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Full Details

Surname
EWING
Forename
John James
Day
04
Month
12
Year
1907
Age
24
Occupation
Miner
Mine/Quarry Name
Pallaflat
Mineral Worked
Iron Ore
Owner
Pallaflat Iron Ore Co. Ltd
Location
Egremont
County
Cumberland
Details of Event
Deceased and another miner were working in a vein of ore varying in width up to 15 feet, the working was 17 feet high and near its inner end where the vein narrowed to about 3 feet wide, a middling 3 feet deep had been left half way up, with an upper and lower working. The sides of the place were hard stone and no timber was used except a few hitch poles placed horizontal. About 6pm. they each fired 3 holes, those of the deceased being in the middling. Deceased commenced work in the upper and his mate in this lower working. Deceased soon after went back to dress down the holes and while so engaged using a pick a slab of stone 10.5 feet long by 7.5 feet wide and 6 or 7 inched thick fell from the side from a well-defined slip, upon him killing him instantly. Instead of using a pick deceased should have used a bar for a position of safety brought down the loosened stone but he had only been a full miner for 2 months and lacked experience. The working places are, in accordance with this Special Rules in force at this mine examined daily and the place of this accident had been visited by this deputy at 8am., but the overman at the inquest agreed that an examination each shift would be on improvement.