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Full Details

Surname
SMITH
Forename
Thomas
Day
04
Month
02
Year
1904
Age
71
Occupation
Timberer
Mine/Quarry Name
Whitehaven, Croft Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Whitehaven Colliery Co.
Location
Sandwith
County
Cumberland
Details of Event
The hewers working in a main pointing or heading well forward into the solid coal in the Main Band thought the roof of their place which consisted of 2 feet of coal was not safe and they sent for deceased who was a joiner or timberer, to put up a set of wood and while he, assisted by three other persons two of whom were injured was so engaged the roof coal fell right across the place and close up to the face. In two minutes the set of wood would have been erected, and probably have prevented the fall. In these workings the coal roof is usually so good that no timber except that necessary to carry the brattice is put up but in places far into the solid coal it is supposed that gas has some effect in forcing the roof down and in this particular place it had been found necessary to put up sets of wood for the last few yards the last set being 9 feet from the face at the time of the accident.