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Full Details

Surname
BEAM
Forename
William
Day
29
Month
09
Year
1904
Age
62
Occupation
Stoneman
Mine/Quarry Name
Chopwell
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Consett Iron Co. Ltd
Location
Chopwell
County
Durham
Details of Event
A small staple 4.5 feet in diameter was being sunk in the mine and was 9 feet deep. A hole was drilled by hand in a vertical position at the side and was about 2 feet 4 inches deep. Two cartridges of 0.5 lb. of cheddite were placed in it fitted with detonator and Bickford's fuse. According to deceased's son's statement the only other person present deceased was stemming the hole when the charge exploded. The Local Inspectors reported ‘found in our opinion for the shot to have gone off while the man was stemming the hole as we saw the hole had been tired as a hole in the roof indicates that the beater has been blown against the roof.’