Description

Number 51 on the list occurred at West Thornley Colliery, on the 1st of September, about 10 o'clock a.m., causing the death of Thomas Henry Murray, a driver.

A set of tubs which he was taking the rope off had just been run down an incline by its own gravitation, and when it left the top of the bank there were two tubs standing behind, with a drag in one of the wheels of the first tub. There was a chock, which the boy who was braking the incline knocked out to let the set pass; he neglected to put this back, and, while the set was running in the bank, the rope, it is conjectured, caught the two tubs standing behind and pulled the drag out of the wheel, if ever it was in, and set the tubs in motion. The deceased must have been taking the rope off the set before it stopped, and therefore had not heard the two tubs coming down. They hit the set with such force as to break the rope in the middle of the bank, and his head was crushed between them and the set.

The chock should have been put across the rail as soon as ever the set left the top of the bank, and if this had been done this accident would not have occurred. The boy at the top of the bank said he had not time to set it, but if that was so, I cannot believe the drag was in the wheel of the tub.

Mines Inspectors Report Entry

Sources

• 1894 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7667), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 20 Where to find this report
• 1894 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7667), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 42, Accident Number: 51 Where to find this report

Researchers

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