Description

At Garesfield Colliery on September 23, a man was killed under the following circumstances :—

The pit has done winding for the day, and the deputy of a certain district, thinking that all of his men were out, but without satisfying himself of the fact, went to the pit bottom to ascend. He casually asked the onsetter if the deceased man had left the pit, and in reply was told by the onsetter that he thought so. The deputy and onsetter then ascended. On his way home the former passed the house where the deceased lodged, and learning after inquiry that the latter had not returned home, retraced his way to the pit with a view of ascertaining his whereabouts. He was then lowered down the pit and just as the cage was nearing the bottom, something fell on to the top of it, which on examination proved to be the body of the deceased.

There is very little doubt that the deceased man, who had stayed to finish certain work, had attempted to get into the cage when in motion ; he was than carried up the pit, and, as the state of the buntons showed, was crushed between them and the cage, and on nearing the surface his body became released and fell down the shaft. No signal was received by the engineman from the pit bottom.

The deputy was much to blame for leaving the pit until he was satisfied that all his men were out, more especially as the deceased had only been employed for a few days ; and he was evidently aware that there was reason for doubt, or he would not have made inquiries on reaching the surface ; nevertheless the deceased had no right to attempt to get into a cage when in motion.

Sources

• 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: 269 Where to find this report

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