William Lightly
| Age: | |
| Died: | 22nd Feb 1855 |
| Accident: | 22nd Feb 1855 |
| Born: | |
| Colliery: | Merrington |
| Company: | |
| Occupation: | Putter |
| Notes: | explosion of gas [date of inquest] |
| Buried: | [not known] |
| Category: | |
The Bishop Auckland Herald reported that an inquest ‘on the body of William Lightly, a putter, at Merrington Colliery’ was held at Spennymoor on 22 February. He and deputy George Johnson ‘incautiously went into a west board with a naked candle, and were within a few yards of the face, an explosion took place, which caused the death of the deceased. Johnson himself was severely burnt, and is now lying ill, and his reason for doing so was that he thought a man had been working there in the foreshift.’ Matthias Dunn, Mines Inspector, attended and gave evidence. The general impression was that Johnson was to blame for going in with a naked light without first ascertaining if the place was safe from gas. A verdict of ‘accidentally killed’ was recorded, but the jury also found that Johnson, who ‘had shewn a great want of caution, and discretion, was highly censurable.’
Pub.
Date | Article (Newspaper) |
|---|
| 03 Mar 1855 | Death From Firedamp (Newcastle Guardian and Tyne Mercury) |
- 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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