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Full Details

Surname
RHODES
Forename
Walter
Day
08
Month
12
Year
1913
Age
22
Occupation
Hooker-On
Mine/Quarry Name
Birchenwood, No.18
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Birchenwood Colliery Co. Ltd
Location
Kidsgrove
County
Staffordshire
Details of Event
The accident occurred at the shaft bottom. Each cage is 4-decked, 2 decks being loaded simultaneously by hand from two landings. Deceased was stationed at the top landing, and when ready he signalled by bell to the hooker on the bottom landing, who in turn signalled direct to the engineman. The shaft bottom was fenced by gates sliding horizontally, and stop-blocks, worked by a hand-lever, were placed 4 foot from the shaft. It was the duty of each hooker to close the shaft gates and also the tub blocks before the cage was signalled away, but for some unknown reason deceased failed to do so, and while the cages were running in the shaft two full tubs apparently gravitated forward and pushed him into the shaft. He fell with them, a distance of 25 feet, one tub falling upon him and killing him.