Single Record

Full Details

Surname

BARNFATHER

Forename

Fenwick

Day

26

Month

01

Year

1904

Age

33

Occupation

Hewer

Mine/Quarry Name

Choppington

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

Bebside Coal Co. Ltd

Location

Choppington

County

Northumberland

Details of Event

Died January 31. Deceased and three other hewers were working together in a lift 10 yards wide in the broken or second working in the Low Main seam when a triangular shaped stone 9 feet by 8 feet by 12 feet and 10 inches thick consisting of shale or blue metal fell from the roof next the face and next an old place on the right side; the stone was relieved at two of its sides by slips which were not discernible owing to brat above the coal sticking to the roof stone. However the stone was known to sound heavy and one of the two props of a pair of gears as well as a single prop were set under it both of which were canted out by the fall. A deputy had examined the place shortly before the accident and put up the pair of gears referred to. There was an ample supply of loose timber. The Local Inspectors reported that they ‘found it a pure accident, with no blame attached to no one.'