New Search

Full Details

Surname
WALTON
Forename
Leonard
Day
25
Month
03
Year
1914
Age
14
Occupation
Taker-off
Mine/Quarry Name
Jamage Main
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
John Wedgwood (Representatives of the late)
Location
Talke
County
Staffordshire
Details of Event
An empty tub had become derailed in jigging operations, about 9 yards from the bottom of the jig at which deceased was takeroff. On receiving a signal, be went up the jig and lifted the tub on to the rails and then gave the signal to the jigger to continue jigging. The jigger had only just commenced again when the jig chain broke and both tubs ran back down the jig to the bottom. Deceased was found lying on the plates at the bottom of the jig, some distance from the tubs, but how he received his injuries could not be ascertained. It could only be assumed that he signalled to the jigger while still in the jig and that in trying to get clear he was struck either by a tub or flying piece of coal from the full tub. The chain appeared to be perfectly sound, but as the broken link could not be found, it was not possible to ascertain the cause of the breakage. Rivet links were in use on the chain at intervals of 4 yards in order to lengthen the chain as the jig was extended. It is not known whether the broken link was a "rivet" or ordinary link. A test was made afterwards of portion of the broken chain and a "rivet" link the "rivet" link broke under a weight of two tons. The actual dead weight on the chain when working in the jig (inclination 1 in 6) would be about 3 to 4 cwts.