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	Disasters - Names		Disasters - Names

Date:	5th April 1906
Colliery:	Bedlington
Company:	Bedlington Coal Co., Ltd.
Cause:	(See description below)
Lives Lost:	1
Category:

Deceased was about to leave the West flat in the Far South district of the Low Main seam of the Doctor pit, end had two empty tubs ready with his tokens on and his pony in position, when a fall of roof, 21 yards long, and up to 2 feet thick, extending right across the. road, 10 feet wide, and over a pack wall built up on the left side, took place and killed him; a flatter and driver in the flat escaping uninjured. The fall began at a jack crossing the road at right angles just beyond where some timber was set, and extended inbye to a point where some timber had been put in a week before the accident. The upper surface of the stone was more or less rounded and appeared to be a recent break, and as the depth was only about 40 fathoms there was some dampness. The seam is 5 feet 7 inches thick, and is worked on the bord and pillar system. The roof is blue metal with an iron girdle, and is so good that many of the wide bords were driven without using timber. The place where the fall occurred had been in use as part of a self-acting incline for many years, and had only recently been used as a flat. The nearest workings were broken workings about 120 yards away. There was no timber set under the fall. The officials had observed no signs of danger in the roof. The evidence of the driver indicated that some little warning was given, but apparently not sufficient to allow deceased to escape, although he had moved from his pony a short distance inbye. The pony was not much injured, as the stone fell on the tubs. The Local Inspectors reported, "We have examined the place in the Far South-west district, Low Main seam, where Frank Straker was accidentally killed by a fall of stone, on April 5th, 1906, and, in our opinion, the place was insufficiently timbered, being used as a flat in close proximity to broken workings, and recommend that all similar places be timbered more securely in future." I agree with this recommendation, and think that places like flats, where a number of persons are apt to congregate, should have supports to the roof in all cases.

Source:

1906 Mines Inspectors Report (Cd 3449), Page: 31, Accident Number: 18 Where to find this report

	Straker, Frank Joyce, aged 19, Pony Putter
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