| Date: | 4th April 1891 |
| Colliery: | New Brancepeth |
| Cause: | (See description below) |
| Lives Lost: | 1 |
No. 12 on the list occurred at New Brancepeth Colliery, belonging to Messrs. Cochrane and Company, Limited, on the 4th of April, about 12.20 p.m., causing the death of Thomas Kitchen, a coal hewer. This accident was caused by a very large stone, weighing about three tons, falling from the roof. It appears that the man who was working in the place on the previous shift had set some timber under the stone which fell, and in his evidence at the inquest he said : "When I left the place it was all right. The tub was sticking in the morning, and the deputy came in and took some top down and told me to put a plank and props in close to the face before I left. I did so. It would be under the stone which fell. I have seen the place since and found that some timber has been removed. The roof did not look safe where I put the timber in as there were fault slips about." Other evidence was given, which showed that the deceased had removed the timber in question, and that if he had not done so the accident would not have happened.
I have on many occasions, in my reports and when visiting collieries and mines, and attending inquests, drawn attention to the danger incurred by removing timber, but notwithstanding accidents, caused by this reprehensible and dangerous practice, still occur.
| Source: | 1891 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6625) |
| | Kitchen, Thomas, aged 46, Hewer, fall of a large stone; he is supposed to have removed some timber |
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