Description

Number 22 on the list occurred at New Copley Colliery, on the 29th of April, at about 11 a.m., causing the death of Robert Taylor,a coke man.

Deceased had charge of the coke ovens, and on the day in question the drawers had filled some coke into a waggon before it had been cooled. The waggon at once began to show signs of taking fire, and, to avoid it doing this, deceased jumped down between the quay wall and the waggon, and let down the bottom doors of the latter ; as soon as this was done the hot coke rushed out around his legs and the lower part of his body, so that he could not get out again. Help was close at hand, but, before he could be released the quay wall had to be pulled down, and he was so severely burnt by this time that he eventually succumbed to the injuries that he received.

This was a sad case, and it was deceased’s anxiety to save the waggon that caused him to rush and let down the bottom boards, and not to think of the result to himself. The drawers were to blame for filling the coke up in such a hot condition, and I hope thus unfortunate accident will be a warning to them not to do such a dangerous thing again.

Sources

• 1895 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8074), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 16 Where to find this report
• 1895 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8074), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 27, Accident Number: 22 Where to find this report

Researchers

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