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Full Details

Surname
NEWTON
Forename
Thomas
Day
16
Month
06
Year
1905
Age
26
Occupation
Shifter
Mine/Quarry Name
Shilbottle
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Shilbottle Coal Co.
Location
Shilbottle
County
Northumberland
Details of Event
George Selby died on 18th June. The shaft siding which lies above the seam worked had been in the course of enlargement for two years. Side stone was worked off on occasions when the pit was idle. The road when finished was about 12 feet wide and 10 feet high. The sides were principally post with blue metal at top and bottom. The jacks in the stone were blackened with dust. On the day of the accident a shift of three deputies had worked at the place from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. They were visited both by the undermanager and overman. At 10 a.m. deceased men and others commenced their shift and while deceased men filled loose stones into tubs a stoneman prepared a shot about 18 feet from the place where the stone fell and this shot was fired at noon charged with 1lb. of powder. It did not do much work but may have helped to loosen the stone. After returning after the shot the overman made an examination and then work was resumed. In about 20 minutes a mass of the post fell from the side and caught deceased, who were filling stones. The fall came away at jacks and there was a slip at the bottom. It gave no warning but any slight sound might not have been heard owing to the noise proceeding from pumps working in the shaft and water failing therein. The Local Inspectors reported, we are of the opinion the occurrence has been a pure accident. 2 killed.