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Full Details

Surname
BRIDGES
Forename
William
Day
11
Month
12
Year
1903
Age
23
Occupation
Hewer
Mine/Quarry Name
Backworth
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Owners of Backworth Collieries
Location
Backworth
County
Northumberland
Details of Event
Three shots across the face of a winning place in a coal seam were bored near the roof and charged with bobbinite and fitted with electric fuses. Two hewers worked in the place. The shotfirer placed his battery within a passage at right angles and 15 yards from the shots. One of the hewers remained with him and connected the cable with the shots in turn. The other hewer was instructed to go some distance outbye to warn persons not to approach. The first and second shots were fired safely but while deceased was connecting the cable to the third shot the other hewer came back and entered the place where the shotfirer was who thinking it was deceased from the face turned on the current and fired the third shot.