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Full Details

Surname
HOCKING
Forename
John
Day
28
Month
07
Year
1907
Age
35
Occupation
Miner
Mine/Quarry Name
Lonsdale
Mineral Worked
Iron Ore
Owner
Lonsdale Mining Co. Ltd
Location
Frizington
County
Cumberland
Details of Event
The men in No.11 company in whose working the accident happened were engaged in taking out ‘middling’ i.e., a slice of ore which had previously formed the roof of a working below and the sole of one above. The middling was 8 or 9 feet thick and about the same width. The place was officially examined at 4.40 am on the 28th and was considered all right and safe. Only one shift is worked in the place and the miners, John Hocking, Alex. Pooley, and George Dixon, also examined it on their arrival soon after 6am and considered it right. Two hours later a slice of the middling fell without any warning and buried John Hocking and Alex. Pooley and also another man, John Irving, who did not belong to their set, but who at the time was working at a lower level almost immediately below the fall. Irving was dead when his body was found Hocking died a few minutes after they had brought him home. Pooley was injured somewhat seriously, but Dixon was unhurt. The fall disclosed a cross slip not previously visible, which taken in conjunction with a longitudinal slip of which they were aware, had allowed the mass to fall without any warning No timber was set under the ground which fell as it was very strong ore and timber was not considered necessary. 2 killed.