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| Date: | 19th October 1900 |
| Colliery: | Mowbray (Iron Ore) |
| Company: | Charles Cammell and Co., Ltd. |
| Cause: | Explosion of shot |
| Lives Lost: | 1 |
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| Description | |
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No. 425. This accident occurred at Mowbray Iron Ore Mine, Cumberland, and as it illustrates an interesting and important point, may be referred to more fully.
Three holes had been charged with gelatine dynamite and fuse, and it was at first attempted to light all of them at the same time.
One of the holes was in the roof, about 15 feet from the sole, and as this did not readily light, the miners agreed to leave it until the other two had exploded.
On returning to the working, they tried again to light the roof hole by means ot a candle affixed to a long pole.
The end of the fuse had, however, got wet, and finding their efforts fruitless, they decided to bring in a ladder ; they had just returned with this when the charge exploded.
It was clear that the fuse had been lit unperceived by them, probably at the second attempt.
One of the Special Rules at this mine provides that, in the event of a shot missing fire, no one shall re-enter the working place until the lapse of twenty minutes.
From the evidence at the inquest it was evident that the miners did not consider this a case of miss-fire, their contention being that, as they had apparently failed in attempting to light the fuse, they were justified in assuming that it was not a case of miss-fire.
It cannot, however, be too emphatically laid down that once an attempt has been made to light the hole, and the men have left the working, if for any cause the shot fails to explode, it becomes a case of miss-fire, and must be treated as such.
| Source: | 1900 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 536), Newcastle District (No. 3) by J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines, Page: 55 Where to find this report |
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| Fatalities | |
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 | Haffie, Thomas, aged 30, Miner, He tried to light a roof hole with a candle on the end of a pole. Being apparently unsuccessful, he went for a ladder and the shot exploded just as he got back to the working face. [Inspection made & inquest attended], Buried: Arlecdon Churchyard |
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| Newspaper Articles | |
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| 25 Oct 1900 | The Fatal Explosion At Mowbray Pit, An Error Of Judgment (Whitehaven News) |
| 25 Oct 1900 | The Fatal Accident At Frizington (Whitehaven News) |
| 01 Nov 1900 | The Fatal Explosion At Mowbray Pit, An Error Of Judgment (Whitehaven News) |
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