Single Record

Full Details

Surname

ROWELL

Forename

John Thomas

Day

11

Month

10

Year

1907

Age

23

Occupation

Hewer

Mine/Quarry Name

West Wylam

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

Mickley Coal Co. Ltd

Location

West Wylam

County

Northumberland

Details of Event

Deceased was going to his work in the fore shift in the Crosscut way in the Brockwell seam and was pushing an empty tub from the flat when a stone fell from the roof upon him a few feet out-bye from the face of a top canch that was taken down to make height. The seam is 2 feet 6 inches thick and 4 feet 6 inches of the overlying blue metal was shot down. The stonemen when last engaged at the work two nights ago had shot a length of the stone down but had not squared back the sides so as to set the permanent timber, and although they may have left it in their opinion safe the stone is so damp and full of joints, which here cross the road diagonally that it would have been prudent to have set some temporary timber. The stone that full was 5.5 feet long, 16 inches wide and from 3 to 11 inches thick, and was relieved by joints until was not supported in any way. The fore shift deputy had examined the place two hours before the accident and it appeared safe. The back shift deputy had the day before set a prop with a sleeper as a headtree between the canch and where the fall took place. There was an abundance of loose timber available. The Local Inspectors reported ‘Found it to be a pure accident with the exception of insufficient timber in.'