Description

Number 52 on the list occurred at Wheately Hill Colliery on the 3rd of September, about 3 o'clock a.m., causing the death of James Knight, a stoneman.

Deceased, who was working along with his son, was engaged ripping the roof and building packs in the longwall. They had drilled a hole, charged, stemmed and fired it, and deceased then commenced to build the pack on the right-hand side of the gateway, there was, however, a prop set which impeded his work, and he knocked it out, not before, his son says, sounding the stone, and he also did so afterwards. He was working under where the prop had been set, when a stone, measuring 4 feet long x 2 feet 3 inches wide x 7 inches thick, fell upon him, and so severely injured him that he died five hours afterwards.

I understand deceased was a most careful man, very reliable, and had had many years' experience in stone work, and I am surprised, therefore, when he sounded the stone, after knocking the prop out, he did not discover it was not safe; it had a free side and end next to the gateway, and at the other end there was a slip, and it fell from a free parting.

It was a case of mistaken judgment, I think, which is likely to occur now and again, even with the most experienced and careful men.

Mines Inspectors Report Entry

Sources

• 1894 Mines Inspectors Report (C 7667), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 14 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: 52 Where to find this report

Researchers

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