Single Record

Full Details

Surname

FELLOWS

Forename

Richard

Day

10

Month

01

Year

1908

Age

37

Occupation

Loader

Mine/Quarry Name

Himley, No.04

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

Earl of Dudley

Location

Gornalwood

County

Staffordshire

Details of Event

An old road in the Thick Coal which had been standing for some years, had been cleaned up and the sides stripped and a thirling 4 yards wide, had been started off one side in the bottom portion of the seam. Deceased was filling a tub with slack at the entrance to the thirling when a bump took place, and a quantity of coal, 6ft. in length, 3ft in thickness, and 5ft. in height suddenly burst from the opposite side of the old road, falling upon and killing him instantly. The overman, who was present at the time, was knocked down and had his arm broken. His brother sated at the inquest that he had examined the place shortly before the accident occurred. He ‘knocked on it, and it appeared to be quite safe, though there was a break at the back. The place was not timbered, as there was no necessity timber it. The coal would not have come off but for the bump which sounded like a cannon.'