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	Individual Details		Individual Details

Age:	32
Died:	5th Sep 1911
Accident:	5th Sep 1911
Year Born:	abt. 1879
Colliery:	Witham Hall (Whinstone quarry)
Company:	Craddock, Allison and Co., Ltd.
Occupation:	Quarryman
Notes:	killed by an explosion of gunpowder
Buried:	[not known]
Category:	Inside the Quarries :: By Blasting

A blasting fatality causing the death of one quarryman and serious injury to his companion occurred at Witham Hall Whinstone Quarry. A hole had been drilled 8 feet deep and a "springing" shot consisting of 10 ounces of Gelignite fired in it about 1.30 p.m. About an hour and a half afterwards another shot was fired in the same hole. About 5 p.m. the hole was blown out with compressed air and tested with a copper rod and was said to have been quite cold. They then proceeded to charge the hole with gunpowder, one of them pouring it in while the other worked a copper rod up and down to prevent the powder sticking in the hole. While so engaged the gunpowder in the hole and in the canister exploded, with the above-mentioned result. A searching investigation failed to prove definitely how the accident occurred. Additional rules for blasting were in force at the quarry, but it is not certain if Rule 1, which provides for the testing of a hole (in which fuse has been used) by dropping a little gunpowder in, was complied with. Wooden stemmers were generally used in preference to copper, but the latter was used in this case as the hole was somewhat broken. The most probable explanation appears to be that some smouldering fuse had been left in the hole after the last gelignite charge had been fired, and this had exploded the gunpowder.

• 1911 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 6237) Where to find this report
• 1911 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 6237), Durham District (No. 3) by A. D. Nicholson, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 48, Accident Number: 3 Where to find this report

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