Single Record

Full Details

Surname

EGGINGTON

Forename

Thomas

Day

05

Month

06

Year

1908

Age

27

Occupation

Collier

Mine/Quarry Name

Pendlebury (a)

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

Pendlebury Colliery Co. Ltd

Location

Bentley

County

Staffordshire

Details of Event

Deceased was engaged as a dirt loader in the sinking of an old shaft to a lower level. He had been a sinker for nine years and had not worked in a sinking pit before. He commenced work at 6pm. on the night preceding the accident and during the shift was on the surface several times resting in turn with the others. At 6am on the completion of his shift deceased was, with the chargeman, returning to the surface in the bowk, both riding with one leg out, a shot having previously been ignited in the bottom. When the bowk was just reaching the top of the shaft the winding engine stopped on the centre, and the engineman lowered back a little, and then reversing, raised the bowk quickly to the top. Deceased was seen to grab at the fencing (rails round the top of shaft, and when the bowk raised, and he was pulled out and thrown head foremost down the pit, a distance of 27yds. after which the shot exploded. deceased apparently grabbed the fencing to save himself when the bowk was lowered had he sat still as did the chargeman he would have been safe. Unfortunately he did not understand what was happening, and the chargeman did not give him warning. Having one leg out of the bowk he would the more easily lose his balance and be thrown out.