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Full Details

Surname
THORNTON
Forename
Joseph
Day
01
Month
02
Year
1909
Age
48
Occupation
Master Shifter
Mine/Quarry Name
Littleburn
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
North Brancepeth Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Brandon & Byshottles
County
Durham
Details of Event
He was examining the working places prior to the foreshift hewers commencing when some gas, which had come from an exposed hitch leader, was ignited by his naked light. He was burnt on the hand and face and was taken to the Durham Infirmary. For a time he made good progress towards recovery but on the 13th he became worse and died the following day from heart failure. The gas had come off at an exposed hitch leader in the Hutton Seam. For many years previously, the presence of gas in this seam at this colliery had never been detected. Safety lamps were it once put in a place of naked lights.