New Search

Return to Search Results

Full Details

Surname
WRIGHTSON
Forename
Charles
Day
23
Month
08
Year
1906
Age
64
Occupation
Stoneman
Mine/Quarry Name
Cramlington
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Cramlington Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Cramlington
County
Northumberland
Details of Event
Deceased and another stoneman, who was injured by the accident, were making a road across an old bord, the roof in which had fallen to a height of 9 feet, in the Main Coal seam 6 feet thick of the Ann pit. They had ridded away the fallen stone and put in lofting to within 6 feet of the coal on the far side and had sent the stone putter to the flat for some balks 6.5 feet long, which he had some difficulty in finding and did not bring to them, and as deceased said he was not in a hurry the putter them for a while and did other work; on returning about an hour after he found both men fastened by a fall, which had brought away some of the timber from the brow across the old bord near where deceased had been cutting a hole in the coal to receive the end of a balk. The putter was not able to release them and went for help. Deceased’s mate whose hand was fastened between a balk and the stone tub, was soon set free and a stone resting on deceased’s mouth which he complained of as interfering with his breathing was removed but notwithstanding all efforts he was not released until an hour and a half had elapsed when he was dead. The fall amounted to 5 or 6 tons and stuff kept sliding away as they worked to free deceased. It came away from a breaker near the side of the pillar of coal, fell the full height 9 feet of the old fall and was widest at the top. No doubt deceased had disturbed it while cutting the hole for the balk. Deceased was himself a competent examiner, and the chargeman had been near them about an hour and half before the accident and had asked if they were all right and they replied in the affirmative. The Local Inspectors reported, ‘Find that it was through the brow coming away, and we are of opinion that it was a pure accident and no blame attaches to anyone.’