Description

Number 7 on the list of accidents occurring at Cleveland Ironstone Mines occurred at the Rosedale Mines, on the 12th of October, about 1 o'clock p.m., causing the death of William Abbot, a miner.

Deceased was working in a place going to meet another, and these two places were close on holing. A hole had been drilled, charged, and stemmed, in the opposite place, by a miner named William Norwood, and to comply with Special Rule No. 67, he went round to deceased's place and informed him and his mate that he was going to fire a shot. Both the men came out of the place and Norwood proceeded to light the shot.

Another shot exploded about the same time, and deceased, thinking it was the one Norwood had told him he was going to fire, returned to his place, and the shot blew through and so severely injured him that he died within two days of the accident occurring.

This accident was caused by deceased returning to his place too soon. There is a great tendency, which I have, time after time, stated to be highly dangerous, amongst miners, to rush back to their places directly they hear a shot explode. If they would only exercise a little more patience and wait until there could be no doubt which shot had exploded or whether it was a "miss fire" the number of accidents under the head of explosions of gunpowder would be very materially reduced.

Mines Inspectors Report Entry

Sources

• 1893 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7339), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 14 Where to find this report
• 1893 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7339), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 44, Accident Number: 7 Where to find this report

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