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Full Details

Surname
BOWATER
Forename
David
Day
02
Month
02
Year
1914
Age
37
Occupation
Banksman
Mine/Quarry Name
West Cannock, No.4 Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
West Cannock Colliery Co. Ltd
Location
Hednesford
County
Staffordshire
Details of Event
The accident happened at 2.30 a.m. The shunter had applied to the head banksman for a man to assist in lowering the full wagons under the screens. He afterwards lowered three wagons without a helper and again applied for assistance when he was informed that deceased had already been sent to help him. A search was made and deceased’s body was found between the wheels of a wagon which had been allowed to run by gravity twenty minutes earlier, and which was standing a few yards below the entrance to a shelter containing a fire made between two sets of lines. Apparently immediately after the shunter had released this wagon the deceased whose presence was unknown to him emerged from the shelter and was struck down by the wagons and run over by the front wheel. His tea bottle and hand-lamp were found inside the shelter. The light was good the sidings being illuminated by arc lights; but the noise from the screen machinery, which was in motion would prevent the deceased hearing any sound from the approaching wagon.