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Full Details

Surname
ROBERTS
Forename
John William
Day
26
Month
02
Year
1913
Age
41
Occupation
Miner
Mine/Quarry Name
Caldonlow Quarry
Mineral Worked
Limestone
Owner
North Staffordshire Railway Co.
Location
Cauldon
County
Staffordshire
Details of Event
Deceased was employed in driving a gallery in the face of the quarry in preparation for a big blast. The explosive used was gelignite dynamite, which was placed in a warming pan by the contractor of the gang at 6.30 a.m. on February 26th and left in a locked cabin until required for use. There appears to have been a shortage in the supply of explosives on the morning in question, and on arriving at the quarry deceased got the key of the cabin from the foreman who had charge of it, and took out a 3-oz cartridge which he carried with him in his hand to the quarry, where lie placed it in a box. At about 7.30 a.m. He took the cartridge from the box, and finding it was rather hard, he put it into his trousers pocket in order that the heat of his body might soften it. He had some lucifer matches in the same- pocket, and a quarter of an hour afterwards the explosive was found to be on fire in his pocket. It burned him on the thigh and groin but not very deeply. He, however, succumbed to shock and heart failure on April 3rd. The accident was apparently due to a direct contravention of Special Rule No.8. But for his somewhat unexpected death, the owners would have taken proceedings against deceased.