Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	8th January 1898
Colliery:	South Hetton
Cause:	Fall of Roof or Side
Lives Lost:	2

No. 10 on the list occurred at South Hetton Colliery, belonging to the South Hetton Coal Co., Ltd., on January 8th, and caused the death of two deputies.

The two deceased men were engaged drawing the timber out of a jud in the Low Main Seam, when a large stone suddenly fell away from the roof, owing to the presence of a slip in the stone which could not be seen before the fall, and caught and killed them both. The size of the stone was 20 ft. long by 5 ft. wide by 18 in. thick.

The men were both well experienced workmen, and appeared to have been doing the work properly and to have neglected no precautions, but I mention the case particularly to draw the attention of officials and men to the dangerous nature of these slips or natural joints, and to say how necessary it is to use every care to find them, and having done so, to either take the stone down or support it properly with timber.

I always regret to have to report the death of a deputy from an accident when drawing timber ; it is a very hazardous occupation, requiring great skill and care, and, as a rule, in this district, is well performed.

Source:

1898 Mines Inspectors Report (C 9264), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines, from a copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.

	Carr, Robert, aged 45, Deputy, They were drawing a jud, when a large stone 20 feet long by feet wide by 18 inches thick fell away at a slip in the roof, and killed them both. The slip was not visible before the stone fell [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 10 Jan 1898 pg 3; inquest - 11 Jan 1898 pg 2]
	Short, Alexander, aged 38, Deputy, They were drawing a jud, when a large stone 20 feet long by feet wide by 18 inches thick fell away at a slip in the roof, and killed them both. The slip was not visible before the stone fell [Sunderland Daily Echo reports: accident - 10 Jan 1898 pg 3; inquest - 11 Jan 1898 pg 2], Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, South Hetton
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	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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