Description

Number 2 on the list occurred at Mickleton Quarry, in North Yorkshire, on the 31st of January, at about 1.30 p.m., causing the death of William Lee, a horse driver.

Deceased, along with some other men, had four horses attached to a truck of vocals in order to pull it up past some switches, from where it would run, the gradient being that way to the engine house. A man was riding on the truck in charge of the brakes ; he jumped off to change the switches when the truck got over them, but deceased unfortunately got his foot fast between the switches and the rail, and before he could get it loose the truck ran against it and he leg. The horses were unloosed and the brakes put down as soon as possible, but his foot was severely crushed, and lockjaw intervening, he died on the 10th of February.

There have been several accidents of this character in this district within the last few years, and it appears to be almost impossible to prevent them.

Men who are walking on sidings when trucks are being shunted of moved ought to be more careful not to stop near points or crossings, because if they get a foot fast it is, as a rule, quite impossible to get the trucks stopped before they can get it loose again.

Sources

• 1895 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8074), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 38 Where to find this report
• 1895 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8074), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 42, Accident Number: 2 Where to find this report

Researchers

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