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	Individual Details		Individual Details

Age:	32
Died:	17th Sep 1873
Accident:	17th Sep 1873
Year Born:	abt. 1841
Colliery:	Usworth
Company:	Jonassohn and Elliot
Occupation:	Fireman
Notes:	boiler explosion
Buried:	[not known]
Category:

Accident No. 62 occurred at Usworth Colliery, by the explosion of a boiler, which killed James Wilson, a fireman, aged 32 years. The evidence at the inquest showed that this boiler was made of good material, not old, and in good repair and well managed. It was 50 feet long, and 6 feet 3 inches in diameter. The explosion appeared to have been caused by a rip in one of the plates, and this had probably existed for some days before the explosion, and extended gradually from rivet to rivet, until the boiler became too weak to bear the usual working pressure. As the rip was on the inside of the lap, it would not be visible either from the inside or outside. This rip would probably be caused by the alternate contraction and expansion of the bottom of the boiler, and would be most difficult to detect, until it was bad enough to leak. A verdict of accidental death was returned at the inquest, and the colliery officials exonerated from any blame or neglect.

• 1873 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 1056), Northumberland, North Durham, and Cumberland District by George William Southern, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 225 Where to find this report
• 1873 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 1056), Northumberland, North Durham, and Cumberland District by George William Southern, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 229, Accident Number: 62 Where to find this report

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