Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	9th April 1908
Colliery:	Mainsforth
Cause:	Fall of stone
Lives Lost:	1

On 9th April, 1908, William Kirton and George Hesler, stonemen, were working together at Mainsforth Colliery. There was a sudden fall of stone which knocked Kirton down, then a second fall covered him up completely ; it took three men half an hour to release him. He was confined to bed for seven weeks after the accident, and it was two more weeks before he was able to leave the house. He returned to work for a fortnight but gave his notice in on 24th June as he was frightened his nerves had got the better of him and he was experiencing heart flutters. After working two weeks as a shifter at Monkwearmouth Colliery, he left because of his nerves, returning between Aug. 1908 and June 1908 as a mason's labourer above ground.

Kirton died in July 1909. On February 1910, at Durham County Court, his wife sued the owners of Mainsforth Colliery, the Carlton Co., for compensation for the death of her husband. The judge said Kirton 'was so injured that he died in 1909, and found in favour of Mrs. Kirton.'

Prior to starting work at Mainsforth Colliery in Feb. 1908, Kirton had served with the 2nd. Northumberland Fusiliers in the South African War, and for four years as a police constable. He left a widow, Mary, and three children.

Source:

Text kindly provided by Jim Grainger from his research into early newspapers (primarily the Durham Advertiser and Durham Chronicle).

	Kirton, William, Stoneman, killed by a fall of stone
	All names found
	Some of the names of mining fatalities on this web site have been kindly provided by Jim Grainger from his research into early newspapers (primarily the Durham Advertiser and Durham Chronicle) and are marked with .

 

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