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Full Details

Surname
HARBAGE
Forename
Thomas
Day
18
Month
11
Year
1909
Age
26
Occupation
Quarryman
Mine/Quarry Name
Lower Wyche Quarry
Mineral Worked
Basalt
Owner
Thomas Broad Ltd
Location
County
Worcestershire
Details of Event
A shot hole about 21 feet deep and nearly vertical was charged with 14oz. of loose gunpowder and stemmed with ground rock from the crusher. The fuse was an ordinary taped one. The shot hung fire, and after waiting for about 80 minutes, the shot firer, assisted by deceased and another, proceeded to unram it with a steel drill. While this was being done the charge exploded, injuring all three men. Deceased died 19 days later of septic pneumonia resulting from his injuries. The regular foreman was absent when the accident occurred, and the shot firer appeared to have had very little experience.