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Full Details

Surname
LOWTHER
Forename
Henry
Day
31
Month
12
Year
1906
Age
59
Occupation
Wasteman
Mine/Quarry Name
Chopwell
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Consett Iron Co. Ltd
Location
Chopwell
County
Durham
Details of Event
Deceased and another wasteman, who had been a deputy and who acted as chargeman were repairing an airway in an old headways in the North flat of the Brockwell seam of No.2 pit, when a stone, triangular in area, having sides about 4 feet long, fell partly from the side and partly from the roof and pinned deceased’s head against a pack wall he was building on the opposite side of the road. The stone was relieved by a breaker 6 inches over the coal and a slip at one end it was 2 feet thick next the coal and thinned out to a thin edge in the direction of deceased, and is known locally as a ‘side waver.’ No timber was sot under it, although there was loose timber close at hand. Deceased’s mate examined the place before they started work, and the master shifter had seen it shortly before, and while they were at work the overman visited them, and no sign of danger had been observed. There was pillaring next the thick part of the stone, but it had no hold of it. The Local Inspectors reported, ‘We are of opinion that it was a pure accident, and no fault whatever of the management or the deceased.’