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Full Details

Surname
LOWES
Forename
John
Day
30
Month
05
Year
1904
Age
54
Occupation
Chargeman
Mine/Quarry Name
Earsdon
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Owners of Backworth Collieries
Location
Earsdon
County
Northumberland
Details of Event
A headways gateway in longwall workings in the Yard seam had become too low for the tub to pass at a point 6 yards from the face. Deceased and two other men were making it higher. They had taken some stone down from the outbye side. Deceased went forward to draw a prop using a mall with a shaft 2.5 feet long when he knocked out the prop a stone 4 feet by 5 feet and 7 inches thick relieved by jacks at the sides and by a parting above fell upon him and fastened him against another stone already taken down. One of the new timbering Rules enacts, ‘Wherever timber has to be withdrawn from the waste or other disused parts of the mine the prop drawer shall have with him an appliance ready for use suitable for drawing timber without undue risk.’ In this case it was contended by the management that the place did not come within the scope the rule. The Local Inspectors in their report appeared to have some doubt as to the wisdom of deceased acting as did but at the inquest they gave evidence and said they thought I occurrence was purely accidental.