Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	18th February 1902
Colliery:	Murton
Cause:	Crushed by tubs
Lives Lost:	3

No. 72 on the list occurred at Murton Colliery, belonging to Messrs. The South Hetton Coal Co., Ltd., on February 18th, and caused the deaths of three persons and serious injury to four others.

These men were travelling outbye on the engine plane, and when doing so the full set passed them and they got on to it, between the tubs, for the purpose of riding to the shaft. On the way out, on a gradient of 1½ inches per yard towards the shaft, some of the tubs got off the way by some means (most probably the first tub over-ran the main rope), and the tubs joined together, crushing these men so severely that three afterwards died, and four were off work for a considerable period.

In doing what they did they were acting illegally, riding on tubs or engine sets, except under proper control, and by special permission, being strictly prohibited at this colliery.

The working places in some parts of this colliery are a long way inbye, and it is, I have no doubt, a great temptation to the men and lads to get on to the sets, to ride outbye, after a days work, but this accident should prove to them what a dangerous proceeding it is, and put a stop to it.

To prevent the rules being broken, as they were on this occasion, requires strict discipline being maintained and much energy on the part of the officials. No case should be overlooked, as, by not enforcing the rules rigidly, men are apt to think the breaking of them is not a serious matter, and the result, sooner or later, inevitably is an unfortunate, but at the sametime preventible, accident such as this.

I must say, at this colliery, the officials, and also the representatives of the men, took the matter up strongly, and I have not since heard of men riding on the sets.

Source:

1902 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 1590)

	Dawson, Thomas, aged 18, Putter, riding out-bye on the full set, contrary to rules, the set got off the way and the main rope became detached ; the tubs then joined together and crushed these youths so severely that they afterwards died ; four other young men were at the same time severely injured, but they recovered
	Thornton, Norman, aged 14, Putter, riding out-bye on the full set, contrary to rules, the set got off the way and the main rope became detached ; the tubs then joined together and crushed these youths so severely that they afterwards died ; four other young men were at the same time severely injured, but they recovered
	Toft, Thomas, aged 14, Putter, riding out-bye on the full set, contrary to rules, the set got off the way and the main rope became detached ; the tubs then joined together and crushed these youths so severely that they afterwards died ; four other young men were at the same time severely injured, but they recovered
	All names found

 

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