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	Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	16th August 1895
Colliery:	South Moor
Company:	South Moor Coal Co., Ltd.
Cause:	Underground accident
Lives Lost:	1
Category:

Number 46 on the list occurred at South Moor Colliery, on the 16th of August, at about 3.45 p.m., causing the death of Thomas Ward, a driver.

Deceased, when the accident occurred, was taking four full tubs out of a landing, he attached his pony to these tubs, and as the gradient was a falling one for about 30 yards, he put some sprags in the right side wheels and then started the pony ; he then ran round he back of the tubs, and in attempting to get to his pony on the left side, where there was insufficient room – not more than eight inches – he was caught between the side of the place and tubs, and killed on the spot.

The rails on this rolley-way are laid close to the left-hand side, and there is consequently not more than one foot of space between the tubs and side, but on the opposite side there is ample ; it varies from 3 ft. to 3 ft. 6 ins.

Deceased was wrong in trying to get round his set at the left side ; he should have put the sprags in on the right side and then gone to the pony’s head and led him for about 30 yards, where he had to take out the sprags, keeping on the right side all the way. He had instructions to this effect, and if he had carried them out this accident would not have occurred.

The manager undertook to change the points at the landing at which this fatality occurred. This will be an improvement, as it was arranged before, in passing through it the drivers had to change from one side to the other of their sets, and now that the change has been made they can keep on the wide side all the way.

Source:

1895 Mines Inspectors Report (C 8074), Durham District (No. 4) by Thomas Bell, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 14 Where to find this report

	Ward, Thomas, aged 15, Driver, crushed to death while walking between tubs and side of way
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