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	Individual Details		Individual Details

Age:	20
Died:	21st Jan 1853
Accident:	21st Jan 1853
Year Born:	abt. 1833
Colliery:	New Cottam
Company:	Appelby and Co.
Occupation:
Notes:	Breaking of a pit chain (3 men and 4 boys killed)
Buried:	[not known]
Category:

Accident No. 58 in the List.

Breaking of a pit chain at New Cottam Colliery, near Chesterfield.

Seven persons were being lowered down the pit in the morning, when an iron link suddenly snapped, and they fell to the bottom.

The link, which formed part of a short chain attached to the end of the rope, was quite a new one, having only been inserted on the previous evening, and its strength had not been properly tested.

It was proved that as many as eight or nine men had frequently descended at once, although the cage would not safely hold more than six ; and there was no necessity to lower more than two at a time, as the full complement of persons employed under ground did not exceed forty.

The broken link was made of round iron seven-eighths of an inch diameter, but of inferior quality ; and it appeared to have been imperfectly welded.

Where human life is at stake, none but the best iron should be used, and it is really the cheapest in the end.

In some of the better managed collieries the practice is, before the men descend in a morning, to run the cages several times up and down the pit with loaded corves in them, so as thoroughly to test the soundness of the machinery and tackling.

This precaution was not observed here ; the ropes and chains were seldom examined ; the banksman paid little or no regard to the safety of the miners when descending and ascending ; he said it was not his business ; the signals were uncertain, irregularly given, and sometimes totally disregarded ; the engineer drove the winding engine at undue speed when persons were in the shaft ; some of the pits were awkwardly and insecurely walled, and were with out conductors or guide-rods ; the colliery was in the hands of "butties," a system intrinsically bad ; the steward, who unfortunately was old and infirm, did not often inspect the underground works, and there were not any printed or written rules on the premises.

The verdict of the coroner's jury was "accidentally killed," accompanied by an admonition that the owners "should conduct the colliery with more care, regularity, and skill in future, and that not more than two persons should pass up or down the pit at once."

I also advised that a couple of side chains should be attached to the cage, in addition to the centre chain, that wooden conductors should be fixed in all the drawing shafts ; and that Fourdrinier's or Grant's patent safety apparatus should be applied; and Mr. Appleby (one of the proprietors) seemed really anxious to carry into effect the various recommendations offered.

Pub. Date	Article (Newspaper)
21 Jan 1853	Colliery Accidents (Annual Register for 1853)
29 Jan 1853	Dreadful Colliery Disasters (Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury)
05 Feb 1853	The Late Colliery Accident Near Eckington (Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury)

• 1854 Mines Inspectors Report, by Charles Morton, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 54
• 1854 Mines Inspectors Report, by Charles Morton, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 61, Accident Number: 58

Email	Researcher	Date	Interest
	Ty Naylor	13 May 2016	My great-great grandfather was John Naylor, born 1866. In the 1891 Census, it shows that he was a coal miner in the Durham area. I wanted to find out any stories or images of him, or any possible relatives. Thank you for your time. Ty

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