Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	9th November 1888
Colliery:	Towneley, Emma Pit
Cause:	Fell down shaft
Lives Lost:	1

The cages run to the Five quarter seam at 68 fathoms. The Old Five quarter at 29 fathoms is being opened out, and two hewers in a shift are in it. The coals from the Old Five quarter are hung on at the shaft, one cage only being used, the onsetter and assistant coming from the bottom three times a day to the Old Five quarter. The cages are double decked, one tub on each deck. The men are allowed to ride in top deck only, the sides of which are sheeted; the sides of the bottom deck are not sheeted. There are no keps at Old Five quarter. There is a rapper from Old Five quarter to surface, but no down rapper. The shaft at the Old Five quarter is all enclosed except one entrance to cage, and this entrance is protected by an iron bar, which is not removed in order to use cage, and a gate on hinges, which is opened when using cage. So far as the evidence at inquest showed, the cage was in the position shown on accompanying plan when deceased fell down pit, and the onsetter saw him enter the cage. He may have got over the bunton in some manner and fallen between it and side of pit, but there were no marks on shaft to show that he had done so. A few feet below Old Five quarter on the north side of shaft is a 12 inch square bunton between the cage buntons and the side of pit on which he would have been likely to beat and probably lie, had he fallen as suggested. The shaft was properly lighted at Old Five quarter. The accident is of a singular character, and the evidence, while being clear, did not satisfy me. The jury suggested a grating between bunton and side of shaft, but the manager has put some deals between the buntons.

Source:

1888 Mines Inspectors Report (C 5779)

	Fairbridge, William, aged 16, Assistant Onsetter, fell from "hanging on" to bottom of shaft
	All names found

 

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