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Full Details

Surname
PLANT
Forename
William Henry
Day
16
Month
11
Year
1908
Age
20
Occupation
Rope Runner
Mine/Quarry Name
Hickleton Main
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Hickleton Main Colliery Co. Ltd
Location
Thurnscoe
County
Yorkshire WR
Details of Event
On the road on which this accident occurred, a compressed air engine is used to haul ten tubs. The empty tubs drag the rope in-bye, and 11 tubs of dirt or 16 of coal are hauled out at a time. In this case, seven tubs of dirt were to be brought out to be lowered into another road, and these tubs were spragged with a rail. A signal of four raps, which meant "draw up steadily," was given to the engineman with the object of taking out the sprag so that the tubs could be lowered to others to make up the set. As soon as the tubs were moved the sprag was removed and a signal of "one" was given to stop, but evidently a proper connection of the signal wires was not made, for the engineman did not receive the signal man in charge of the haulage followed the set up the road shouting for the tubs to be stopped. The first tub left the rails, and the drawbar of the second tub broke and five tubs ran down the plane. The deceased was caught and run over, and died within a few minutes. The other man managed to get out of the way. The drawbar broke beyond the last bolt which was sheared through. This points to the conclusion that there was a jerk. The men should not have travelled on the plane after the tubs as the drag was not attached, for it was intended to lower the tubs as soon as the sprag was removed.