Description

Deceased was night shift onsetter and about 2.30 am, was at the Low Main seam alone, and wishing to descend to the Plessey seam below he signalled 2 to the surface; this signal was heard both by the engineman and the waiter-on but the engineman did not move the cage until the waiter-on shouted the signal to him. He said after he got the shout he waited 8 or 10 seconds before moving the cage as he knew deceased was alone at the Low Main seam and would rap himself down. The engineman had to liberate the steam lever and foot brake before the cage moved. Both the waiter-on and engineman stated at the inquest that sufficient time was allowed for a man to get into the cage between the signals and its moving. The rapper handle used was close to the cage. The cages are double decked and run in end guides; deceased used the bottom deck, 3 feet 6 inches high. At the Low Main seam a person entering has to make use of a space 2 feet wide between the guide and either side of the cages. Deceased had been born lame in one leg but this did not impede his movements. He was found lying in the cage at the Plessey seam by the back overman who was on duty at the bottom of the shaft. Before his death deceased told his brother that he had not been given sufficient time to get into the cage and had been rolled over against one of the guides and rendered unconscious. The Local Inspectors made no report.

Tombstone

Sources

• 1906 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 3449), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. B. Atkinson, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 36, Accident Number: 51 Where to find this report
• Headstone(s) in Blyth cemetery
• Tombstone photograph (T-11141-20-0304) © John Reeve

Researchers

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