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Full Details

Surname
HARPER
Forename
James
Day
11
Month
11
Year
1909
Age
16
Occupation
Miner
Mine/Quarry Name
Wheal Kitty & Penhalls
Mineral Worked
Tin
Owner
Wheal Kitty & Penhalls United Ltd
Location
St Agnes
County
Cornwall
Details of Event
Four shots which he and his father left ready for firing at the end of their shift on the previous day were lighted by one of the men in the neighbouring place according to arrangement, as they were in the habit of commencing and finishing an hour later. On the morning of the accident deceased's father looked round the place, but did not carefully examine the position of the holes as he should have done to comply with the Special Rules. After filling the debris brought down by the shots, the father left him for a few minutes. While away he heard an explosion, and on returning found deceased blown back from the face, quite dead. Apparently he had commenced clearing out the socket of one of the holes with a drill and hammer, and exploded some unconsumed gelignite which remained. The father was ignorant of the rules, as he could not read, and no one had read or explained them to him.