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Full Details

Surname
WILKINSON
Forename
Jackson
Day
21
Month
01
Year
1914
Age
68
Occupation
Deputy
Mine/Quarry Name
Esh
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Pease & Partners Ltd
Location
Esh
County
Durham
Details of Event
Part of deceased's district were workings in a seam 20 inches thick. It was worked longwall height being made in the gate roads, which were 12 yards apart, by shooting up bottom. Pitsea powder was the explosive used and the shots were fired at night, and cleared away by the first shift hewers. Three heavy shots were fired between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on the night of 20th January. Deceased made an inspection previous to admitting the first shift hewers at 4 a.m. on 21st January. During the shift a hewer went home, and another complained of bad air, and deceased told the undermanager that at the time be made his inspection the explosive fumes had not cleaned away. On the evening of the 22nd January he complained of feeling unwell, and said he thought he had strained himself during the day. On the 23rd January he went home from work, at the end of his shift, exceedingly ill. In the evening he was seen by a doctor, who found him suffering from acute congestion of the lungs; and from this he died at 6 a.m. on the 24th January. An inquest, following a post-mortem, was held, and the medical evidence was to the effect that such extensive and rapid congestion could only have been caused by an irritant in the lungs. The jury formed accordingly, and that fumes breathed in the pit were the cause of the congestion and death.