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William Smith
| Age: | 60 |
| Died: | 13th Nov 1903 |
| Accident: | 12th Nov 1903 |
| Year Born: | abt. 1843 |
| Colliery: | Stargate |
| Company: | Stella Coal Co., Ltd. |
| Occupation: | Stoneman |
| Notes: | explosion of fire-damp |
| Buried: | Ryton Cemetery |
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| Description | |
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The only fatal explosion of fire-damp and air occurred in the Brockwell Seam at Stargate Colliery, in the County of Durham, on the 12th November. It was primarily due to the unexpected accumulation of fire-damp in a disused exploring place, the entrance to which was fenced off, but was contributed to by deceased passing the fence with a naked light without authority. A nip out, accompanied by a doubling of the seam, had been met with in workings to the dip of the engine plane, and going in the direction of a large dislocation of the strata known in the district as the "Ninety Fathom Dyke," although the throw is less here. The place in which the explosion happened inclined upwards to the face ; it started in the nip out, but had cut the seam again, and had been driven in it a few yards when it was stopped, and. the rails lifted. It was ventilated by two iron pipes, 15 inches in diameter, extending to within 6½ yards of the face. These pipes were not removed when the place was stopped. It was stated that gas had not been seen in the place before the explosion, but it was not examined as regularly as I think it should have been in accordance with the amendment to General Rule IV. of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887, enacted by the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1896 ; in this connection, however, it should be stated that at the inquest the master shifter, who was the official in charge of the pit at the time of the explosion, stated he did not look upon the place as "temporarily abandoned," but as permanently abandoned.
As I pointed out in my last year's report, when dealing with the explosion of fire-damp which occurred at Woodhorn Colliery on the 4th July, 1902, the full application of General Rule IV. to the examination of workings in which such men as deceased, not being hewers, work, is not provided for by the insertion in the Special Rules, as required by the General Rule, of the time before the commencement of the shift during which such examination is to be made ; the existing Special Rules only provide for this in the case of hewers ; until this omission is rectified it is probable that a prosecution under the rule might fail.
Meetings, at which both Mr. Bain, the Inspector in charge of the Durham district, and myself were present, have been held with representatives of the coal owners to arrange for the amendment of the Special Rules on this head.
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- 1903 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 2119), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. B. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 11 Where to find this report
- 1903 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 2119), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. B. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 29, Accident Number: 70 Where to find this report
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| Researchers | |
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