Ashton Moss Colliery

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Andrews, Joseph, 03 Dec 1907, 8.30 p.m., 6th hour of shift, aged 24, Rope runner, Was running along the level expecting a train of 35 full tubs following was under control of the rope, either from not having been coupled by deceased or from a twisted coupling becoming loose by the tubs bumping, ten tubs ran amain, overtook deceased, ran on to him. Probably a small hauling engine made so much noise he had no warning, he was shouted to by the attendant. He might have travelled on a parallel line without tubs

Ashurst, William, 14 Apr 1902, 9 a.m., 3rd hour of shift, aged 24, Collier, Fall of coal from face whilst pulling ; standing in front. Had been holed by machine a month (Roger)

Baker, Thomas, 03 Dec 1900, (accident: 27 Jun 1900), aged 37, Collier, On December 3rd, Thomas Baker, 37, collier, died at the Workhouse Infirmary, Ashton-under-Lyne. Alleged to have been injured whilst at work in the Ashton Moss Colliery, Ashton-under-Lyne, on June 27th. At the inquest medical evidence proved that dea [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]th was the result of double pneumonia of probably 12 months standing, not at all associated with the injury received in the mine, and therefore death due to natural causes

Bakewell, Henry, 04 Jan 1905, 5.30 p.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 19, Taker-off, Crushed by tubs in winch brow ; whilst putting points right seven full tubs ran on to him, set going by a train of empty tubs catching whilst being drawn by haulage rope past the top of brow

Berwick, John, 22 Jun 1903, 8 p.m., 5th hour of shift, aged 52, Collier, Fall of roof at working face from between a slip and a break, both plainly to be seen ; one prop would have prevented and ought to have been set. Fireman had urged him to put coal aside and set prop. (Average roof.) (Roger seam)

Biggs, Cornelius, 31 Dec 1907, 8.15 p.m., 6th hour of shift, aged 44, Collier, At face of working place from between clearly defined break and a face slip, both could be well seen. Deceased and another man had been pulling off coal 3 feet wide from a slip using crowbars, he was sounding the roof with pick when it fell. Fall 8 feet long, 5 feet wide, 2 feet 9 inches thick. Three props were 5 feet from the face, timbering distance. (Average roof) (Roger seam)

Birch, James, 04 Mar 1907, 4.15 p.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 33, Collier, At face of roadway from the ripping, was making a hole in the floor for footing for a prop to put up to a stone freed at each side by slips, stone overhung 9 inches. Whilst in a stooping position the stone fell on to his shoulders. It must have been nearly down and ought to have been pulled, being in the roadway it would have been ultimately ripped for height. (Average roof) (Roger seam)

Boyd, James Henry, 19 May 1901, aged 44, Stoker, Suffocated by underground fire

Bradshaw, Harry, 15 Nov 1926, (accident: 07 Nov 1926), aged 56, Collier, Fall of roof - fractured leg. Died 15th Nov

Briscoe, William, 22 Jul 1909, aged 26, Filler, Whilst getting coal at the face, roof fell from between four slips ; there were two props under the roof, but bars were required under such conditions. (Roof average) (Roger seam)

Brown, James, 03 Oct 1910, aged 33, Fireman, In roadway whilst pulling some suspicions stone down, a further fall occurred (Great seam)

Brown, Robert McClare, Sep 1940, aged 50, Oversman, He struck by a runaway pit vehicle

Brunt, Charles Edward, 10 Jul 1911, aged 37, Filler, Fall of coal from face of working place, filling in front of overhanging coal only supported by short vertical nogs in the machine holing (Roger seam)

Chambers, Charles, 07 Sep 1884, (accident: 04 Sep 1884), aged 31, Miner, Tubs, escaping from top of ginney brow ; died 7th

Connor, Frank, 20 Sep 1928, (accident: 18 Sep 1928), aged 58, Coal getter, Injures to head leg and shoulder by coal cutter. Died 20th

Cook, Joseph, 29 Mar 1911, aged 38, Collier, Working at the face of a dip place had put a rail across the road resting against two props to hold up his two full tubs, another collier in a higher place brought two other full tubs and two empty ones against the two tubs of deceased, giving no warning, these extra tubs caused the rail to give way so that all the tubs ran on to deceased at work getting coal

Cotterill, William Sampson Bone, 09 Feb 1910, aged 34, Shunter, Crushed between buffers of waggons whilst uncoupling ; ought to have used pole which was 8 or 9 yards away

Dale, George, 31 Dec 1905, (accident: 26 Oct 1905, 10.45 a.m., 5th hour of shift), aged 34, Collier, Fall of coal from working face, had taken out a sprag, and resumed holing without resetting sprag. Died 31st December, 1905

Davies, William, 03 Jan 1902, 12.30 p.m., 6th hour of shift, aged 50, Collier, Fall of roof at face of working place. Fireman at 10.30 a.m. ordered a prop to be set, at 12.15 noon deceased told his filler to bring a prop in with the next empty tub. The prop was brought, 8 feet long, 5 feet 6 inches being required. Deceased's mate sawed the prop to length required and placed it near deceased, who said "we will fill this tub first." Deceased began to get coal when a "bump" in the roof occurred; simultaneously a large quantity of roof fell upon deceased. The fall had five sides, four of which were slips. Two of these showed in the coal ; deceased was getting the coal from them. The fireman ought to have seen that deceased commenced to set the props (Average roof) (Roger)

Downes, Harry, 15 May 1891, (accident: 14 May 1891), aged 37, Metalman, Downes died 15th and Mannering the contractor 19th from injuries on firing a shot in the return air, the explosive ordered to be used being securite but supposed to be compressed powder. Inspection made inquest attended [More information ...]

Dudley, Jeremiah, 06 Nov 1889, aged 48, Miner, Killed by top coal bursting from the face by a grump or subsidence the depth being more than 1,000 yards. Inspection and inquest attended [Six Foot Seam]

Dudson, J., 14 Sep 1883, aged 19, Waggoner, Fall of roof. slips

Eardley, Charles, 20 May 1887, (accident: 27 Apr 1887), aged 36, Labourer, In getting cinders from the heap he undermined too far causing the face to fall upon him. He was too venturesome. Died 20th May

Farr, William George, 24 Oct 1910, aged 17, Taker-off, Crushed by full tub ran amain down self-acting incline 30 yards long. Deceased shouted to the jigger to go on although he had not attached the empty tub to the rope at bottom of incline, probably missed in the attempt and the full tub was on to him before he got out of the way. He came from Cork about eight weeks before and would not have much experience (Roger seam)

Faulds, James, 02 Jan 1913, aged 17, Pipe Fitter, Three full tubs ran amain in downbrow, being hauled up by a clip attached to rope and tubs, caught the two men, who were travelling down 130 yards below. A man 45 years of age put the clip on ; it must have been partially put on. If the clip holds by a corner it will draw the tubs with the risk of easily loosing [More information ...]

Finch, William, 18 Sep 1890, aged 65, Dayman, Injured by roof falling where he was taking it down in the engine brow

Forrest, George, 28 Feb 1898, aged 32, Dataller, Crushed by tubs on engine plane riding not allowed. Bolt connecting D link to drawbar came out allowing several tubs to run back; deceased was thrown upward against a bar the single tub bounding forward when load reduced

Gibb, Charles, 21 Dec 1908, aged 42, Collier, Fall of coal and overhanging clod from face, overhanging and drawn, ought to have been taken down (Great Seam)

Gibbons, John, 28 Oct 1907, 4 p.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 38, Collier, In roadway on landing plate in front of crab, whilst about to wind up empty tub. From between a slip and a weight break. A bar had been set diagonally across the landing under one end a good prop, the other end rested on a piece of split prop 11 inches long, and this half prop stood on the end piece of a portion of a chock. Thus the bar could readily swerve when weight came on it. This happened, the bar was found after the fall square across the landing, when the bar gave way, roof fell on the back of deceased whilst in a stooping position. It was a wretched piece of timbering and should have been seen by the examining officials during the fortnight it was up. (Average roof) (Roger seam)

Gomersal, Edward, 28 Apr 1913, aged 15, Pusher-down in shaft siding, Found lying fatally injured about head, close to full tubs, 43 yards from pit. Where found, he usually uncoupled the full tubs. Instead of reaching under, he put his head between the tubs and other full tubs joining up bumped tubs together, crushing his head

Goulden, Joseph, 14 Feb 1913, aged 20, Taker-off, Standing at the bottom of jig brow when tubs were running ; rope broke ; four full tubs ran amain, crushed him against tubs in the level. A long prop slung to the last empty tub going up had slewed and caught against a bar, putting such a strain on the rope that it broke. Rope, new 5/8-inch steel

Griffiths, Charles, 23 Sep 1925, aged 39, Haulage, Struck by tubs — died same day

Handley, Dennis, 15 May 1900, 3.30 p.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 38, Collier, Fall of coal from face of working place, caused by injudicious removal of sprags. 4 sprags had been taken out, leaving one in the middle of 16 feet of coai holed 5 feet under. Either deceased was taking this last sprag out, or whilst standing near the coal rode over the sprag. Coal had been undermined by a machine 4 days (Roger Mine)

Heed, George, 10 Dec 1885, aged 41, Horse driver, Crushed between waggons he was shunting and stood near the crossing where the approaching lines meet. His own inadvertence

Holland, George, 31 Jan 1901, aged 47, Collier, Fall of coal from working face, caused by sprag not being properly set at the foot. Fall, 9 feet long. Two sprags before it ; one gave way (Roger)

Holland, John, 20 Jun 1907, 6.10 p.m., 4th hour of shift, aged 47, Collier, In roadway near to face, engaged ripping roof for height, fall came from two converging slips, both had been exposed to view for some distance. The stone grazed the leg of another man who narrowly escaped. It ought to have been taken down. A fireman visited the men an hour before the accident and said not one word about the slips, altogether failed to perform his duty. The stone was 2 feet 7 inches thick and weighed a ton. (Average roof) (Roger seam)

Hood, Herbert, 23 Dec 1912, aged 22, Filler, At the face of working place, from three slips, one clearly to be seen, timbering distance exceeded, one prop set would have saved two lives. The fireman was remiss in not directing the prop required to be set, he visited before the accident [More information ...]

Houghton, Thomas, 28 Jul 1890, (accident: 18 Jul 1890), aged 33, Died 28th from injury by an iron bar falling from above where a pump rod was being jointed

Howe, George, 31 Mar 1898, aged 21, Drawer, Fall of roof on drawing road, 5 yards from face

Hurst, George William, 01 Jun 1900, 4.50 p.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 25, Filler, Fall of side in road near face, coal from higher side. Deceased heard noise whilst filling tub in face, ran 13 feet to get out of the way, was caught by the coal. Fall came from a back (Great Mine)

Johnson, Thomas, 27 Feb 1909, (accident: 26 Feb 1909), aged 25, Corporal, Struck by runaway tubs got away from taker-off ; deceased neglected to put in a stang prop which would have held the tubs. Died on 27th

Kelly, Patrick, 05 Feb 1904, 8 a.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 49, Collier, Fall of roof. At face of working place, from a known slip. One prop would probably have prevented, it ought to have been set. The distance along the face without props was 10 feet 6 inches, and from props to face 6 feet, the timbering rule being 5 feet maximum (Average roof) (Roger seam)

Lawton, Thomas, 18 Nov 1885, aged 51, Miner, Leg broken. Fall of coal at face while he was cutting. It was soft and faulty coal and broke over a sprag which he had set

Lee, George Henry, 01 Nov 1888, aged 16, Coal cleaner, Fatally caught by the coal machinery at the pit

Lewis, Benjamin, 06 Sep 1910, aged 46, Collier, Fall of coal from face. Said to be pulling dirt when coal came over sprags, probably he was taking out sprag. He was alone at the time (Great seam)

Mannering, William, 19 May 1891, (accident: 14 May 1891), aged 45, Metalman, Downes died 15th and Mannering the contractor 19th from injuries on firing a shot in the return air, the explosive ordered to be used being securite but supposed to be compressed powder. Inspection made inquest attended [More information ...]

Morris, James, 29 May 1894, aged 18, Waggoner, Fell from intermediate mouthing whilst stepping from cage

Morrison, Charles, 16 Aug 1911, aged 24, Screener, Crushed by jigger machinery ; whilst being repaired the machinery moved ; the engine was thought to be stopped, but it crept forward half a stroke

Morrison, Joseph J., 07 Oct 1911, aged 20, Clipper-on, Attending top of endless rope jig brow, empty gang landed too fast, caught his leg, crushing it against frame for automatic clip stopper. Succumbed after amputation

O'Neill, Thomas, 23 Jun 1904, 12 noon, 6th hour of shift, aged 37, Collier, Standing in front of a stratum of dirt overlying coal, getting dirt down, when it fell a prop was knocked out, causing a large fall of roof. Might have escaped had he stood end on (Roger seam)

Parry, Robert, 10 Dec 1901, aged 30, Dataller, Fall of side from main level whilst repairing. Side overhung and broken by subsidence ; had been examined by fireman a few minutes before it fell (Roger)

Peake, George Edward, 17 Nov 1904, 9.40 a.m., 3rd hour of shift, aged 20, Filler, Fall of coal from working face, from pronounced slip ; had tried to get down, then collier left unspragged. Coal overhung ten inches. Collier prosecuted and fined full penalty for breach of rules (Roger seam)

Peeling, Henry, 22 Nov 1902, (accident: 17 Nov 1902, 3.30 p.m., 1st hour of shift), aged 32, Drawer, Crushed by tub. Whilst pushing an empty tub a runaway tub ran into it from not having been properly secured in a brow. Died 22nd

Pugh, Harry, 30 Apr 1911, (accident: 21 Mar 1911), aged 23, Filler, Standing at end of train of full tubs was run into by a gang which overran, owing to a faulty capping drawing it, he got confused or he would have stepped out of the way. Died 30th April

Richardson, Frank, 02 Jan 1913, aged 25, Blacksmith, Three full tubs ran amain in downbrow, being hauled up by a clip attached to rope and tubs, caught the two men, who were travelling down 130 yards below. A man 45 years of age put the clip on ; it must have been partially put on. If the clip holds by a corner it will draw the tubs with the risk of easily loosing [More information ...]

Rodgers, Harold, 12 Sep 1908, (accident: 10 Aug 1908), aged 20, Drawer, On 10th August he was crushed by tubs. No drag in front of tub on inclined road ; should have turned tub from rails before going in front. (Died 12th September)

Rose, Joshua, 09 Feb 1903, 11.15 a.m., 5th hour of shift, aged 31, Collier, Fall of coal from working face whilst holing. Face holed 12 feet in length, 2 feet 8 inches under to a slippery back ; cut on one side, one sprag set and this 7 feet from the loose corner. Rules require sprags to be not more than 5 feet apart and loose corner to be spragged. Fireman visited two hours before accident, ordered two sprags to be set ; he ought to have seen the loose corner was spragged (Great seam)

Seivitski, Constantine, 23 Dec 1912, aged 26, Collier, At the face of working place, from three slips, one clearly to be seen, timbering distance exceeded, one prop set would have saved two lives. The fireman was remiss in not directing the prop required to be set, he visited before the accident [More information ...]

Shaughnessey, James, 16 Sep 1903, 12.50 a.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 23, Collier, Fall of roof from side of level, four yards back from face, overhung one foot, not spragged. Fireman on his visit ought to have ordered the overhanging piece to be pulled down (Great seam)

Shepherd, Wilfred J., 20 Oct 1891, aged 16, Drawer, Killed by roof falling in a level his tub having got off the rails and disturbed a prop. Inspection and inquiry

Shirt, E., 12 Nov 1883, aged 20, Waggoner, Tubs, gig brow

Simpson, William Robert, 31 Oct 1900, aged 54, Dataller, On October 31st, Wm. Robert Simpson, 54, dataller, died at home, alleged to have been injured whilst at work in Ashton Moss Colliery, Ashton-under-Lyne, on August 16th. At inquest medical evidence proved death from natural causes [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Smalley, Reuben, 30 Jun 1903, 7.30 a.m., 1st hour of shift, aged 59, Collier, Fall of roof in working place, from a 12-inch fault ; recklessly knocked out a prop leaving roof not supported as required by the timbering directions. (Average roof.) (Roger seam)

Stone, Thomas, 14 Sep 1882, aged 37, Stoker, The falling of a retaining wall behind which coal was stored

Taylor, Daniel, 26 Oct 1890, (accident: 25 Oct 1890), aged 29, Taker off, Died 26th from injury by a tub running down the gig brow where he worked a prop supporting the gig having broken

Thompson, Benjamin, 11 Dec 1913, (accident: 07 Nov 1913), aged 35, Collier, Fall of coal from face. He was pulling down coal with bar, when the coal fell it brought down the coal opposite him ; his feet slipped in trying to get away and the second piece caught him. Died 11th December

Thorpe, Edward, 19 Jun 1907, (accident: 07 Jun 1907, 8.40 a.m., 4th hour of shift), aged 45, Collier, Struck on the hip by a stone projected 88 feet from a roburite shot, 10 ozs., in the roof of road. Fireman said he told two men to go on road to keep persons back, men denied this ; they turned into the first place, a few yards away, in which no one at work, leaving deceased in the next place beyond unwarned. Deceased came with a tub on the landing plate in the brow in line with the shot, the stone passed through a hanging cloth sheet. The fireman received reply from the nearer place, therefore he should have realized the place beyond might be unprotected. Deceased died on the 19th from tetanus

Valentine, Joseph, 24 Mar 1899, 9 a.m., 3rd hour of shift, aged 18, Haulage engine attendant, Crushed by tubs in engine plane shunt ; want of room or manhole

White, William, 31 May 1907, 2.15 p.m., 8th hour of shift, aged 47, Coal screener, Crushed between buffers of waggons, crossing sidings near screens, two waggons about 3 feet apart, had passed between the near buffers and whilst between the far buffers one of the waggons was bumped forward by waggons being lowered by a shunter who could not see deceased, who was taking a short cut to a cabin to rest a few minutes and have a smoke. There was a safe road round to the cabin without crossing sidings

Whittle, Henry, 10 Jan 1891, (accident: 08 Jan 1891), aged 34, Miner, Died 10th at Ashton Infirmary from injuries by loaded tub running back upon him in a turn brow

Williams, Meshach, 18 Sep 1900, 3.30 p.m., 1st hour of shift, aged 42, Collier, Fall of roof in working place, a ley 3 inches thick overlying coal being got down, Williams slipped in getting out of way as it fell. (Average roof.) (Roger Mine).