Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	29th October 1894
Colliery:	Wallsend
Cause:	In Shaft
Lives Lost:	1

At Wallsend Colliery, on the 29th October last, there occurred an accident of a peculiar nature, which unfortunately ended in the death of a sinker, named Thomas Hamer. This well-known colliery is being re-opened by the Wallsend and Hebburn Coal Company, Ltd., and as it is intended to work the place on a large scale, extensive alterations and additions are being made to the plant and machinery now on the ground, and it need hardly be said that some of the arrangements were naturally of a tentative character, as is always the case where a colliery is being re-opened. Sinking operations were in progress, and on the date named the G Pit was down to a depth of 121 fathoms, or 9 fathoms below the High Main seam, the second or H Pit being 107 fathoms deep, or 5 fathoms short of that seam. In the High Main seam a drift was driven from the G Pit and a communication made with the bottom of the H Pit by a borehole, in order to drain off the small feeders of water met with in the latter. Four 21 inch pumps, set at the same level, are employed to lift the water from the G Pit to a point 58 fathoms up, where it flows through another drift to the H Pit, and is then raised to the delivery drift at the surface by what may be termed the permanent pumping engines, of which there are two, each furnished with a 26 inch pump, and worked alternately. Hence it will be seen that if the pumping engines at the G Pit were stopped the water would gradually rise through the borehole in the H Pit. At this time the two permanent pumping engines, the winding engines, electric light engine, and the two crab engines were, for reasons mentioned above, dependent on one range of boilers and one main steam pipe, the G Pit pumping engines being supplied from the same boilers by an independent steam pipe; consequently, in case of mishap to the former pipe, all the first mentioned engines would be rendered useless, and inasmuch as the G Pit pumping engine was only used to lift the water from the bottom to the H Pit engine, it would, of course, have to be stopped.

This unfortunately did occur, through an accident to the receiver, resulting in the fracture of the pipe conveying the steam from the main supply pipe, and at a time when eight sinkers were engaged in the H Pit. All the electric lights, including those in the sinking pit, were at once put out, but the sinkers were at the time in no way alarmed. Immediate steps were taken by those at bank to get the men out of the pit, and as it was difficult to communicate instructions to them, the assistant master sinker, James Fawcett, was lowered by means of the brake down to the girders on which the pumps rested, whence he was able to lower some lamps to the men, and also to converse with them. The kibble was then lowered to the bottom, and after the men got in an attempt was made to prise the winding drum round, but without success. In the meantime the jinny or horse-crab rope was prepared, and this was then lowered into the pit and Fawcett gave the men instructions to attach two loops which he had previously sent down in the kibble, and for four of them to get on. The water at this time was gradually rising in the pit, and there was evidently some difference of opinion amongst the men below as to the best course to pursue, for according to Fawcett's statement, contradictory orders were given first by one man and then by another, and it was not until three-quarters of an hour had elapsed from the time the rope first reached the men that they finally started from the bottom, all the men being raised at once, three sitting in the loops, two standing, one in either loop, and the remaining three standing in spun yarn loops tied on to the rope above. Deceased was one of the centre group, and was apparently all right until they had been raised about half the distance to the girders, w hen he asked the next man to give him a hand until he got a better hold. This was done, but immediately after he fell away into the water and was drowned. The deceased, it appears, had lost a thumb of one of his hands by a previous accident, and it was thought that this would interfere with his grasp, but the general opinion amongst the other men was that he fainted.

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.

	Hamar, Thomas, aged 38, Sinker, Whilst being drawn up the shaft in the loop with other men, he slipped off, and, falling into the water beneath, was drowned [Inquest attended]
	All names found

 

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