Description

No. 43 on the list occurred in the Low Main Seam of Alexandrina Colliery, belonging to the Marquis of Londonderry on the 1st October about 8 o'clock p.m., causing the death of John Gibbons a rolleywayman. Deceased, along with three or four others, had stayed beyond their ordinary shift to lay some way in a new lauding and in order to get the points in deceased thought it was necessary to move the way, where the accident happened, to one side. There was some timber which prevented him doing this, and he, without saying a word or "jowling" or otherwise ascertaining the condition of the roof, knocked one of the props out, and immediately he had done so a large stone fell upon him injuring him so severely that he died soon after he got home. The stone measured 8 feet 9 inclines long by 3 feet 4 inches wide and 15 inches in thickness at the thickest part. There was a small hitch leader on one side, and a "jack" or parting on the other, with a free parting all round the top, so that it would fall directly the timber was knocked out.

The timber set before, if it had not been interfered with, was quite sufficient to keep the stone up.

There is no doubt deceased, in his anxiety to expedite the work he was engaged at, knocked out the timber without ever thinking of the consequences.

I cannot too strongly impress upon all connected with coal and also ironstone mines the great risk that is run when timber is being taken out, which should only be done by men used to such work and properly authorised to do so by the manager, and only where it is absolutely necessary.

Mines Inspectors Report Entry

Sources

• 1890 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6346), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 24, Accident Number: 43 Where to find this report
• 1890 Mines Inspectors Report (C 6346), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 9 Where to find this report

Researchers

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