Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	8th December 1891
Colliery:	Sherburn, Lady Durham Pit
Cause:	(See description below)
Lives Lost:	2

No. 60 on the list occurred at Lady Durham Colliery, belonging to the Earl of Durham, on the 8th of December, about 3.30 p.m., causing the death of two coal hewers named George Hopper and John Gutteridge.

They were engaged taking the last stook of a pillar out, surrounded on two sides by the goaf. The deputy was close by, waiting until they had finished, when he was going to draw the timber out of the jud. One of the hewers made a remark that the place was very quiet, and the other asked for some props to be taken out, so that he could fill the tub with more ease ; the deputy, however, very properly refused to do so. Soon after this the place fell without the slightest warning ; the deputy has the greatest difficulty in getting clear, as he was knocked down by the fall. The two deceased men never had a chance of escaping, as the roof fell before they could move even a few feet. The roof is a treacherous one, being composed of a bastard post with coal pipes in it. Since this accident, chocks have been used, and I am hopeful that they will prevent a reoccurrence of an accident like this.

Source:

1891 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6625)

	Gutteridge, John, aged 39, Hewer, a very large fall of stone took place without warning while they were finishing a broken lift in a jud or stook, Buried: St. Mary Magdalene, Belmont
	Hopper, George, aged 34, Hewer, a very large fall of stone took place without warning while they were finishing a broken lift in a jud or stook
	All names found
	Those names marked with , have a web page providing individual details of the accident, the page may also include a photograph of the deceased. Click on the symbol next to the name to see the web page.

 

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