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Full Details

Surname
PARKES
Forename
William
Day
22
Month
12
Year
1913
Age
44
Occupation
Master Sinker
Mine/Quarry Name
Knowle
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
H.S. Pitt & Co.
Location
Rowley Regis
County
Staffordshire
Details of Event
A new length of walling had just been completed and the wire rope conductors were being lowered a distance of 15 yards. The conductors had been "let out" the required distance and deceased, accompanied by the blacksmith, proceeded to the surface to seek some glands, intending to return at once to the pit bottom to fix these in position to hold the conductors. As the bowk passed through the folding doors at the top the enginewright and the banksman stood at the doors waiting to drop same. The enginewright shut his side but deceased told the banksman they were going straight back and he need not close the doors and the other side was therefore left open. The bowk stood about 4 foot above the doors, and while the enginewright was handing the glands to the blacksmith deceased who had ascended with both legs inside the bowk suddenly swinging his legs out apparently intending to get out and either overbalanced himself or missing his footing as he jumped he fell into the open side of the shaft and dropped a distance of 100 yards. It was not clear for what purpose deceased was getting out of the bowk.