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	Individual Details		Individual Details

Age:	55
Died:	1st Mar 1927
Accident:	1st Mar 1927
Year Born:	abt. 1872
Colliery:	Sherburn Hill
Company:
Occupation:	Deputy
Notes:	killed by a shot
Buried:	[not known]
Category:

An unusual accident occurred at Sherburn Hill Colliery, Co. Durham, causing the death of a deputy and shot-firer, and severely injuring a stoneman. The seam is 2 feet 3 inches thick and was worked longwall. In the main gate height is made by a bottom canch 2 feet thick and a top canch 1 foot thick. Two shot-holes were drilled in the bottom canch and one in the top canch immediately above. The bottom holes were charged with 4 ozs. of explosive in each, and the top hole with 8 ozs., all to be fired by No. 6 Detonators with fuse and igniter. The deputy, having charged the three shot-holes and made ready to fire by fixing the igniters, lighted the two bottom holes and retired to take shelter in a crossgate being accompanied by two stonemen working at the canches. The two shots were heard to go off, and almost immediately after the deceased returned towards the face to light the top shot, the stonemen being behind him. Just as the deputy reached the spot the top shot went off and so badly fractured his skull that he died 3½ hours later. The stoneman immediately behind the deceased received severe head injuries. Had the deceased carried out instructions not to charge more than one shothole in a place before firing, or had he taken the elementary precaution of not fixing the igniter until about to fire, the accident would not have occurred as it is probable the igniter of the top shot was struck by debris from the bottom shots.

• 1927 Mines Inspectors Report
• Contributions by members of the Public

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