Single Record

Full Details

Details of Event: Two single decked cages (of which only one was used the other merely as a counter balance) ran in the calling at the High Main seam at 31 fathoms and Grey seam at 47 fathoms. A rapper lever at the High Main worked hammers on the pit head and in the engine house and a rapper lever on the pit head signalled to the High Main. The foreshift men were riding from the High Main and the assistant onsetter was at the shaft the onsetter a brother of deceased was taking some refreshment in a cabin close by. The assistant onsetter signalled three to the surface which the banksman who was then at the surface level where the men usually left the cage stated he heard and which meant men to rise and he signalled one back which men can get into the cage. The engineman however said he only received one rap which meant raise the cage. The assistant onsetter removed a chain fencing the shaft and deceased had one foot on the cage when it was lifted and taken to the surface causing deceased to fall down the shaft to the Grey seam. It was given in evidence that if the rapper lever was worked too quickly the signal ‘three’ might appear as one. The Jury returned a verdict of accidental death, but added a rider that they considered the assistant onsetter not sufficiently competent for his duties.