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Full Details

Surname
FERGUSON
Forename
James
Day
08
Month
05
Year
1907
Age
53
Occupation
Hewer
Mine/Quarry Name
Newburgh
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Broomhill Collieries Ltd
Location
Amble
County
Northumberland
Details of Event
Died May 9. Deceased worked alone, using a candle in a place 20 feet wide in a coal seam, 2 feet 5 inches thick, and about the middle of the seam and centre of the place he had drilled a hole 3 feet deep, practically in the solid, the coal not being kyrved. It was charged with a home-made cartridge of loose gunpowder and fired by a patent squib. Deceased was found by the putter close to the shot, which had been fired, injured about the head. A prop or two had been blown out and some coal dislodged some of which was lying on his arm. He was never able to give any account of what happened and died next day. Probably the shot had exploded while he was lighting the squib. The Local Inspectors concluded their report as follows:- ‘After the most careful consideration we come to the conclusion that it had been a pure accident.'