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Thomas Knox
| Age: | 59 |
| Died: | 6th Aug 1896 |
| Accident: | 6th Aug 1896 |
| Year Born: | abt. 1837 |
| Colliery: | Silksworth |
| Company: | Marquis of Londonderry |
| Occupation: | Master Shifter |
| Notes: | He was riding up a drift on a full set when he fell among the tubs, and was so severely injured that he died five hours afterwards |
| Buried: | [not known] |
| Category: | Miscellaneous Underground Accidents :: Haulage :: Inclined and engine planes |
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| Description | |
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No. 349 on the list occurred at Silksworth Colliery belonging to the Marquis of Londonderry, on August 6th, causing the death of a master shifter.
Deceased was talking to some men in the north landing of the Hutton seam, and there was a full set in the landing to go out-bye; the runrider gave the signal to start the set, and as soon as it started deceased jumped up hurriedly and got in between two of the tubs for the purpose of riding up a bank or incline. There were 90 tubs on the set, and he got on to the twentieth tub. The set went about 200 yards, when the runrider noticed a lot of dust, and at once signalled for the set to be stopped, which was done immediately, and on going back he found deceased lying by the side of the way, very seriously crushed and injured, the whole of the remaining 70 tubs having gone over him. He was got out of the pit as quickly as possible, and taken to the infirmary at Sunderland where he died.
There are some tail rope sheaves hanging by the side of the way, and there is no doubt he had been standing between the tubs, and one of these sheaves had caught his head and knocked him off the set.
The runrider said that the officials often had ridden on the sets up this bank, although there were notices posted both at the top and bottom of it, forbidding anyone to ride on the sets at this place, and the manager said he had not given permission for them to do so.
It is to be regretted that officials do not think of the bad example they are setting when they break rules drawn up for the purpose of saving life and limb, and of the effect it has upon the discipline of the mine without which it is impossible to prevent accidents occurring.
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| Mines Inspectors Report Entry | |
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| Sources | |
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- 1896 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8450), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 16 Where to find this report
- 1896 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8450), Durham District (No. 4) by R. D. Bain, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 25, Accident Number: 349 Where to find this report
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| Researchers | |
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