Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	12th September 1863
Colliery:	Auckland Park, South Pit
Cause:	Fell down shaft
Lives Lost:	4

No. 51 accident in the detailed list occurred in a sinking shaft, and resulted in the death of four men.

These four men, in company with three others, including the contractor, who had charge of the operations, were upon a cradle which was suspended by four chains attached to a capstan of crab rope, and were engaged in connecting some cast iron pipes to the tubbing ; to do this, several of them had occasion to go to one side of the cradle to lift a heavy metal pipe, with a view of getting it attached, but their united weights at one side overbalanced the cradle, and the four poor fellows, along with the pipe, were consequently precipitated from the cradle down the shaft, a depth of about 51 fathoms, at the bottom of which was about five feet of water. After their weight left the edge of the cradle, the cradle naturally fell back into a horizontal position, and the other three persons thus escaped unhurt.

The cradle was what is termed a half cradle, being nearly in the form of a large segment of a circle somewhat less than the shaft in diameter, which would render it more liable to edge up than a whole cradle nearly filling the circle of the shaft, would have been. The reason of a half cradle being used was the existence of a canvas brattice in the shaft, which separated a segment of its section for the purpose of ventilating the shaft.

When a number of workmen have occasion to go to the side of a cradle suspended in a shaft, the cradle ought to be previously lashed with a view of preventing its being edged up or canted by their weight, if necessary.

The addition of an iron bar standing six or eight inches above the level of the cradle all around the edge (but a little within it) would I think occasionally enable persons to save themselves from falling off, as they could, in many cases, catch hold of it for safety.

Precautions have been adopted to guard against a similar accident in future.

Source:

1863 Mines Inspectors Report, Southern District by John J. Atkinson

	Davison, Henry, aged 25, Sinker, formerly of Bedlington, killed by falling down a sinking shaft owing to the upsetting of a cradle upon which they were working; too many of them were at the edge of the cradle and overbalanced it, Buried: Bedlington Cemetery
	Elwen, George, aged 32, Sinker, from Hetton, brother of John, killed by falling down a sinking shaft owing to the upsetting of a cradle upon which they were working; too many of them were at the edge of the cradle and overbalanced it, Buried: South Church Churchyard
	Elwen, John, aged 45, Sinker, from Hetton, brother of George, killed by falling down a sinking shaft owing to the upsetting of a cradle upon which they were working; too many of them were at the edge of the cradle and overbalanced it, Buried: South Church Churchyard
	Waggett, Richard, aged 21, Sinker, killed by falling down a sinking shaft owing to the upsetting of a cradle upon which they were working; too many of them were at the edge of the cradle and overbalanced it, Buried: South Church Churchyard
	All names found
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