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Full Details

Surname
MILLER
Forename
Andrew
Day
29
Month
12
Year
1903
Age
44
Occupation
Contractor Stoneman
Mine/Quarry Name
St Helens
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Saint Helens Colliery & Brickworks Co. Ltd
Location
Seaton
County
Cumberland
Details of Event
This accident occurred at the face of the stone drift in limestone driven from the bottom of the downcast shaft and only advanced a few feet. Two upper holes and two sumping holes had been drilled and were to be fired. The sumping holes were at an angle of about 45 degrees with the horizontal and were between 4 feet and 5 feet deep. They were drilled by jumper and hammer and were not round. Stowite for charging them had brought from the magazine to a registered store on the day of the accident and was sent down the pit and used at once. The storekeeper who gave it out stated at the inquest that some of the pellets were hard and some soft and he gave out the soft. One of the sumping holes was charged with 4 pellets and deceased was charging the other using a wooden rammer and while pushing home the second or third pellet the explosion took place. Warming pans were provided but not been used although for a day two before the accident the weather had been frosty.