| Disasters - Names |
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Disasters - Names | ||
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| Date: | 10th September 1894 |
| Colliery: | Radcliffe |
| Cause: | Explosion of fire-damp |
| Lives Lost: | 1 |
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| Description | |
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The fatal explosion, No. 52 on the list of fatal accidents, occurred at the Newburgh Colliery, near Acklington, on the 10th September. This colliery has been recently opened out, and the workings in the Queen coal seam where the accident happened, are consequently limited in extent. Naked lights were in use, as no danger was anticipated from fire-damp, the seam having been worked in the district for many years with open lights, and without accidents.
On the morning in question, the deputy, William Usher, made his examination of the workings, and found gas in a certain working place, but failed to put up a fence across the entrance. He states that he was called away on some important business, and although he saw the hewer, Andrew Oliver, and sent him to work in some other place, he forgot to warn the deceased, who proceeded direct to the place, and entered it for the purpose of seeing if there was a loaded tub ready for him to bring out, when the gas fired at his naked light, and he was so severely burnt that he died four days afterwards.
It was true that the deputy was called away in consequence of some trouble with the putter lads, but that was no excuse for neglecting his duties of examining the working places; and had it been absolutely necessary for him to leave the workings, he ought to have taken such steps as would have prevented the entry of the men until his examination had been completed. Be that as it may, however, it was admitted that although the gas was found, no fence or danger board had been put up, as is required by Special Rule 43, for which offence proceedings were taken against him at Alnwick Police Court, with the result that he was fined 1s. and costs 10s.
| Source: | 1894 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7667), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian. |
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| Fatalities | |
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Hedley, Andrew, aged 17, Putter, Burnt by gas. The deputy found some fire-damp in the place, but neglected to fence it off. He sent the hewer into another place, but did not see the deceased, who went in to ascertain if there was a full tub ready, when the gas ignited at his naked light [Inspection made] | |
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