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Full Details

Surname
NICHOLSON
Forename
John Porter
Day
23
Month
03
Year
1905
Age
30
Occupation
Sinker
Mine/Quarry Name
Beckermet Mine
Mineral Worked
Iron Ore
Owner
Beckermet Mining Co. Ltd
Location
Beckermet
County
Cumberland
Details of Event
The shaft here is sinking through the St. Bees sandstone to reach iron ore in the Carboniferous Limestone below, and is fairly heavily watered. The shaft is rectangular in section, 17 feet 9 inches long and 7 feet 9 inches wide, the winding space in the centre being 4 feet 4 inches by 7 feet 9 inches. A depth of 94 fathoms had been sunk in the St. Bees sandstone, and at 80 fathoms a ledge was cut where most of the water was intercepted and an electrical pump installed which pumped to the surface. The water in the pit bottom then only amounted to about four barrels or vats per hour and was raised to the surface by a vat 4 feet deep and 2 feet 2 inches diameter by the winding engine. On the day of the accident the motor at the 80-fathom lodge tired, and the pump was stopped for 15 minutes. In order to restart the pump the column was run off, and the water finding its way to the shaft bottom alarmed five sinkers working there, and they all got on to the edge of the vat, which was then in the bottom, except deceased, whose position was not apparently known, but who may have been clinging to the edge of the vat by his hands. In the excitement all the lights but one, were extinguished. The vat was signalled up to the ledge, and when there deceased fell away into the bottom and was killed. The leading sinker unfortunately was not in the bottom at the time or the panic might not have arisen. The overman stated at the inquest that he had informed the men that the column might be run off.