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Full Details

Surname
GARDENER
Forename
William Edward
Day
05
Month
02
Year
1907
Age
20
Occupation
Hewer
Mine/Quarry Name
Washington
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Washington Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Washington
County
Durham
Details of Event
Died February 14 Two holes each 3 feet deep were drilled near the roof in a place 7 feet wide in a coal seam, 4 feet 8 inches thick Each hole was charged with Bellite No.and was fitted with a detonator and wires for electric firing. The shot on the right side was coupled up to the cable by the deputy who retired about 33 yards and round a corner and fired the shot, leaving deceased to retire along a place to the right near where the shots were being fired in order to prevent a hewer who worked further in coming out past the shots. After the first shot was fired the deputy without making any examination of the place as required by special rule and against the provisions of the Explosives in Coal Mines Order allowed the hewer to couple up the second shot. While he was doing so the hewer from further in came out to see the deputy who thinking it was the hewer whose shots he was firing turned on the current and the hewer who had not left the face was seriously injured and died 9 days later. The deputy was fined for a breach of the Special Rules.