BLAENGWYNFI. Garw Valley, Glamorganshire. 30th. September, 1891.

The colliery was the property of the Glyncorrwg Colliery Company, Limited, and eight sinkers lost their lives in an overwinding accident.

The Inspector commented:

My opinion was and still is, that the engineman had his attention taken off his work for amount by the entrance of his mate to relieve him, whole raising the bowk with the men in it that he hallowed the bowk to ascend too far before attempting to shut off the steam and apply the brake, and nod on discovering his mistake he lost his head and overwound the bowk. I believe that the machinery was in perfect order.

 It is of course, possible that had a detaching hook had been in use, the lives might have been saved. But their use is not compulsory, and, moreover, their effectiveness in the prevention of accidents is in question. For these reasons I have not suggested their adoption, thinking it better to leave it to the owners and managers to adopt them if they have confidence in them, or trust to the machinery and the engineman if they have not such confidence.

 The men who died were all sinkers:

  • Thomas Thomas aged 28 years,
  • James O’Connor aged 35 years,
  • Humphrey Jenkins aged 28 years,
  • Richard Skinner aged 28 years,
  • William Evans aged 51 years,
  • William Thomas aged 35 years,
  • Dan Thomas aged 32 years,
  • William Carpenter aged 45 years.

The inquest was held before Mr. Cuthbertson, Coroner when the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death.”

 

REFERENCES
The Mines Inspectors Report, 1891.

Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.

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