PELTON. Chester-le-Street, Durham. 12th. January, 1866.
The colliery was owned by Lord Dunsany and Brothers. Their day’s work was over and they were leaving the pit and the lads appear to have got into a set of laden tubs that were being hauled out by an engine and rope. This was against the Special Rules of the colliery and there was a notice posted on the pit bank. On their way, the set of tubs collided with another set from a branch that had escaped out of control down the engine plane. The collision caused the deaths of the youths and injuries to others.
Those who lost their lives were:
- William Cowell aged 17 years, putter,
- Robert Wright aged 13 years, incline boy,
- Frank Shotton, aged 12 years, driver,
- Thomas Harrison aged 14 years, flat keeper,
- Rodger Grey aged 14 years, driver.
The Inspector commented that it was a great temptation to ride on the boxes and it was difficult to stop the practice. In evidence, it was stated that an empty set of boxes in which people could ride, had been tried but had proved a failure since the men had to wait until the set was ready and the experiment had been abandoned.
There was a man stationed at the start of the engine plane where the boys got on and he said that he had advised them not to get on and that he had orders not to allow people to ride on full trains. He made several get off but he knew they would get on somewhere else.
Mr. Atkinson, the Inspector commented in his Report:
I may remark that it is very difficult to prevail upon workmen and boys to walk long distances underground where it is possible for them to ride and in some situations, it is considered to be quite as safe riding as walking and in many such cases they are allowed to ride.
Sets of coal tubs drawn at high speeds along the confined passages of mines where there is no daylight and where the people often lose their artificial lights, are naturally very dangerous to life and limb and the danger is enhanced in many instances by persons trying to get on and off such trains, while they are in motion.
To provide separate and distinct roads from the engine and inclined planes, for persons to travel in, would in some cases probably tend towards the prevention of loss of life and of personal injuries, but I think in many old established mines be all but impracticable, and in my opinion, would not altogether prevent persons from riding upon the trams.
REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report, 1866. Mr. Atkinson.
Colliery Guardian. 20th January 1866. p.51.
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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