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Full Details

Surname
PATERSON
Forename
George
Day
04
Month
11
Year
1914
Age
18
Occupation
Chain Runner
Mine/Quarry Name
Bothwell Park
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
William Baird & Co. Ltd
Location
Bothwell
County
Lanarkshire
Details of Event
Deceased was a run-rider on a haulage road rising from the shaft, and part of his duties was to couple and uncouple the rakes, which usually consisted of 18 tubs. At the top of the haulage road was a hauling engine worked by compressed air; the empty rake being hauled up and the loaded rake lowered down by the drum running loose controlled by a brake. Some distance from the top was a bench and deceased brought the rake to a standstill a short distance above the lye for the purpose of attaching two loaded tubs; these tubs stood on the haulage road; the signal was given to lower the rake, and, just as it was about to reach the stationary tubs, deceased stepped in between with his head and shoulders to couple when he was fatally crushed. He had been warned the day before about the dangerous practice of going between the tubs to couple them.