Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	4th October 1834
Colliery:	Springwell
Cause:	Shaft accident
Lives Lost:	2

A serious accident happened this day, at Springwell colliery, near Eighton Banks, the property of Lord Ravensworth and partners, by the falling of a heavy piece of timber down the pit, which alighted upon a scaffold, or "cradle", upon which were standing, in the act of repairing the shaft, William Puncheon, brakeman, and John Smith, wasteman, the weight of which precipitated them to the bottom, a depth of thirty fathoms, and dreadful to relate, they were both killed on the spot. No blame attached to any person. The sufferers were steady men, and much respected by their employers. Puncheon left a widow and six children to lament his untimely end. Verdict — accidental death.

Source:

Local Historian's Table Book of Remarkable Occurrences Connected with the Counties of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northumberland and Durham by M.A. Richardson. Published in five volumes in 1844.

	Puncheon, William, Brakeman, by the fall of a large piece of timber down the shaft, a scaffolding or "cradle" on which they were standing, in the act of repairing the shaft, was carried to the bottom, a depth of thirty fathoms, and both were killed on the spot, left a widow and six children
	Smith, John, Wasteman, by the fall of a large piece of timber down the shaft, a scaffolding or "cradle" on which they were standing, in the act of repairing the shaft, was carried to the bottom, a depth of thirty fathoms, and both were killed on the spot
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