Cause of Accident and Remarks.

David Battensby,

46,
Stoneman.

Deceased and two other men were shooting down a top canch, 2 feet 9 inches thick, in a longwall gateway in the 1st South-east
flat of the Low Main seam in the Hastings pit. The seam is 3 feet 9 inches thick. They had fired a shot so as to blow the stone
down close to the coal face, and after waiting a minute or two to allow the smoke to clear away, returned to the place, and
after ploting the shot sounded the roof and were satisfied all was safe. Deceased went forward to get under the canch to rid
and pack the stone shot down when a piece of stone, 2 feet 10 inches by 2 feet 6 inches and 7 inches thick, weighing
about 2 cwts., relieved by slips, fell from the newly formed roof at the left hand corner upon his head and back. He was
released in 3 minutes but was unconscious, and died within an hour as he was being taken home. The master shifter was in
the place when the shot was being stemmed. There was a sufficient supply of loose timber close at hand. The Local
Inspectors reported, "Found it was a pure accident."

Deceased and another hewer were working together in the fore shift in a longwall place in the Main Coal seam of the Polka
district of the F pit, when a blue metal stone 13 feet by 7 feet and 1 foot thick, weighing about 3 tons, fell upon him close to
the coal face at the right side of the place. It was relieved farthest from the face by a 4-inch rise hitch and came away from
a good parting above. In falling it canted several props and headtrees. Deceased was covered up and killed instantly.
The deputy had inspected the place before the hewers started work, when it appeared safe, and he had been occupied in the
place for about hour, about 8 a.m., or an hour before the accident, when he set two props some distance from the face.
There was plenty of loose props close at hand. Probably the props under the stone would have supported it if they had not
been canted. The Local Inspectors reported, " In our opinion any experienced miner could have been misled. We cannot
find any fault or blame attached to any person"; but after the inquest, the workmen wrote to the manager, saying that in
their opinion if chocks had been used the accident would not have happened.

Deceased, who worked with two other hewers, was about to shovel coals, between the roadhead and the fast side, at the face of
a longwall place in the Top Busty seam, about 4 feet thick, when the lower part, 1 foot thick, of a large cauldron arse, 6 feet
in diameter, fell from the roof and partly over the coal upon him, canting out two props in its fall. The conical sides were
of glassy keenness and above was a free parting. The deputy had left the place 15 minutes before the stone fell and had
observed no special signs of danger, coal sticking to the roof, making it difficult to detect fractures or divisions in it. There
was an ample supply of loose props close at hand. The Local Inspectors, after describing the fall in some detail, concluded
their report as follows, "Every facility was given by the management to work the place with safety, and no blame is
attached to anyone."

Died March 12. Deceased and another miner were hewing opposite the roadhead in a rise brow in the Thirty Inch seam, when an
elliptical-shaped cauldron bottom, with diameters 7 feet, parallel to the face, and 34 feet at right angles to it and 13 inches
thick in the centre, thinning out all round, fell from the roof, which is a slaty black stone, upon him. A deputy had
examined the place before work started, and another deputy was in the place examining it when the fall took place. The
place was brushed to within about 4 feet of the coal and the stone fell nearly back to the face of the brushing. No prop
was under the stone, although two or three were set under the canch between the roadhead and coal face. There was a
visible slip to the left of the roadhead, but the fall did not extend right up to it. The hewers in Cumberland set their own
timber, and there was a good supply of props of suitable lengths close at hand, and it would have been prudent of deceased
to have made more use of them. The timbering rule for the seam was that no point of the exposed roof at the face, unless
where brushed, had to be more than 2 feet from a support, and this was not complied with, the excuse being that more
props would have prevented them working.

Deceased, assisted by a youth, was drawing timber during the night out of two opposite lifts in broken workings in the Brock-
well seam of the North-east flat. Before starting he set seven or eight props to protect his way out, and near here was a
chook. When he had drawn all the props except about a dozen, as well as the chock, he proceeded cautiously to draw the
remainder; he knocked out one prop and sprang back safely, but when he knocked out a second he was caught by a mass
of the sandstone roof, about three yards square and 2 feet thick, which fell upon him, relieved by a slippery parting at the
back. His assistant went for help, but it was more than two hours before his body was recovered. He had a pout with
him, but appears to have used his axe exclusively. The Local Inspectors reported, "We are satisfied that deceased took
every precaution and that he had all the necessary appliances at hand, and we are satisfied it was a pure accident." The
coroner and jury, however, were not satisfied, and the verdict was as follows:-" Accidentally killed by a fall of stone
from the roof, and we find that the deceased did not exercise sufficient precaution in taking out the last props."
Died April 25. This accident was not considered serious at the time of its occurrence and it was not then reported to me.
Deceased and another shifter were working together in the North flat, Monkton way of the Bensham seam, taking out a prop
which the tubs were catching at the turn 9 yards from the face of a lift in broken workings. Some coal and band fell when
the prop was removed which deceased was clearing away, when a piece of blue metal stone, measuring 18 inches by 14 inches
and 4 or 5 inches thick, fell from the roof and cut his head. He was able to walk home and was attended the same day by
the doctor, who found a scalp wound 1 inches long; he progressed favourably until March 5th, when erysipelas set in, and
death was due to exhaustion following it. The chargeman had visited them before the accident in the course of the shift.
The Local Inspectors made no report.

Died March 3. Deceased and his son, a lad of 16, were working together in robbery or broken workings in No. 3 A district of
the Main band, which is 4 feet thick, and is overlaid by 20 inches of "cash," or soft shale, mixed with coal, and full of
slips. They were preparing to start the 3rd lift in a pillar of coal. The roadway skirting the pillar was timbered by pairs
of gears with squared crowns set 2 feet to 24 feet apart, and in order to obtain access to the coal a crosshead or running
balk was to replace some of the props next the coal. Deceased had been instructed by the deputy, who had examined the
place before work started, to middle prop the crowns before taking out the props next the coal and putting in the running
balk. While so engaged, he is supposed to have caused a crown to cant, and the cash and some of the stone above it fell
for a length of about 10 feet. relieved by a slip at the outbye end, displacing four of the pairs of gears in its fall. Deceased
had his lighted safety lamp hung on his belt, and when he was knocked down and covered up he fell on the lamp which
was not extinguished and pressed against his chest in the region of the heart. He was released in about 10 minutes, but
was unconscious, and remained so until his death, which, according to medical evidence given at the inquest, was due to
shock and heart failure.

Deceased was about to leave the West flat in the Far South district of the Low Main seam of the Doctor pit, and 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."
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.

I

Deceased and another hewer were working together during the fore shift in a lift in broken workings in the Busty seam, 5 feet
thick, in the 2nd North way, when a stone, 7 feet long, parallel to the face, 4 feet wide, and 12 inches thick, fell at the right
and loose side of the place, close to the coal, killing him instantly. There was a 4 feet dip hitch running right across the face
which relieved the stone on that side, parallel to the hitch was a breaker, and another breaker connected it and the hitch
on the loose side; there was a good parting above, so that the stone was of the nature of a cantilever 7 feet long, and
three props and headtrees set under it were unable to support it, and were canted out. There was a sufficient supply of
loose timber close at hand. The deputy had spent some time in the place during the shift, leaving an hour before the
accident, and had warned them about the breakers, but may not have been aware of the proximity of the hitch. The

All mines are coal mines unless otherwise specified.

Feb. 21

Hebburn,

Durham.

Wallsend and Heb-
burn Coal Co.,
Ltd.

John Abbott,
55,
Shifter.

Feb. 28

Walkmill,

Cumberland

Moresby Coal Co.,
Ltd.

Samuel Cooper,

April 5

Bedlington,
Northumberland.

Bedlington Coal Co.,
Ltd.

April 23

Urpeth,

Durham.

Charles Perkins and
Partners.

Michael Langan,
43,
Hewer.

Cause of Accident and Remarks,

Local Inspectors reported, "We found an ample supply of timber of suitable length near the face, and, in our opinion,
the place was well and sufficiently timbered. We do not consider that any blame can be attributed to anyone concerned."
Deceased and others were levelling out a 2 feet 7 inches dip hitch which crossed the face diagonally of longwall workings
in the Yard seam 3 feet 1 inch thick in the 5th South district of the Bothal pit. A coal cutter and conveyor is used
along the face, and after each cut the hitch had to be crossed at a new point. Deceased had assisted to adjust the road at
several of the points previously crossed. At the time of the accident the bottom stone had been removed on the rise
side and top stone taken down on the dip side of the hitch, and deceased was at the latter point cutting a hole in the face
to receive the end of a plank, when a stone, 6 feet 9 inches long along the hitch, and 3 feet 3 inches along the face, and
2 feet 9 inches thick, suddenly fell and crushed his head. The stone was relieved by the hitch leader and by a greasy jack
parallel to it and by a jack over the coal. The assistant master shifter had jowled the stone 20 minutes before it fell and
thought it safe. The Local Inspectors reported, "We consider that it was properly timbered and no blame attached
Deceased and another hewer were working together in the back shift in a lift loose at both sides in broken workings in the
North flat of the Stone Coal seam, 2 feet thick, when a stone about 5 feet square, 12 inches thick, next the coal and tailing
out behind to a feather edge suddenly fell on him, canting out two props in its fall. The deputy had been in the place
about three hours before the accident, when he set some props and left a good supply loose; he was only 30 yards away
when the stone fell, and helped to release deceased who was so badly injured that he died at the shaft. The Local
Inspectors reported, "Found everything in good order, and so far as can be seen attach no blame to anyone for the accident,
which has been purely accidental."

to no one.

Deceased and his father were working together during the fore shift in a longwall face 13 yards wide and fast on both
sides in the Blue Bell district of the Bensham seam, 3 feet 9 inches thick, of the Algernon pit, when a blue metal
stone, 4 feet 4 inches by 3 feet 4 inches and varying in thickness up to 7 inches, fell in the right nook of the place close to
the face and inflicted fatal injuries. The stone did not cant any timber and was relieved by a greasy back next the right
side of the place. A hitch with a foot throw had been crossed about 10 feet back from the face. A shot of carbonite had
been fired in the coal near where the stone fell about 1 hours before the accident by the deputy, who, however, did not
examine the face afterwards as he should have done. The deputy had examined the place before work started and when
busy with the shot, and there was a sufficient supply of loose timber. The Local Inspectors, after describing the fall,
continued, "We also found the place well timbered and the timber well up towards the face."

Deceased was hewing during the night shift next the loose side in a lift in broken workings in the 4th East way of the Low
Hutton seam, 4 feet 9 inches thick, when a blue metal stone, 5 feet long, parallel to the face, 2 feet 6 inches wide and
3 feet 6 inches thick, weighing about 3 tons, suddenly fell close to the face upon him, breaking the planks of two pair of
gears set under it. It was relieved by a breaker next the face and at its end next the loose side, and by a slip at the other
hours before the body was got clear.
end running parallel to the centre line of the place. Another hewer working with him raised the alarm, but it was two
The deputy had been in the place at 8.30 p.m. when the previous shift was in, and
was in again from 1 a.m. to 1.20 a.m., or 1 hours before the accident, when he set a single prop and a pair of gears, and
left suitable timber lying loose. Deceased was rather uneasy about the roof on account of visible fractures and set a prop
"accidental."
and plank next the face on the fast side after the deputy had left. The Local Inspectors reported, "In our opinion, it is purely

Deceased and another stoneman were shooting up a bottom canch, 3 feet 3 inches thick, in a waggonway place with coal sides
in the Drift district of the Maudlin seam, 3 feet 4 inches thick, of the Alma pit when a gravelly post stone, full of plant
impressions, of elliptical shape, having diameters 13 feet and 64 feet and varying in thickness up to 8 inches, relieved by coal

George Thomas
Hedley,
28,
Hewer.

All mines are coal mines unless otherwise specified.

working, and this may have delayed his escape, or he may have come in contact with a prop. The deputy had examined
the place half-an-hour before the men started work in the afternoon shift and it then appeared safe.
Died Augst 21. Deceased, assisted by a youth, was drawing props out of a completed lift in broken workings in the Champion
Flat of the High Main seam 5 feet thick. He had a pout with him but was using an axe at the time of the accident, when
he had nearly finished the work. He knocked out a prop and then sprang back, but a mass of stone 30 inches thick fell,
coming over three pairs of gears, and he was fastened. The youth was able to release him, and he was taken out of the pit
to Newcastle Infirmary where he died. The Local Inspectors reported, "find that about 30 inches in thickness came away at
a slip over the timber and caught him and he was fatally injured. We also find that the necessary appliances were there,
and we are of opinion that the accident was purely accidental."
He was working in the cut driven forward, alongside a 6 feet dip hitch, by picks on the right side of a coal cutter face in long-
wall workings in the 4th south way of the Bothal pit Yard seam. A 3 feet top canch had been taken down in the cut to
within a foot of the coal, and pairs of gears were set to the new roof 1 to 24 feet apart. He was ridding stone between two
planks 2 feet apart when an irregularly bedded post stone 3 feet 6 inches by 2 feet 6 inches, and varying in thickness up to
11 inches fell from the roof partly over both planks, displacing a prop under the end of one of them. It was relieved by a
natural joint, by feather edges and a new break. A small piece of this stone 15 inches by 10 inches by 24 inches is supposed
to have fallen separately and fractured his skull. The chargeman had left him an hour before when everything seemed safe
and there was no lack of loose timber. The Local Inspectors in their report simply described the nature of the accident and
remarked, "there was plenty of timber of various sizes in the place."

Deceased was bringing to the shaft two tubs loaded with stone from a canch. A pony drew the tubs and when about 40 yards
from the shaft it is supposed to have swerved to one side when opposite the stable bord and drawn out a prop under one end
of a balk. This prop appears to have fallen on the rails before the wheels of the first tub and the pony stopped. Deceased
made an examination but may not have found what was amiss, and the pony either moved away of itself or he started it
when it pulled or rolled forward the loose prop and caused it to draw out two props under a running balk across the entrance
to the stable bord; this balk fell and liberated one end of the balks at right angles to it and a mass of stone, about 5 fect
square with a maximum thickness of 2 feet, fell from the roof upon deceased who was on the leading tub. The road at
the point was nearly level and 7 feet 5 inches high made up of a bottom canch of 8 inches, the seam 2 feet 9 inches and
a top canch in blue metal of 4 feet. The stone is not very good and was well timbered, deceased and his mate having set
it. The master shifter was with him when the accident happened. The Local Inspectors after intelligently describing the
nature of the accident in their report said, "Our conclusion is that all had been done that could be done to work the place
with safety.'
Deceased was working during the back shift with another hewer, who was in the gateway helping the putter at the time of
the accident, in longwall workings in the Staple district of the Yard seam and was filling coal at the roadhead when a blue
metal stone 10 feet long parallel to the face, 6 feet wide, and with a maximum thickness of 15 inches fell from the roof
upon him, relieved by two jacks at right angles, and thinning out to the face where it broke off close to the coal; some
props were canted out by its fall. The gateway was not far advanced and had not been regularly worked, no canch shots
having been fired in it for two weeks. The deputy examined the roof at 12 noon when it appeared safe, and he was in again
firing a bottom shot for them in the coal at 2.35 p.m.; on neither occasion did he observe the jacks although the hewers had
seen them and put in more props in consequence. There was a sufficient supply of loose timber. The Local Inspectors
reported, "There appeared to have been plenty of timber set, but in our opinion the stone must have canted the timber and
then dropped right down. As far as we can see it has been an unforeseen accident.'