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	Individual Details		Individual Details

Age:	35
Died:	25th Nov 1876
Accident:	25th Nov 1876
Year Born:	abt. 1841
Colliery:	Crossfield, No. 8 (Metalliferous)
Company:	Crossfield Iron Ore Co
Occupation:
Notes:	Overwinding. the men fell to the bottom of the shaft
Buried:	[not known]
Category:

Metalliferous Mines.

Fatal Accidents.

No. 16. This, a case of overwinding, was the most serious accident of the year in its results. The three deceased were being drawn to the surface, when, according to the statement of the engineman, the indicator for showing the position of the load in the shaft failed to indicate correctly, and thus caused him to overwind the cage. The cage was attached to the rope by means of a "detaching hook" which is intended to prevent it being drawn over the pulley by detaching the rope when it reaches a certain height above the landing. This detaching hook operated in the way for which it was designed. This cage was moreover fitted with "patent safety apparatus" for the purpose of fastening against the conductors in case of breakage of a rope, or in similar circumstances to those above mentioned, viz., the rope becoming detached when the cage is overdrawn. This apparatus had seized upon the conductors, and kept hold for some distance, but not far enough to bring the cage to a state of rest. It had then in some manner ceased to maintain its hold, and the cage with the men in it fell to the bottom. An examination of the indicator showed, and it was afterwards at my suggestion proved by experiment, that it had failed to indicate correctly, and had thus deceived the engineman. Two or three points were elicited in this inquiry with which I was far from being satisfied. In the first place there was no banksman in attendance when the men were being drawn up the shaft. Had one been there he could not have failed to see that the cage was being drawn too high, to which he could have called the engineman's attention by shouting, and thus given time to stop the engine before the cage was high enough to bring the detaching hook into operation. Next, on account of the absence of the banksman, the keps at the landing place on the top were fastened back. Had these been in operation it is my opinion the cage would have rested upon them without injury, because the safety apparatus had not at this point ceased to leave hold of the conductors, and the cage would consequently be descending with a retarded movement. The indicator, which was simply a pointer travelling round a dial, actuated by a scroll or worm on the main shaft of the engine, working into a pinion or small tooth wheel, which was not of good construction, had not been properly attended to. This was shown by the worn state, of the teeth of the pinion, a considerable amount of iron dust showing that the scroll and pinion had been seizing for some time. The index or pointer had also been for some time seizing against the dial plate. All this would put a great strain upon the moving parts of the apparatus. The worm or scroll on the main shaft had a piece chipped out of it about 1¼ inch long, by ¼ inch at its deepest point. Whether this had been done by a blow or something falling on it, or by the strain already spoken of, it was impossible to say or ascertain. No doubt the teeth of the pinion had at this breakage on the scroll slipped over a few times, and thus ceased to move the index or pointer.

The manager of the mine, Mr. J. J. Main, has since the accident designed an indicator which would immediately show or give warning by a bell, if the index pointer had come to any injury or was not indicating properly, but as he is about to patent the contrivance I do not feel at liberty to describe it.

With regard to the detaching hook, I must say I do not like those, and there are several different designs, which only detach the rope, but do not at the same time and by the same apparatus secure the cage from falling. There are several designs for effecting the two objects at the same moment and by the same hook, which in my opinion are much to be preferred. As regards the "safety apparatus" on the cage for catching when the rope breaks or becomes detached, they have never had my unqualified approval. Additional machinery is thus brought into use which requires to be kept in very accurate order, because if in the least out of order it is sure to fail; there is the remote possibility also of its being a temptation to continue the use of the ropes for too long a time; and, moreover, I believe it is on record that this kind of apparatus has given rise to loss of life. However, I am assured that at mines belonging to this company the safety apparatus has on several occasions been the means of preserving fife and property, and as in this particular instance it was not the direct cause of the men losing their lives, but only failed to act efficaciously when called into requisition, I do not feel justified in advising its discontinuance.

Pub. Date	Article (Newspaper)
30 Nov 1876	Fatal Mining Accident Near Moor Row, Three Men Thrown Down A Pit Shaft (Whitehaven News)
02 Dec 1876	3 Men Killed At Whitehaven (Ulverston Mirror)
07 Dec 1876	The Fatal Colliery Accident at Moor Row, The Coroner’s Inquest (Whitehaven News)

• 1876 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 1734), Newcastle-on-Tyne District by James Willis, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 257 Where to find this report
• 1876 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 1734), Newcastle-on-Tyne District by James Willis, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 262, Accident Number: 16 Where to find this report

Email	Researcher	Date	Interest
	M Fletcher	27 Feb 2011	John Thomas is my husband's Great grandfather

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