Abergorky Colliery

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Alder, John, 04 Dec 1894, aged 37, Sinker, Fatally injured by a small stone falling down the shaft. The stone either fell out of the bowk as it went up or off the doors when they were opened to allow the empty bowk to be lowered

Benyon, Benjamin, 01 Oct 1895, (accident: 25 Sep 1895), aged 52, Collier, Fall of top coal at face. Died from injuries 1st October

Benyon, John, 31 Jan 1880, aged 34, Hitcher, Crushed by a descending cage

Bowen, Thomas, 05 Sep 1895, aged 57, Collier, Fall of clift 6ft. x 3½ft. x 13ins from a smooth slip part of rippings not propped and about to be blasted. Four feet seam

Boynce, Edmund, 23 Jun 1880, aged 48, Collier, Fall of roof

Clark, John, 24 Feb 1899, aged 43, Roadsman, [Fall of roof] On road, cliff, 10 ft. x 6 ft. x 5½ ft thick, while a fall was being cleared. A pair or timbers above them broke, and they were buried [More information ...]

Dale, W. H., 30 Nov 1899, aged 53, Sinker, Struck by a piece of fireclay falling from the side of sinking pit, last 8 yards of which was unwalled and untimbered

Davies, Daniel, 07 Dec 1867, aged 14, Door boy, Killed by trams

Davies, Edward, 29 Sep 1902, 9 p.m., aged 18, Assistant tipper, Crushed between loaded trams at the screens. Deceased was assisting in getting a full tram into position in the tipper, when another, through an error in signalling, was allowed to run into the tipper, and crushed the lad to death

Davies, H., 01 Nov 1883, aged 20, Rider, Fell under trams

Davies, James, 22 Jan 1885, aged 13, Collier, Fall of stone

Davies, John, 16 Jan 1905, 10 a.m., aged 24, Rider, Three empty trams were being lowered by a rope down a road dipping 12 ins. per yard, when the front tram got off the rails. Deceased and two other riders uncoupled the last two empties, and put them in a siding near by, intending to attach the rope to the tram that was off the rails. Before the third rider brought the rope back, deceased and the other rider succeeded in putting the front wheels of the tram on the rails. It then ran down the road uncontrolled, jumped off the rails, and crushed deceased, who had run in front of it, against a full tram. It was a most unwise thing to interfere with the tram until the rope was attached to it

Davies, John, 09 Feb 1912, aged 69, Repairer, Fall of side on road. He was clearing a fall on the Main Level when a large stone fell from the side striking him on the leg. He died the same day from shock

Davies, John, 30 Aug 1914, (accident: 24 Aug 1914), aged 18, Collier, He received slight injuries as he was "blocking" on some empty trams owing to some of them jumping the rails. Blood poisoning set in and he died on August 30th, 1914

Davies, Owen, 10 Feb 1886, aged 37, Shackler, Crushed between trams

Davies, Thomas, 13 Feb 1901, aged 23, Haulier, Fatally injured by runaway trams, owing to the breakage of a hitching-plate, while walking np behind the "journey" on a plane rising five inches per yard

Durham, John, 29 May 1914, aged 31, Brakesman, In attempting to uncouple a wagon of coal from a locomotive engine, by standing on the buffer, and with his foot, he fell off and was run over and fatally injured

Edwards, David, 15 Jan 1876, aged 28, Collier, Killed by fall of stone

Edwards, John, 09 Oct 1867, aged 25, Hitcher, Something fell down the shaft

Edwards, W., 18 Jan 1900, 9.30 p.m., aged 18, Haulier, Run over by a loaded tram which he was taking down a heading. It is supposed he missed to put a "sprag" in the wheel

Ellis, John, 13 Jul 1904, 1 a.m., aged 26, Rider, Deceased was riding on a rope hauling 3 trams of coal up a road having a rise of 2 ins. per yard, when he either slipped or was jerked off the rope, and the journey passed over him

Escott, John, 21 May 1896, (accident: 13 May 1896), aged 33, Collier, Fall at face, clift. Died 21st May. Four feet seam

Evans, David, 16 Apr 1897, aged 13, Door boy, While in the act of spragging a laden tram, he fell under it

Evans, Evan, 30 Aug 1924, 1.45 a.m., 4th hour of shift, aged 43, Ripper, He was making room for the arm of a "doubling" pair of timber to strengthen another pair of timber on a heading when a fall of roof occurred which discharged the latter pair of timber and killed him outright. A centre post should have been set under the collar of the pair of timber that discharged before disturbing the side. Electric safety lamp used

Evans, John, 09 Dec 1914, aged 42, Collier, He appears to have fallen underneath a full tram as he was hauling it down a road dipping 1½ inches in the yard. He acted as a spare hand haulier on the day of the accident

Evans, Thomas, 29 Nov 1902, (accident: 01 Nov 1902, 6 a.m.), aged 46, Repairer, Deceased, in getting from between two trams which he had been filling, struck his side against the corner of one of them. Very little importance was attached to the injury at the time, but, as he was suffering from chronic Bright's disease, and was a confirmed alcoholic subject, he developed pleurisy and pneumonia, from which he died on November 29th

Francis, Matthew, 04 Aug 1886, aged 25, Haulier, Run over by a gang of waggons on engine plane, he fell off the front shackle as he was attempting to ride on it

Golledge, William, 27 Jun 1913, aged 34, Day Haulier, Fall of side on roadway. As he was passing with his horse and tram, a stone fell from the side and killed him

Gravenor, Richard, 07 Oct 1901, aged 31, Assistant Hitcher, Struck by a lump of coal from ascending cage, while attempting to remove another lump from the shaft bottom

Haines, Francis, 03 Jun 1893, (accident: 20 Apr 1893), aged 20, Labourer, Fell under a tram of rubbish which was being drawn by a horse into a stow road. Died 3rd June

Harding, E., 05 Dec 1870, aged 15, Collier, Killed by cage

Harding, George, 30 Mar 1875, aged 37, Hitcher, Killed by stone falling down shaft

Harries, John, 03 Jul 1902, (accident: 02 Jul 1902, 12.30 p.m.), aged 67, Fireman, Deceased was standing on a parting on the left of the main dip to allow a journey to pass down. In going over the pointers it got off the road and struck him. He ought to have gone further in along the parting. Died the following day

Harris, William, 14 Aug 1880, aged 22, Haulier, Falling under a tram

James, Edward, 24 Oct 1905, (accident: 14 Jun 1905, 9.30 a.m.), aged 35, Labourer, Deceased, with others, was discharging rails, 27 feet long, from a truck, when the end of one struck him on the head. The accident was thought to be trivial, but he became subject to fits, and was taken to the Cardiff Infirmary. He was operated on, and died shortly after on the 24th October

John, David, 08 Mar 1896, (accident: 31 Oct 1895), aged 65, Night labourer, Died 8th March from injuries received by being "thrown down by a horse"

John, Evans, 31 Dec 1910, aged 73, Road cleaner, Run over by journey on engine plane

John, John, 11 Nov 1881, aged 41, Collier, Fall of roof

John, Joseph, 27 Jan 1906, 1.40 p.m., aged 34, Rider, As a journey of 19 trams of coal was being drawn out of a double parting, the shackle between the 7th and 8th trams parted, and 12 trams ran back. Deceased was found dead on the side of the road, and, from his position, it was inferred that he had either attempted to cross the shackles, or had got on a shackle with the idea of riding out. Though described as a rider, he was really a shackler, and had no permission to ride. It was the last journey in the shift and he himself had shackled the trams

Johns, William, 08 May 1872, aged 40, Collier, Killed by fall of stone

Jones, Ben, 16 Jan 1913, aged 27, Collier, Fall of side at working face. As he was filling a tram of coal, a fall crushed him on to the cross-bar of the tram, causing fatal injuries

Jones, Daniel, 07 Jun 1904, 11.15 p.m., aged 28, Haulier, Deceased, who had been taking four loaded trams along a level heading, was found lying on the ground with his right leg under one of the wheels. How he got into that position no one can tell, but I think that he must have slipped in attempting to get on to the "gun"

Jones, Evan, 28 Jan 1865, Sinker, By a fall of stone in sinking shaft

Jones, Evan, 16 Oct 1895, aged 53, Collier, Fall of clift 11ft long 4ft 9ins. wide 16 ins. thick. While holing he struck a back when both coal and roof fell. One prop and one sprag were said to have been crushed out but the evidence hardly bore this out. Abergorky Seam

Jones, Evan, 09 May 1898, aged 22, Collier, A shot said to have been charged with ammonite and which had missed fire three days previously exploded probably while the deceased was withdrawing the wires and detonator. Deceased was removing some of the stemming

Jones, George, 02 Nov 1897, aged 51, Collier, Fall of roof at face, clift about 11ft x 6ft in area inside of nearest timbers. Nine feet seam

Jones, James, 12 May 1906, (accident: 08 May 1906, 1 p.m.), aged 29, Collier, Fall of roof. At face, cliff, 17 ft. by 3 ft. by 1 ft. thick, fell from between two parallel slips, which ran up until they met. One prop was crushed out, and deceased was at the time setting another. He died in four days. No. 3 seam

Jones, John, 13 Dec 1884, aged 29, Collier, Fall of roof

Jones, John, 06 Feb 1888, aged 25, Ripper, Fell over retaining wall at surface

Jones, Lewis, 13 Mar 1914, aged 46, Haulier, Fall of roof on a double parting road caused by the discharge of two pairs of timber. A journey of empty trams was being let down into the parting and owing to some of the trams leaving the rails the timbers were disturbed

Jones, Morgan, 15 Nov 1887, aged 42, Airwayman, Fall of roof and side on a double parting while deceased was passing in to his work. The road was 15ft. wide and 9ft. high and had been re timbered within two months

Jones, Owen, 16 Jun 1890, aged 16, Door boy, Crushed between loaded train and roadside on road dipping one in seven the tram having run wild owing to horse's gears coming loose

Jones, Richard, 01 Oct 1908, aged 33, Collier, At face, cliff, part of rippings, 5 feet by 2 feet by 22 inches thick, fell on deceased as he was working some coal away to make room, it is said, to set a prop under it. No. 2 seam

Jones, Thomas, 18 Feb 1887, aged 19, Rider, He fell in front of a loaded journey of trams as they were landing at the shaft bottom and was run over

Jones, W. T., 01 Mar 1893, aged 14, Collier's boy, Fall of roof at face (7½ft. x 4½ft. x 26ins. thick) from between two slips while carrying coal near waste. Three props were said to have been discharged. Roof very slanty. Six feet seam

Jones, William, 16 Mar 1910, aged 21, Haulier, Fall of roof while passing along a road with a horse and tram. The fall was a "bridge" supported by two pairs of timber one of which broke down with the fall

Kinsey, E., 24 Aug 1872, aged 41, Collier, Killed by fall of stone

Long, O., 27 Sep 1875, aged 20, Haulier, Killed by trams

Martin, John, 24 Oct 1899, aged 25, Collier, [Fall of roof] At face, cliff, 4 ft. x 6 ft. x 2 ft. thick, from a slip. He had just worked the coal from under it, and was setting a prop. It was the first day of his employment at this colliery. Gorllwyn seam

McConnell, Michael, 18 Jul 1903, 10 a.m., aged 24, Labourer, Deceased was moving two wagons a distance of 20 yards on a gradient of 1 in 29. He removed a "scotch," lifted the brake of the first wagon, and got it into position. The second wagon followed on, and crushed deceased between the buffers. The brake of the second wagon is said to have been down

Merry, George, 31 Jul 1893, aged 21, Coliier, Struck on the head by a piece of coal falling down shaft while placing a mandrill on a loaded tram at the pit bottom. Six feet seam

Morgan, Rees, 18 Oct 1902, 12 noon, aged 38, Rider, While attempting to detach the rope from a journey of coal as it was landing near the pit bottom, the front tram got derailed, and he fell in front of it, and was drawn along for some distance

Morgan, William, 17 Dec 1908, aged 29, Collier, At face, cliff, 5 feet by 3 feet by 22 inches thick, crushed out two props, and fell on deceased. A fall of roof had taken place a week previously, and deceased was working the coal away past it, to reopen the face. Two props were said to have been set under it, and a sprag against it. Gorllwyn seam

Morris, Arthur, 06 Dec 1898, aged 14, Collier, Fall of roof at face between edge of rippings and road-side props strong clift 3ft. x 2ft. x 11in. from a slant which visible. It was thought that a shot wood be required to get this stone down. Nine feet seam

Morris, Edwin, 03 Feb 1898, aged 16, Collier, Fall of roof at face bastard rock roof piece 9ft. x 3ft. x 14in. thick in middle tapering to thin edge all round from where there were no props stood. Nine feet seam

Morris, Evan, 28 Oct 1909, Labourer, Fall of side. On road. Deceased was assisting a repairer to clear a fall and make place for new timber when a piece of rock, 7 feet by 2 feet by 14 inches thick, which they had previously failed to pull down, fell from the side of the cavity caused by the fall and killed him. No. 3 seam

Mosely, John, 05 May 1889, aged 52, Mechanic, Knocked off pithead frame, 50ft. high by the slipping of a derrick while taking down a pulley

Pediford, W., 18 Jun 1875, aged 20, Haulier, Killed by trams

Phillips, Thomas, 01 Oct 1880, aged 16, Collier, Fall of roof

Phillips, Thomas, 10 Apr 1924, 2.0 p.m., 7th hour of shift, aged 61, Ropeman, His attention being drawn to a drum sheave being displaced on a curve on the haulage plane, he stopped the empty journey that was travelling inbye. As he was making towards the sheave the journey restarted ; the first tram got derailed by the sheave and the second tram tilted over, crushing him against the side wall. He died shortly afterwards. The person who gave the signal to restart the empty journey cannot be traced. A distinct signal was given to the engine-driver. Electric safety lamp used

Powell, Daniel, 25 Apr 1903, 12.30 p.m., aged 52, Labourer, Fall of roof. On road, cliff, 6 ft. by 7 ft. by 2½ to 3 ft. thick, fell on deceased as he was stowing rubbish in the mouth of an old stall-road. The stone, which was unsupported, fell from the side of the "rippings" on the heading. Nine feet seam

Powell, Llewelyn, 24 Feb 1899, aged 30, Collier, [Fall of roof] On road, cliff, 10 ft. x 6 ft. x 5½ ft thick, while a fall was being cleared. A pair or timbers above them broke, and they were buried [More information ...]

Price, Charles, 13 Sep 1891, aged 13, Collier's boy, Fall of side from rippings not squared back on road side 18 ft. long, 1½ft. to 3ft. wide, 14ins. thick. "6-ft." seam. Longwall

Pym, James, 09 Dec 1896, aged 57, Waggon timmer, Crushed between the buffers of wagons at the screens

Quick, Thomas, 28 Nov 1914, aged 17, Collier Boy, Fall of coal side at the working face. The coal fell from a slip and discharged a sprag as he was holing between two coals

Radford, Thomas, 07 Mar 1902, 2 p.m., aged 43, Collier, Fall of roof. At face, cliff, 24 ins. by 10 ins. by 4½ ins. thick, burst from the roof, struck deceased on the head, and fractured his spine. Nine feet seam

Rapsey, Thomas, 30 May 1892, 3 p.m., 4th hour of shift, aged 17, Haulier, Fell off "shafts" on going round a turn and was crushed by tram

Rees, John, 30 Aug 1906, 2.30 p.m., aged 50, Fitter's Labourer, Deceased and a fitter were breaking up the castings of an old Guibal fan. They bored a hole in the outer rim, connecting the arms of the centre wheel and drove a plug in to crack it through. As soon as it cracked half the wheel fell and deceased fell on it, a distance of 16 feet. An old crack was then found around the boss of the wheel, so that when the upper connection was broken the weight of the casting broke the other connection

Rees, Thomas, 20 Jun 1903, 11.30 a.m., aged 30, Sinker, Deceased was sinking a small air-pit, when something fell either from the saddle board or from the side, and struck him on the head. It was a pit being sunk from one seam to another for ventilation

Richards, David, 13 Jun 1868, aged 18, Collier, Killed by a fall of roof

Richards, Isaac, 04 Mar 1914, aged 47, Collier, Fall of roof at working face which struck him and broke his neck

Rideout, Albert, 02 Mar 1910, aged 35, Haulier, Crushed by tram through his horse bolting

Roberts, J., 16 May 1867, aged 15, Collier, Killed by a fall of roof

Roberts, Jane M., 02 Apr 1885, aged 11, Trespasser, Fell under trucks on surface

Saulisbury, Philip, 30 Jul 1911, (accident: 03 Apr 1911), aged 20, Assistant Rider, Injured by his head striking the roof while riding on a journey of trams. Died 30th July, 1911

Scourfield, Jonah, 19 Sep 1906, 4.30 a.m., aged 19, Shackler, Deceased attempted to run in advance of a journey of coal, which was being drawn through the "slum" to the other side of the shaft, when he either fell, or was knocked down, and run over

Sellick, Joseph, 21 Apr 1929, (accident: 18 Apr 1929), aged 27, Collier, Pulling piece of coal when number of stones fell. Died 21st

Thomas, Gomer, 21 Jan 1911, aged 15, Collier boy, Fall of side at working face. An overhanging web of coal insufficiently spragged fell on him. A fireman and collier were dismissed for negligence in connection with the accident

Thomas, James, 24 Jan 1902, 4 p.m., aged 13, Collier Boy, Fall of roof. At face, cliff, 10 ft. by 2¾ ft. by 13 ins. thick, fell off the edge of the rippings as he was walking along the face. The lid of one prop was partly under it. At one end there was a smooth well-defined "slip," and above the stone was a very smooth bed. No. 2 seam

Thomas, P., 29 Nov 1883, aged 36, Repairer, Fall of roof

Thomas, Thomas, 31 May 1882, aged 15, Haulier, Killed by a tram passing over him

Thomas, Thomas, 23 Dec 1882, aged 16, Collier, Fall of roof

Thomas, William, 12 Jul 1905, 10 a.m., aged 51, Matter haulier, Deceased was crushed against a full tram by an empty journey, which got off the rails as it was being drawn into the parting. He heard the journey leave the rails, and he sent a haulier to signal "stop" to the engine-map, but the signalling apparatus is alleged to have suddenly got out of order

Thomas, William, 28 May 1908, aged 40, Collier, Fall of roof. At face, cliff, 10 feet by 4 feet by 18 inches thick. The rippings consisted of two beds of cliff, each 18 inches thick, and when he was wedging down the lower bed, the upper bed fell on him and killed him

Vaughan, John, 14 Jul 1898, (accident: 10 Jun 1898), aged 42, Collier, Died 14th July from injuries received by the explosion of a charge of rouberite which had missed fire on the previous day. Deceased was probably removing the wires with detonator attached after pulling down the shattered stone caused by a shot alongside

Week, M., 13 Dec 1876, aged 45, Labourer, Killed by locomotive

Williams, Daniel, 26 Jul 1883, aged 50, Collier, Fell down dead going to his work

Williams, David, 21 Oct 1911, aged 34, Haulier, Through the neglect or blundering on the part of men engaged in firing shots of Faversham powder the deceased was allowed to approach a shot as it was being fired. His horse was also killed by the explosion

Williams, Ivor, 18 May 1905, 1 p.m., aged 15, Collier Boy, Fall of side. At face, coal and shale, 10 ft. by 26 ins. by 4 ft. 11 ins. thick, fell off a back slip as deceased was filling his "curling box" with coal. The face before the accident was said to have been vertical, and consequently was not spragged. No. 3 seam under the Nine feet seam

Williams, Joseph, 19 Jun 1890, aged 26, Repairer, The roof on a double parting had fallen 18 feet up. The fall was being cleared and the road retimbered, when a large stone fell from the cavity upon deceased. 6ft. seam. Long-all

Williams, Samuel, 02 Feb 1885, aged 27, Hitcher, Fell under trucks on surface

Woodham, Charles, 06 Jul 1911, aged 29, Haulier, Crushed under tram. No one saw how the accident occurred