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	Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	27th March 1871
Colliery:	Brancepeth
Company:	Strakers and Love
Cause:	Irruption of Water
Lives Lost:	1
Category:

Irruptions of Water.

No. 23 accident. A pair of headways at the top of a staple from the lower seam in approaching a trouble had met with a very large feeder of water, which was likely to overpower the existing pumping arrangements in that district of workings, in consequence of which it was determined to put in "dams" to keep the water back until new pumps could be applied. For this purpose a wooden "dam" was placed in each headway, made of 12 inches square baulks of the same length as the width of the place (6 feet), and placed longitudinally; immediately behind these were two upright baulks of 12 inches square, about three feet apart and sunk into the floor and roof, and tightly wedged up ; these again were strengthened by half baulks strutted against them and sunk into the floor. After the dams had thus been built and carefully wedged leaks were discovered in various parts of the wedging as the head of water increased, and as soon as seen more wedges were inserted. A short time before the bursting away a leak had been discovered, which could not be further wedged until one of the upright balks was removed ; this was done, and the pressure of water moved the longitudinal baulks about 6 inches back, thus disturbing the packing and wedging at the ends between the coal and the timber, causing a weakening of the whole structure. The deceased and another man then went in and replaced the upright stay, but instead of removing the displaced packing and wedging, and putting it in anew, merely tried to make it up again by further wedging, and whilst doing so the dam was altogether removed and the rush of water washed the men away ; one who was saved being forced into a cross holing, and the deceased to the top of the staple already mentioned, down which he fell.

The "dams" should have been set into the sides such a distance as the nature of the coal required, in addition to placing the upright baulks and struts behind it ; and as this was not the case it was a fatal error to remove the upright baulk when the water had been accumulating in pressure at the other side for a length of time.

Source:

1871 Mines Inspectors Report (C. 653), South Durham, Westmoreland, and Cleveland District by James Willis, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 27 Where to find this report

	Brown, Edward, aged 46, Stoneman, bursting of dam which he was completing
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