Single Record

Full Details

Surname

GLADSTONE

Forename

Thomas

Day

01

Month

10

Year

1906

Age

31

Occupation

Hewer

Mine/Quarry Name

North Seaton

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

Cowpen Coal Co. Ltd

Location

North Seaton

County

Northumberland

Details of Event

Deceased was working during the back shift with another hewer, who was in the gateway helping the putter at the time of the accident, in longwall workings in the Staple district of the Yard seam and was filling coal at the roadhead when a blue metal stone 10 feet long parallel to the face, 6 feet wide, and with a maximum thickness or 15 inches fell from the roof upon him, relieved by two jacks at right angles and thinning out to the face where it broke off close to the coal some props were canted out by its fall. The gateway was not far advanced and had not been regularly worked, no canch shots having been fired in it for two weeks. The deputy examined the roof at 12 noon when it appeared safe and he was in again firing a bottom shot for them in the coal at 2.15pm on neither occasion did he observe the backs although the hewers had seen them and put in more props in consequence. There was a sufficient supply of loose timber The Local Inspectors reported, ‘There appeared to have been plenty of timber set, but in our opinion the steno must have canted the timber and then dropped right down. As far as we can see it has been an unforeseen accident.'