Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	6th June 1899
Colliery:	Cramlington, High Pit
Cause:	Shaft Accident
Lives Lost:	1

No. 217. — This fatality occurred at a sinking pit at Cramlington "High" Colliery, Northumberland, and was of a somewhat peculiar character.

On the day of the accident, between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., Wm. Brown, waiter-on, had emptied the kibble and was bringing the bogie back, when it caught and upset a paraffin lamp. Another lighted lamp was hanging near, and some heated droppings from the latter ignited the oil from the overturned lamp, and the heap was soon in a blaze.

During this time deceased and four others were at the shaft bottom, and Brown immediately shouted down to warn them of the danger. The men below realized the position, and deceased rushed to the signal wire, which, unfortunately, broke. The kibble was, however, lowered, and four of them got into it. No response was made to their shouts to lift, and evidently the waiter-on could not hear them.

Pieces of burning wood began to drop down the shaft, and they left the kibble for a place of greater safety. Immediately afterwards the kibble moved away, and deceased made a spring, but only succeeded in getting hold of the edge. He went up for some distance in this position, then lost his hold and fell back into the pit.

The other men were ultimately rescued by lifting them to the Low Main Seam, and thence to bank by another outlet.

Source:

1899 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 134), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, copy held in the Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian.

	Farthing, Jonathan, aged 37, Sinker, Deceased and four others were working at the bottom of a sinking pit, when the heapstead got on fire owing to the upsetting of an oil lamp. Farthing came away holding on to the edge of kibble, but lost his hold and fell down the shaft [Inspection made & inquest attended]
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