased thought this too heavy and improperly and on his own responsibility, substituted a 5-16 in chain, although advised against it by two fellow workmen. The balk was lifted a few feet and became jammed, and while deceased was feeding it, standing on some fixed timber one of the large links at the end of the chain broke and it fell and broke deceased’s left leg, causing a compound fracture. He was taken to the Infirmary and the leg set, but pneumonia supervened on August 3, and he died on August 7. There did not appear to be any flaw in the link that broke.