Description

No. 58 on the list occurred in the Meadows pumping shaft at Rainton Colliery, belonging to the Marquess of Londondery. It appears that three shaftmen were going down in "loops" on the "jack rope," to do some repairs to the pit scaffold at bottom, deceased, John Willey, being the chargeman, was in the bottom loop, the other two men being higher up.

All went right until about 60 yards from the bottom, where they had to pass a cross bunton, used for staying the pumps; when deceased had passed it he called to the other two men to be careful, no sooner had he done so than they heard a noise as if some one had fallen ; on calling out two or three times and receiving so answer, they returned to bank to examine the loop and get assistance, and on reaching the bottom they found Willey lying dead on the scaffold, everything was found to be in good working order, and I could not make out that there had been any irregularity in lowering them down ; but the supposition is, that having passed the bunion, he was looking to see that the other men also got safely past when he lost his hold on the rope and fell. He was a steady and experienced man.

Sources

• 1881 Mines Inspectors Report (C 3241) Where to find this report
• 1881 Mines Inspectors Report (C 3241), Durham District by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 477, Accident Number: 58 Where to find this report

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