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Full Details

Surname
MASON
Forename
Leonard
Day
01
Month
06
Year
1906
Age
42
Occupation
Hewer
Mine/Quarry Name
Backworth
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Owners of Backworth Collieries
Location
Backworth
County
Northumberland
Details of Event
A shot hole in the coal was charged with one cartridge of carbonite, fitted with detonator and electric wires and stemmed with clay. The current was turned on but the shot missed fire. The cable was then tested by holding the wires at the end of it furthest from the battery against the metallic cover of a safety lamp and observing if a spark was produced on operating the battery it was found to be defective and about 2 feet was cut off its length and the shot firer went back to the battery intending and expecting that deceased would again test it; owing to a misunderstanding deceased went to the shot and coupled its wires to the cable. The shot firer turned on the current, the shot exploded, and he was killed on the spot. The local Inspectors reported ‘in our opinion we think it a pure accident.'