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Full Details

Surname
GILLESPIE
Forename
William
Day
10
Month
01
Year
1913
Age
52
Occupation
Quarrier
Mine/Quarry Name
Kilcoan Quarry
Mineral Worked
Limestone
Owner
Island Magee Limestone Co.
Location
Larne
County
Antrim, Ireland
Details of Event
Taking by hand two full waggons a ton weighs each from the face of the quarry, 5 yards inside a tunnel, he usually put a sprag in the wheels to hold them until the incline man fetched them. He failed to get the sprag in, dropped it, and foolishly tried to hold the waggons; they overpowered him and 40 yards beyond the mouth of the tunnel, passed over him, severely crushing his head. The inclination for 30 yards from the face was slight beyond it was steeper. It was dusk at the time, and inside the tunnel dark. Acting on suggestion in the winter months a light will be placed where the sprag had to be put in.