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William Fletcher
| Age: | 16 |
| Died: | 30th Mar 1895 |
| Accident: | 30th Mar 1895 1:15 PM, 9th hour of shift |
| Year Born: | abt. 1879 |
| Colliery: | Beamish, Air Pit |
| Company: | James Joicey and Co., Ltd. |
| Occupation: | Rope Lad |
| Notes: | deceased was waiting at the bottom of the shaft to go to the surface; evidently some misunderstanding had taken place with the signals given by the onsetter to the banksman and engineman at the surface, for on attempting to enter the cage it was moved away and deceased fell into the shaft |
| Buried: | St. Andrew's Churchyard, Stanley |
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| Description | |
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The first accident, that at Beamish Colliery on March 30, was caused through an unfortunate misunderstanding of signals, between the engineman, onsetter, and banksman.
The deceased was waiting at an inset in the shaft, ready to ride to bank ; the onsetter (as he stated at the inquest) gave the proper signal to the surface that men were about to ride, an in response, the banksman signalled down "all right." The deceased, thereupon, was getting in the cage, which was lowered just at the time, and he was precipitated to the bottom of the shaft, a distance of 58 fathoms.
The explanation of the engineman was that he received the signal "cage clear" and was therefore at liberty to do what he liked with the cage.
The banksman also said that four raps, "cage clear," were given, but admitted that he had given the down signal "all right" before the onsetter had finished his signal three raps, thinking that men were about to ascend.
The evidence of the onsetter as to the signal given by him was corroborated by several men who were waiting to get into the cage.
An exhaustive inquiry was held into the circumstances attending the case, and at its conclusion the jury returned a verdict, "That the deceased was killed by falling from the cage down the shaft, through a mistake I giving or receiving signals between the onsetter, banksman, and h engineman, but the evidence being so conflicting, the jury leave it as an open verdict."
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| Tombstone | |
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Stanley — St. Andrew's Churchyard
Location: OS Map 88, Grid Ref NZ196533
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This is a low resolution image for web display, if you would like to have a higher resolution image, then please
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| Names on this tombstone | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Died | Age | Born |
| Jane FLETCHER | |||
| John FLETCHER | |||
| William FLETCHER | 30th Mar 1895 | 16 | 1879 |
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| Sources | |
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- 1895 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8074), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 11 Where to find this report
- 1895 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8074), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 27, Accident Number: 77 Where to find this report
- Headstone(s) in Church of England Churchyard, Stanley
- Tombstone photograph (T-01637-01-0009) © Roy Lambeth
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