Wet Earth Colliery

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Ashworth, Daniel, 21 Aug 1900, (accident: 20 Aug 1900, 4.30 p.m., 10th hour of shift), aged 18, Gangrider, Whilst riding up engine plane, permitted, in front of 8 full tubs, was caught in a low part, severely crushed. Died 21st August (5 Quarters Mine)

Aspinall, George H., 01 Sep 1889, (accident: 31 Aug 1889), aged 19, Coal cleaner, Fatally caught between the spokes of the driving drum and the framework in cleaning coal in its passage to the boats at the end of the branch tramway to the canal. Died 1st. Sept. at Manchester Infirmary. Inspection. Fencing to be added

Berry, James, 28 Jan 1911, aged 30, Collier, Fall of roof. At face of working place, from a slip, taking out a prop with short hammer. A gablock and chain, provided, ought to have been used (Doe seam)

Boardman, Richard, 31 Jul 1872, aged 11, Pony driver, Crushed between waggons at the summit between two brows, he having, it appeared, slipped in unhooking the pony

Burbridge, Edward, 04 May 1915, aged 70, Daywageman, Caught between tubs. Neck broken

Cheetham, William, 15 Apr 1902, (accident: 24 Apr 1901, 8.30 a.m., 2nd hour of shift), aged 20, Drawer, Fall of coal from face whilst holing. No sprag set. Died 15th April, 1902 (Five Quarters)

Collier, James, 27 Mar 1869, aged 21, Miner, Roof coal, which was being taken down, falling on him

Crowther, Thomas, 08 Dec 1903, 12.45 p.m., 6th hour of shift, aged 40, Collier, Fall of coal and dirt from face of working place, from slips known, coal overhung, ought to have been got down or spragged (Cannel seam)

Cunliffe, William, 02 Mar 1918, (accident: 05 Dec 1917), aged 42, Collier, Injured by fall of roof 5th Dec 1917. Died this day

Farrington, Robert, 06 Dec 1901, aged 50, Collier, Fall of roof at working face from slip known to be there. Fatal delay in putting up a prop which he had sent for and which lay beside him. (Good roof) (Trencherbone)

Finnigan, John, 06 Jan 1902, 3.15 p.m., 9th hour of shift, aged 21, Drawer, Fall of side on drawing road whilst waggoning. Sprags came out and let side down (Trencherbone)

Greenhalgh, John, 31 Jan 1902, aged 69, Collier, On 31st January, John Greenhalgh, 69, collier, died whilst at work in Wet Earth Pit. At inquest, proved to be due to natural causes [fatality reported during the year but not classified as a reportable accident]

Greenhalgh, Wiliam, 21 Mar 1907, (accident: 19 Mar 1907, 7.30 a.m., 3rd hour of shift), aged 53, Dataller, In working place, whilst drawing props by Sylvester, had drawn five props whilst the Sylvester was attached to the same prop, in drawing the sixth prop the attachment prop gave way allowing roof coal above to fall. Died on 21st March. (Roof bad) (Doe seam)

Hamblett, William, 20 Jun 1910, (accident: 10 May 1910), aged 53, Dataller, Putting up a bar in a haulage brow, a small stone fell, crushing the little finger of left hand. End amputated, blood poisoning occurred, taken to Bolton Infirmary 11th June. Died 20th June (Doe seam)

Hollows, Thomas, 24 May 1897, aged 18, Gang rider, Fall of roof. Bar thrust out from creep

Ivill, John, 17 May 1874, aged 31, Fireman, Apparently overpowered by smoke when seeing to a fire which had been discovered in the workings. They fell out of a roomy cage when coming up the shaft [More information ...]

Ivill, Thomas, 17 May 1874, aged 53, Fireman, Apparently overpowered by smoke when seeing to a fire which had been discovered in the workings. They fell out of a roomy cage when coming up the shaft [More information ...]

Ivill, William, 13 Apr 1876, aged 51, Coal miner, Crushed against the face of a downbrow by a train of tubs which mounted over his bar of coal one foot high

Jackson, John, 20 Aug 1886, (accident: 04 Aug 1886), aged 20, Gang rider, Foot run over by waggons necessitating amputation, died August 20th. He had just coupled the rope to the tram when the engine started causing the waggons to come upon him unprepared. Meddlesomeness of boy in signalling for which he was censured at the inquest

Jones, George, 20 Dec 1918, aged 36, Manager, Thrown out of hoppet while descending shaft [More information ...]

Jones, James, 15 Dec 1866, aged 12, Waggoner, An empty waggon which he had hooked became disconnected and ran down the jig brow

Jukes, Edward, 27 Sep 1890, (accident: 27 Aug 1890), aged 36, Miner, Died September 27th from heart disease accelerated by injuries from roof falling where he was moving dirt

Lewis, Thomas, 24 Feb 1874, aged 16, Loader, Crushed under a balance weight at the canal loading stage

Lindley, Joseph, 28 Mar 1904, 8 a.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 28, Collier, Fall of roof. Whilst kneeling near the face resting a large stone fell on his back, 8 feet long X 2 feet 6 inches wide, from between a slip and a break parallel thereto. It was alleged that cannel stuck to roof hid the slip and break, but both would be shown in the face and two bars ought to have boen set (Good roof) (Cannel seam)

Mann, Daniel, 14 Nov 1871, aged 54, Miner, Coal, &c., falling from the face of his place

Marsh, Thomas, 22 Oct 1904, 6.30 a.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 27, Dataller, Fall of roof. In jig brow, whilst repairing, from a pronounced slip and from a "lip" or caunch edge. Ought to have had a bar under the lip edge (Bad roof) (Doe seam)

Martin, Thomas, 25 Aug 1874, aged 12, Pony boy, Run over by waggons on the engine brow a draw bar having broken [More information ...]

McKeevan, Peter, 26 Oct 1899, 8 a.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 49, Dataller, Fall of roof in waste behind working place whilst drawing props ; a gablock and chain might have prevented

Morris, Walter, 22 Jul 1916, aged 15, haulage hand, Run over by full tubs

Peake, Edward, 21 May 1917, aged 45, Dayman, Killed by a fall of roof

Pedlar, Richard, 07 Nov 1902, 8 p.m., 9th hour of shift, aged 27, Collier, Fall of roof in working place while building a pack 7 yards back from face (Good roof) (Trencherbone)

Pilkington, Samuel, 15 Aug 1890, aged 12, Drawer, Killed on a gig brow by a tub which he was attempting to stop when it had escaped from his brother

Platt, James, 20 Dec 1918, aged 67, Carpenter, Thrown out of hoppet while descending shaft [More information ...]

Rothwell, Jacob, 24 May 1889, aged 21, Dayman, Fatal by the fall of part of an arch which he was taking down. Inspection and inquest attended [White Seam]

Sharples, William, 25 Mar 1874, aged 34, Browman, Crushed by tub waggons at a shunt in the engine brow a coupling chain between two of the tubs having broken

Smethurst, James, 05 Jan 1897, aged 18, Gang ridrer, Fall of roof in engine brow. A piece of rock triangular in shape a feet along base, 8 feet perpendicular, 5 inches thick, splintered off without any warning

Stazicker, Sale, 25 Aug 1874, aged 18, Pony boy, Run over by waggons on the engine brow a draw bar having broken [More information ...]

Thomas, Richard, 24 Feb 1899, 10 a.m., 4th hour of shift, aged 49, Collier, Fall of coal and clod from face of working place, from a back which ought to have been seen. Breach of rule, omitted to sprag loose corner

Thornley, John, 23 Oct 1912, aged 43, Dataller, Travelling up an engine brow 110 yards long, rising 1 in 2½, went into a manhole whilst two full tubs passed him, then left the manhole ; was travelling up behind the two tubs when the capping broke at the link or hoop, allowed the two tubs to run back, there was a trailing drag behind the second tub but it failed to hold the tubs. The link broke at the weld. The capping had been on three months

Thornley, Joseph, 04 Sep 1903, 2.15 p.m., 8th hour of shift, aged 16, Boat Filler, Whilst walking on edge (4 inches wide) of boat he fell into canal and was drowned

Tonge, Joseph Allen, 11 Apr 1910, aged 50, Dataller, In main jig brow while repairing. Under the old low roof trying to loosen a bar to take it out, when three bars below collapsed and let down roof 5 feet thick, 8 feet wide, 12 feet in length. He should have taken a position under the roof they had secured and made good (Doe seam)

Turtington, William Henry, 08 May 1906, 8 a.m., 2nd hour of shift, aged 28, Collier, In the working place, whilst cutting roof coal to work back, a huge fall came away overwhelming deceased and another collier (fractured thigh), came over a number of single props. The fall was 10 yards long by 5 yards wide and 8 feet thick. It took four hours to get out the body ; for two hours he kept speaking, directing the rescuers to his position ; repeated falls occurred.; after one large one he spoke no more. Utterly impossible to ascertain the original position of the props. Said to be well timbered. (Bad roof) (Doe seam)

Tyldesley, Samuel, 26 Oct 1912, aged 61, Dataller, Whilst dressing up a place to be ready for colliers, had plucked some loose roof when a large fall occurred, burying deceased and another man. Afterwards it was found that the roof had cut up at the face, requiring support

Walbrook, James, 09 Jul 1906, 3 p.m., 9th hour of shift, aged 67, Dataller, Crushed by tub left unsecured on inclined road. Another drawer bumped it away with his tub

Wallwork, Jacob, 30 Dec 1874, (accident: 20 Dec 1874), aged 50, Engineman, Slipped on joists in the engine house as he was replacing some planks which he had taken up to do some work underneath. Died 30th

Wallwork, James Walter, 15 Jul 1927, aged 57, Dayman, Broken back by fall of roof

White, Thomas, 17 Oct 1911, aged 61, Collier, Fall of roof. In working place, removing pillar four feet wide between two old bays, only ordinary props set, required chocks (Doe seam)

Whithead, W. R., 20 Dec 1918, aged 36, Assistant to general manager, Thrown out of hoppet while descending shaft [More information ...]

Winnard, Albert Edward, 22 Sep 1911, (accident: 29 Jun 1911), aged 27, Collier, Fall of coal from face whilst passing along in front of coal he had been doing his best to get to fall. Died 22nd September (Trencherbone seam)