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Full Details

Surname
PURCELL
Forename
Albert
Day
07
Month
09
Year
1908
Age
17
Occupation
Bell Ringer
Mine/Quarry Name
Brereton, Brick Kiln
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Earl of Shrewsbury
Location
Brereton
County
Staffordshire
Details of Event
Deceased was employed temporarily in the absence of the usual bell-ringer at a curve on a main-and-tail rope haulage road. It was his duty to follow the empty set inbye for a distance of 265 yds. and assist the engine plane man to change the ropes at that point; and then, while the set was going inbye for a further distance of 800 yds and returning, to return to his signal cabin to he in readiness to make certain signals. He had acted as bell-ringer on at least one previous occasion. No one witnessed the accident, but it appears that when returning to the signal cabin he had turned aside presumably out of curiosity to examine the horizontal wheel round which the tail rope passed at the curve. In some way he was caught by the on-going rope and dragged in against the wheel. He was decapitated, his left arm cut off above the elbow, and his safety lamp cut in two.