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Full Details

Surname
OWENS
Forename
John
Day
05
Month
12
Year
1907
Age
32
Occupation
Hewer
Mine/Quarry Name
Wearmouth
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Wearmouth Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Sunderland
County
Durham
Details of Event
Deceased and another hewer who was slightly injured were working together in a lift 4 yards wide and which had advanced 4 yards in broken workings in the North Landing West Flat of the Maudlin seam in the A pit. The seam is about 5 feet thick and is overlaid by about 4 feet of blue metal followed by post. It is not a good roof the stone being short and jointy. The back shift deputy had examined the place during the course of his shift and saw deceased and his marrow at the station before they started work in the night shift. Deceased, who was described as a very careful man was preparing to set a prop at the loose side when a fall took place from the roof above him and close to the coal and he was fastened. His marrow who was near the fast side and had his foot injured was able to go for help and another hewer came but was not able to release deceased as another fall came away. The deputy arrived and made an attempt but had to stop to put timber in and eventually more stone fell and it was 4.5 hours before deceased was got out. The fall at the finish was 1 feet by 7 feet in area at the base and extended to a height of 12 feet or more It came away at a slip which showed in the coal as a sooty back and was seen before the accident. About seven props were canted out. The back shift deputy had examined the place during the back shift and he reported it as safe to the night shift deputy. There was a good supply of loose timber. The Local Inspectors reported ‘we are of opinion that the deceased, John Owens, met his death by accident, no blame attached to anyone.’