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Thomas Holmes
| Age: | 28 |
| Died: | 25th Apr 1845 |
| Accident: | 25th Apr 1845 |
| Year Born: | abt. 1817 |
| Colliery: | Shincliffe |
| Company: | |
| Occupation: | Sinker |
| Notes: | suffocated by foul air |
| Buried: | [not known] |
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| Description | |
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Sinking operations were in progress on an upcast shaft at Shincliffe Colliery in April. On Sunday the 27th., sinker Thomas Holmes, 28, and his fellow workmen had just descended the shaft when they were overpowered by foul air at the bottom. As soon as the men at the surface realised there was a problem, they summoned assistance, and two men, Watson and Lyll were lowered down the shaft to bring up the unconcious sinkers. But as they reached the bottom, they, too, were "rendered insensible" and had to be pulled to safety. A large quantity of water was thrown down the shaft in an attempt to disperse the gas, then the two men went back down and succeeded in bringing the others out. Holmes was dead, and two others had to be confined to their beds after suffering the ill-effects of the foul air. At the time, the shaft was only 48 feet deep
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- Contributions by members of the Public
- Text kindly provided by Jim Grainger from his research into early newspapers (primarily the Durham Advertiser and Durham Chronicle).
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| Researchers | |
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