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No. 447. — This was an exceptional kind of accident, and occurred at the Clifton Colliery, Cumberland. Deceased was a surface labourer, and was chiefly engaged in conveying debris from the pit mouth to the rubbish heap. The latter is a huge bank, the accumulation of many years, and extends down to the river Derwent, a distance on the slope of 200 feet. The heap was on fire in several places, and was also partially undermined by the river. On the day of the accident the Derwent was in flood, and probably on account of the fierce rush of water at the base, a large slice of the heap slipped into the river. The deceased was subsequently seen by the foreman standing near the edge of the fall, and the latter called to Scott to come away from the dangerous place, but before he had time to do so, a second slip took place and he was carried with it into the river. His body, which was at first supposed to be buried in the heap, was not recovered until the lapse of 19 days.
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