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Full Details

Surname
BEST
Forename
Matthew
Day
02
Month
07
Year
1906
Age
28
Occupation
Stoneman
Mine/Quarry Name
West Pelton
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
James Joicey & Co. Ltd
Location
Pelton
County
Durham
Details of Event
Deceased and another stoneman were shooting up a bottom caunch, 3 feet 3 inches thick, in a waggonway place with coal sides in the Drift district of the Maudlin seam, 3 feet 4 inches, thick of the Alma pit when a gravely post stone full of plant impressions, of elliptical shape, having diameters 13 feet and 6.5 feet and varying in thickness up to 8 inches relieved by coal pipes and a slippery parting, fell upon him while he was filling stones into a tub from a shot of carbonite fired 40 minutes before. His mate, also filling the tub, escaped and at once raised the alarm but deceased had been instantly killed. They had taken out a prop and headtree just beyond the caunch before firing. No timber was under the stone but permanent timber would have been set when they had cleared away the stones and there was a supply of timber close at hand. The back shift deputy had passed the place which was part of the road along which the coal was led during the day about 4.30 pm. or about two hours before they started work and the master shifter visited them at 1pm or two hours before the accident and had jowled the roof and thought it safe but as the character of the stone was altering warned them to be careful. The Local Inspectors reported ‘found everything to our satisfaction as regards our examination.’