Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	23rd July 1902
Colliery:	Margaret Pit, Newbottle
Cause:	Fall of stone
Lives Lost:	2

No. 257 occurred at the Margaret Pit of the Lambton Collieries, Ltd., on July 23rd, and caused the death of two men.

This accident occurred in a longwall face where coal cutters are employed.

In this case the coal cutter, which is of the disc type, driven by electricity, and acts in a band about 10 inches from the top of the seam, was cutting along the face on to the top of a "hitch," which the face had just passed through, and when doing so, it cut into a slip which ran through the coal and stone into the "hitch" leader ; the partings were like glass and to make matters worse there were joints, running at right angles to the face, in the stone, so that the stone, practically, as soon as the cutting wheel cut into the slip, had no support at all, and it fell, without the slightest warning, and killed these two men.

Two props, which had been set under the stone, were displaced but whether by the fall or the machine, or part of it, fell on to the coal cutter and is uncertain. The fall covered the switch so that the current could not be switched off, with the result that the machine could not be stopped till one of the men, who was fastened by the stone but not hurt, got free and ran to the gateway switch 50 yards away.

This is the first accident of this kind that has occurred in this district where coal cutting machines are used, and, as far as I have been able to learn, there does not appear to have been, any neglect or want of care in connection with it, but I should like to place on record my strong conviction that where coal cutters are used the greatest care as regards timbering and inspections for slips must be exercised to prevent accidents. Owing to the noise of the cutter when it is working, any movement in the stone or coal cannot be heard, and extra precautions, therefore, must be taken.

Where the face is crossing faults, or hitches, I consider it safer to work the face, until it is through hitch and clear of the leader, by hand, owing to the usually disturbed nature of the stone.

Source:

1902 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1590)

	Curry, William Stokoe, aged 19, Shovelling out after Coal Cutter, a coal cutting machine was at work in the face of some longwall workings, there was a "hitch" on the goaf side of the machine, and when cutting the wheel cut into a slip in the roof and a large stone fell, without any warning, and killed these two men
	Foster, Robert, aged 26, Road Layer, a coal cutting machine was at work in the face of some longwall workings, there was a "hitch" on the goaf side of the machine, and when cutting the wheel cut into a slip in the roof and a large stone fell, without any warning, and killed these two men, Buried: St. Cuthberts Churchyard, West Herrington
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