Feb 10th 1849
Explosion of fire damp in a pit in St Helens, 7 killed
On Monday in the Bird in Hand Colliery Eccleston belonging to Messers BROMILOW and Co. The accident supposed occurred through the imprudence of one of the colliers taking his top off his lamp. There were 9 men and boys in the part where the explosion took place, 7 were suffocated, Robert JOHNSON, William PORTER, Isaac BALL, William PALMER, William PLATT, John GARVEY and Peter GARVEY. Two other men badly burned are not expected to live.
March 10th 1849
Colliery explosion at Ince near Wigan 12 lives lost
One Tuesday morning a terrible explosion of fire damp occurred at one of the colliers of Ince Hall Coal and Cannel Co called “The Middle Patricroft Colliery” situated a short distance from the cotton mill of Messers GIDLOW on the road from Wigan to Hindley, 26 men had descended to work at 6am, many had not commenced work, as some brought out dead had clothes in clean condition. There are 12 dead and two injured, many managers descended the pit to rescue including Mr James LANCASTER on of the firm.
Those taken out dead, Absalom MATHER, William AFFLECK, John BENNETT, George BENNETT, John SWANTON, Thomas TONGUE, George TAYLOR, George LEWIS, Thomas LEWIS, Matthew LEWIS, John LEWIS, PEDLAR. Stephen YATES and John SHARPLES are badly burnt.
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LIVERPOOL JOURNAL
Jan 13th, 1877
DEATHS
At 5.30 am on Sunday a fatal accident occurred on the Ravenhead branch of the London and North West, Railways Co’s branch. Elizabeth Ellen CHEETHAM, aged 19, employed as a Brow Girl at the Ravenhead Colliery, was proceeded to her work. [NB 5am Sunday]. With a young man and girl named GARNETT. At the same time there was a train of wagons shunting and for this purpose, it was divided in the middle. The driver shouted to them not to go through the opening, but the young man GARNETT, succeeded and ventured to the other side. The deceased followed, the wagon being then in motion. She was caught between the buffers and crushed, death was instantaneous.
Liverpool Journal, 20th Jan, 1877
Deaths and Inquests
A fatal accident occurred on Tuesday morning last at the Mostyn Collieries resulting in the death of a collier named, William JONES, aged 65. He was working at the “Eyton’s Pit” and while he was cutting coal a siding near gave way. He was crushed severely and died later, he leaves a wife and family.
A coroner’s inquest was held at Gunnislake Cornwall on Wednesday, arising from a terrible accident that occurred that afternoon in the Great Consul Mine. A number of men were working at the bottom of the shaft, when a great mass of rocks loosened, due to the late rain. George SEARGEANT and Thomas CLYMO were killed instantly, both men leave wives, one has 8 dependant children.
A dreadful explosion occurred on Tuesday night at the Coppot Colliery, Lower Gornal, 5 persons were injured. When the men were leaving work a heavy fall of coal took place, followed by a dense volume of sulphur, which immediately exploded. Thomas GRIFFITHS and Nathaniel HALL died on Wednesday and Jabez HALL and HICKMAN are not expected to recover.
Liverpool Journal, 20th Jan 1877
Wigan County Court
Thursday, application by Mr APPLETON, debtor’s solicitor, re the estate of Joseph ROPER, Cotton spinner, Colliery proprietor and Farmer of Orrell, who has petitioned for liquidation by arrangement, liabilities estimated, £ 21,000, to stay a distraint made on the estate for £100 farm rent, £192 colliery rent due to the Marquis de Lys. His Honour directed receivers to pay £300 for claims out of £700 the court allowed them to carry on business with till the 1st meeting of the creditors
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Liverpool Journal, 7th January 1882
Shortly after 11am on Weds morning a collier W. CHILDERS, aged 48, employed in the Chamber Colliery, Oldham, was working in the mine when a large stone weighing a ton, fell on his head killing him instantaneously, another miner BARDSLEY working nearby had a narrow escape.
On Sunday John TYLDESLEY, aged 25, butcher of Tyldesley, was found in a shocking mutilated state at the bottom of a coal pit, 400 yds deep. The deceased had jumped down the shaft leaving his hat and stop on the top. On Saturday he sent a note to his father, which caused injuries to be made.
At Skelmersdale yesterday Martin GANNON, a labourer working in the Arley mine of the White Moss colliery Skelmersdale, a portion of a roof fell, a stone struck the deceased on the head and killed him instantaneously
At Ormskirk
Edward RIGBY was fined 5s and costs for making cartridges with blasting powder in his house, not being licensed for the same. The bench recommended representation should be made to the colliery proprietors to provide a place where colliers can make these cartridges, further cases would be severely dealt with, with a fine of £100. Liverpool Journal 14th Jan 1882
Deaths and inquests
On Tues am, John MORAN, aged 35, residing at Ormskirk, was working at Airley mine, White Moss Co, Skelmersdale, at 6am he was proceeding down the shaft when the rope broke, boxes ran down and caught him, killing him on the spot.
An inquest was held at Accrington on James BUTTERWORTH, aged 14, who was killed by a fall from the roof at the Baxenden Coal pit on the previous Thurs. The jenny had broken down and when the lad was pushing an empty wagon a stone fell on him – accidental death.
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The Wigan Observer and District Advertiser
Friday April 13th 1900
FATALITY AT A STANDISH COLLIERY
On Wednesday morning Mr PARKER, County coroner, held an inquest at the Wheat Sheaf Hotel, Standish on the body of John William OLLERTON, aged 18, a detailer of 63 Preston Rd, Standish, who was killed in the Gidlow, Pit, Standish, belonging to the Wigan Coal and Iron Co, on Monday by a fall of coal. Mr J. DEAN manager of the colliery was present.
John OLLERTON, the father gave evidence of identification.
Thomas KILLEY, a detailer of 17 Folly, Wigan Lane, Wigan, said he was working with the deceased in the Arley Mine, No 2, Gidlow Pit, On Monday morning packing dirt. When they had been at work a short time, deceased went out of the place to have a rest, he was making his way back when some coal fell from the face on his head, he got the assistance of Thomas MARSDEN and extricated him but he died immediately afterwards. The whole fall was 3 cwt, witness examined the place early in the morning and it was all right.
Denis CULSHAW, the fireman said he examined the place where he was working at 9.30am and it appeared quite safe. The place where the coal fell could not be spragged, without moving the dirt.
The coroner stated from the evidence it appeared an accident and no one was to blame, the conditions seemed normal and there was no reason to suspect anything was wrong. Jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.
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Liverpool Mercury 19th Jan 1907
John HIGGINSON a brakesman of Marsden St, Ince was killed whilst shunting waggons. He was found face down with a fractured skull.
A coroners inquest was held at Chorley on William IDDON, Collier, IDDON borrowed a muzzle-loading gun and went with Thomas HOLT on a farm at Heath Charnock, IDDON killed a hare and HOLT reloaded the gun. IDDON then advanced into another field and HOLT followed with the gun extended. He was caught by a bough and when releasing himself the gun discharged and IDDON was killed. HOLT first said IDDON had shot himself then changed his story – Death by misadventure, HOLT remanded for feloniously killing IDDON
On Joseph BUCKLEY, aged 56 of Smithy St, who died in Leigh Infirmary, he was hooked on a waggon at Fletcher’s Basin and was crushed between the waggons.
William EVANS of Delph Rd, Acrefair near Ruabon, while working in the Wynnstay Colliery, was lowering loaded coal buckets down an incline from a “wicket”, when the approaching empty “tub” were drawn on the down line. Both “journeys” collided and a prop fell hitting EVANS on the head. He died on Wednesday morning without regaining consciousness. He was the clever goalkeeper of the Acrefair F.C.
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LIVERPOOL MERCURY
Local news Jan 11th 1908
Widnes inguest held on Samuel KNIGHT of Peasley Cross lane, during shunting operations was knocked down by a wagon and killed, accidental death recorded.
LIVERPOOL MERCURY Sat 25th, Jan 1908
INQUEST
Inquest held at Ormskirk by Mr S. BRIGHOUSE on James CROPPER age 47, Collier at Messers GRIFFITHS GLENBURN Colliery Skelmersdale. On Christmas Eve found with fractured ribs and scalp wounds and shock he died from his injuries – accidental death.
Inquest held at Haydock on Mordecai NORBURY age 55yrs of Haydock died on being removed from Leigh Pit to Haydock Hospital. Dr UNSWORTH conducted P.M. in the company of Dr THOMPSON for the colliery and Dr DOWLING for the relatives – death due to heart failure
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Liverpool Mercury
8th Feb 1913
Joseph YATES, aged 30 of 52 Trafalgar St, Leigh, died this morning from injuries he received on Sunday night in the Gin Pits, Tyldesley, leaving a widow and 5 children. He was bending down to put his tally on the tub when a stone fell from the roof, pinning him down. He smashed his ribs on both sides and died from his injuries.
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