Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	21st April 1904
Colliery:	Murton
Cause:	(See description below)
Lives Lost:	1

Number 161 on the list occurred at Murton Colliery, belonging to Messrs. The South Hetton Coal Company, Limited, on April 21st, and caused the death of a putter. This accident was caused by the deceased, and another putter, illegally filling coal off the side of a place about 33 yards from the face of the nearest working place. The sides of the places, in this seam, crumble and as a consequence, there is loose coal lying by the side and the coal forming the side of the place is very tender. These two putters had seen the loose coal at this place and, at the end of their shifts, took two tubs in and commenced to fill them with the coal from behind the timber, and in doing so disturbed the coal at the side, which was supporting a large piece of stone, near a slip or breaker; this stone measured 8 yards by 8 feet by 2 feet in thickness, and fell between the side of the place and the timber and killed one of them instantly. The other lad was saved by three props being set between him and where the deceased was working, and these prevented the fall from extending to him. The roof appeared to be quite level and good, and but the improper and illegal act of these youths the accident would not have occurred.

Proceedings were taken, under Special Rule 149, against the putter who was fortunate enough to escape, and he was fined £1 and 8 shillings costs. I hope this accident will draw the attention of everyone to the great danger there is from hewing or filling coal off the sides; it is coal which is certainly easily got and that is where the temptation lies, but the risk run of an accident occurring is so great that it is not worth doing, apart from any other consideration. It is a practice which must be put down with a firm hand, and I hope the officials and others will never let a case pass without reporting it to the manager so that steps may be taken to deal with each individual case. Only in this way can this dangerous practice be stopped.

Source:

1904 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 2506)

	Pascoe, William Henry, aged 19, Putter, killed in the Polka Pit when, along with another putter, illegally filling coal off the side of a place, a large fall of timber occurred between the timber and the coal side and killed him, Buried: Holy Trinity Churchyard, Murton
	All names found
	For those names marked we have a digital photograph of the tombstone, see the information page for further details.

 

 Return    Return to Top