PRIDMORE George – 1901 – 05/01/1901 – Age 17 – Shady Birchwood Horse driver, Babbington Coal Co., Derbyshire. Deceased was found dead in front of a full tub, being the first of a train of three tubs drawn by a horse. He appeared to have been riding contrary to the rules and to have fallen off while asleep or through being tired. Deceased was killed at 3:15 am. after having worked the previous day from 6:0 am to 3:00 pm and restarted work at 8:20 pm working continuously he was killed.

PRIDMORE Thomas – 1904 – 26/09/1904 – Age 64 – Shady Birchwood Banksman, Babbington Coal Co., Derbyshire. Deceased was crushed between an empty railway wagon and a post supporting the screens, and while lowering a wagon under the coal screens. Died 4th October.

PRIEST Benjamin – 1903 – 31/07/1903 – Age 20 – Saltwell No. 29 Labourer, Earl of Dudley, Staffordshire. He was lowering an empty truck to the end of the wharf and as the brake lever was in front and on the wall side he rode on the front buffer of the truck and lifted the lever with his foot. He lifted it into the catch at the top of the guard, and was unable to lift it out again so as to apply the brake to stop the truck. The truck ran past the wharf and he jumped off on to an old ash-tip, lost his footing and rolled against the truck. The axle box of the near wheel struck him.

PRIEST Charles William – 1905 – 12/03/1905 – Age 21 – Bromley Fireclay Miner, Naylor Bros., Yorkshire. Deceased was injured on 5th. Aug. 1904, by a fall of roof which was caused by slips. Died today in Huddersfield Infirmary.

PRIEST Clifford – 1902 – 04/01/1902 – Age 23 – Yew Tree Loader, Cochrane and Co., Staffordshire. Fall of coal from roof near the face of a heading in the thick coal. The men were repairing where a bar had been knocked out during the preceding night and before they had got a fresh bar set there was a heavy bump and a large quantity of crushed coal fell from the roof completely filling the heading and smothering the men. A fresh road had to be cut in to recover the bodies 2 killed.

PRIEST Isaac – 1903 – 21/01/1903 – Age 60 – Old Hill, Gawn Collier, N Hingley and Sons Ltd., Staffordshire. Fall of side (coal) at longwall face in Brooch seam. While drawing a post, the top coal he sat under, a band of coal about 8 inches thick projecting from the face fell on his neck and killed him. He should not have been under the projecting coal which should either have been taken down or spragged up.

PRIEST John – 1904 – 24/11/1904 – Age 15 – Clay Cross No.2 Horse driver, Clay Cross Co., Derbyshire. He died on 30th November from blood poisoning, due to being kicked by a horse on the right knee.

PRIEST Samuel – 1904 – 23/07/1904 – Age 9 – Stour, Not employed, Stafford. Killed whilst riding on the return wheel of an endless rope haulage or the spoil bank.

PRINCE Arthur – 1901 – 07/06/1901 – Age 22 – Ubberley Haulage clipper, Catterley Whitfield Collieries Co. Ltd., Staffordshire. A fall of roof had occurred in an endless rope haulage dip. A fireman sent Prince to the top of the dip to make things safe for men to work at the fall without instructing him what to do. Prince protected the empty road by a rail but did nothing on the fall side. Whilst he and others were working at the fall two full tubs were accidentally pushed into the dip and they ran down wild and caught Prince. The fireman should himself have seen that both lines of rails were protected.

PRINCE John – 1903 – 26/02/1903 – Age 25 – Bailey Brook Stallman, Butterley Co., Derbyshire. Fall of roof. Deceased was getting coal at the face when a portion of the roof fell and fatally injured him. He died 7th December.

PRINCE Victor – 1904 – 10/12/1904 – Age 19 – Reedley Drawer, Executors of Col. Hargreaves, Lancashire. Overpowered by full tub he was in front of, contrary to rules, on a slightly inclined road.

PRING Edward – 1903 – 24/01/1903 – Age 32 – Merthyr Vale No.1 Collier, Nixons Navigation Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Run over, on their way out at the end of the shift, by a journey of coal which was being lowered by a tail rope towards the shaft. The road dipped outwards about three inches per yard and the speed of the journeys travel at is about eight miles per hour. The road was of ample dimensions and was well provided with manholes. 2 killed.

PRINGLE Joseph – 1903 – 19/02/1903 – Age 28 – Murton Hewer, South Hetton Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Hewing in the fast side of the jud when a large stone fell from between three slips without any warning and displaced some timber killing him.

PRINGLE Thomas – 1900 – 01/12/1900 – Age 16 – Hetton Way-end lad, Hetton Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. When this accident occurred deceased was working at some ways ends on the engine plane, and no one was near him. His duties were to change the ropes at the point where one way left the other, and to avoid moving the sets if the rope ends were not quite together, he had a winch to haul in rope from the hauling engine to enable him to get the two ends coupled. As he was found lying dead and no one saw what happened, it is impossible to say with certainty what caused his death, but it is very probable that he had been winching in slack rope, and after doing so he had coupled the ends of the ropes and then signalled to the hauling engineman to take the set away, but before doing so had forgotten to take the winch chain off the rope, and the result was that as soon as the ropes began to move the winch chain was taken with them, and the handle of the winch would be revolved very quickly, and in trying to get the chain loose the handle had hit him on the head and killed him. There was a "pall" on the winch, but unfortunately it was not placed so that it would prevent the barrel reversing. Deceased should have been careful to see that the chain was quite free before he signalled to the engineman, and should also have the "pall" put into proper position before starting to winch the rope at all. If he had taken these precautions I do not think there would have been an accident.

PRINGLETON James – 1900 – 09/07/1900 – Age 49 – Langley Park Shifter, Consett Iron Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. He was taking up bottom stone and doing so undermined the timber causing a heavy stone to fall from a slippery parting which caught and killed him.

PRISK William – 1902 – 04/01/1902 – Age 46 – Wheal Grenville, Tin Timberman, Wheal Grenville Mining Co., Cornwall. When at the 120 fathom level, hearing what he probably thought to be the cage or gig descending, he stepped into the skip road either to examine the cage as it passed or to speak to the occupants. It was however the skip which was being lowered and not the cage or gig. This caught and crushed him against the shaft side and killed him.

PRITCHARD Albert – 1901 – 11/09/1901 – Age 27 – Sandwell Park Assistant banksman, Sandwell Park Colliery Co. Ltd., Staffordshire. The steam pipes at the top of the shaft required lifting. The capstan engine was otherwise engaged so the decease and another man attached the minding rope to the pipes with a lashing chain. They were in the cradle hanging just below the sill and when the winding rope was tightened the lashing chain broke and deceased was so badly crushed against the sill that he died in two hours.

PRITCHARD Griffith J. – 1902 – 10/02/1902 – Age 60 – Dinorwic, Slate Quarry Quarryman, GW Duff Assheton Smith, Carnarvon. While he was pushing a load of rubbish to be tipped into a lake his attention was drawn by the upsetting of a load behind him and he thus forgot to fasten the check chain to the waggon and was carried over with it and drowned.

PRITCHARD James – 1905 – 11/07/1905 – National No.2 Boy, United National Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported on by E Milner-Jones.

PRITCHARD James – 1908 – 07/11/1908 – Age 36 – Llay Hall Collier, Exors of ES Clark, Denbighshire. When getting coal down at the face, he appeared to have liberated a slip in the roof, running parallel with the face causing a stone to fall upon him.

PRITCHARD Jeremiah – 1907 – 19/10/1907 – Age 28 – Maindy Assistant repairer, Ocean Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Deceased, who was accustomed to the work, was taking the place of the rope coiler at the main engine in the Upper seam. A few minutes before the accident the electric lights in the engine house went out, as the dynamo was stopped for the purpose of oiling, etc. Deceased hung his safety lamp in a place where it showed light on the coils and was in all probability sitting on the fence doing his work when he must have slipped off and fallen with his legs on either side of the pinion. He received injuries from which he died on the same day. There was no need for him to have got inside the fence to do the work.

PRITCHARD John – 1905 – 07/12/1905 – Age 69 – Westminster Collier, Westminster and Brymbo Coal and Coke Co., Denbigh. Inspection made and inquest attended. Deceased was an old man, and after going through a passbye to the other side of the shaft, he is said to have walked back and fallen into the sump. The gate and chain fencing was open, as they were about to start to wind coal. He fell a distance of ten feet, and succumbed to the injuries received, March 3rd, 1906.

PRITCHARD John – 1905 – 11/07/1905 – National No.2 Collier, United National Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported on by E Milner-Jones.

PRITCHARD John – 1905 – 14/04/1905 – Age 33 – Penrhyn, Slate Quarry Slate getter, Lord Penrhyn, Penrhyn, Carnarvon. A stone thrown down by a man sloping old rubbish heaps on a gallery above rolled over the edge and struck him on the head.

PRITCHARD John – 1908 – 20/03/1908 – Age 34 – Oakeley, Slate Labourer, Oakeley Slate Quarries Co. Ltd., Merioneth. While he was clearing rubbish at a part of the mine worked opencast, a piece of rock fell on to him. Died in a few hours.

PRITCHARD Moses – 1908 – 11/06/1908 – Age 45 – Granville Pumper, Lilleshall Co. Ltd., Shropshire. Deceased was sitting in a tub, riding along a level in the Clod Coal seam going to his work first thing in the morning. Workmen were allowed to ride on this length on account of water under foot over a considerable portion of it. Deceased failed to lower his head when the tub in which he was riding reached a spot where the side of the road projected a distance of 9 inches nearly flush over the edge of the tub. He received a blow which dislocated his neck, causing almost instant death. The accident happened in an old shunt or passby. The road on rise side which was higher, was usually used, but at the time of the accident two loaded tubs stood in it, and the men were taken along the dip-side road.

PRITCHARD Oliver – 1905 – 11/07/1905 – Age 38 – National No.2 Collier, United National Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported on by E Milner-Jones, FA Gray and JT Robson. 119 killed.

PRITCHARD Robert – 1909 – 05/02/1909 – Age 60 – Dinorwic, Slate Quarry Slate getter, CG Assheton-Smith, Carnarvon. A four-legged derrick, with which he and others were hauling a slate block, fell on to him and inflicted injuries which proved fatal.

PRITCHARD Thomas - 1905 - 23/03/1905 – Age 62 - Pantdreiniog, Slate Quarry Slate getter, North Wales Quarries Ltd., Carnarvon. He began boring in the socket of a hole which had been blasted with gelignite the previous week. A remnant left in the hole exploded.

PRITCHARD William - 1900 - 30/01/1900 – Age 22 - West Elliott Engineman, Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Co. Ltd., Monmouth. While oiling the crank pin, of the air compressor, he got inside the rail fence and was so severely crushed by the crank that he died in a few hours.

PRITCHARD William - 1901 - 15/04/1901 – Age 16 - Bwllfa No.2 Collier boy - Bwllfa & Merthyr Dare Steam Coal Collieries (1891) Ltd., Glamorgan. Fall of roof at face rock, 4 feet by 2.5 feet by 8 inches thick, from a smooth joint in centre road. It was unsupported. Died seven days later. Yard seam.

PROBERT Azariah - 1902 - 03/09/1902 – Age 25 - McLaren Haulier, Tredegar Iron and Coal Co. Ltd., Monmouth. Explosion of firedamp in the Yard Vein seam. Caused by working near to or in a large accumulation of gas. 16 killed.

PROBERT Edward – 1907 – 27/06/1907 – Age 26 – New Duffryn Repairer, Rhymney Iron Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Fall of roof on road, cliff, 12 feet by 10 feet by 4 feet thick, fell as deceased was cutting through a lag to remove two pairs of timber. Deceased intended to knock out two pairs of timber and let the rubbish on them fall, so as to make more height. Five pairs of timber were crushed out. Drawing out timber, especially on roads where the roof is crushed, should always be done with a propdrawing appliance. Lower Four feet seam.

PROBERT John – 1905 – 11/07/1905 – Age 20 – National No.2 Collier, United National Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported on by E Milner-Jones, FA Gray and JT Robson. 119 killed. Old Pit Houses, Ynyshir, John was buried at Liethrddu Cemetery on Saturday.

PROBERT Thomas – 1909 – 27/04/1909 – Age 22 – McLaren Collier, Tredegar Iron and Coal Co. Ltd., Monmouth. He appears to have slipped off the gun, upon which he is presumed to have been riding on a falling gradient with three sprags in his three full trams. He was killed by one of the trams getting off the rails and crushing his head etc. There seems to have been ample room on the road at this place and the horse was a quiet one as he was alone it can only be surmised how it occurred.

PROCTOR Benjamin – 1905 – 13/09/1905 – Age 20 – Dunnikier Drawer, Walter Herd and Son, Fife. Deceased was engaged during the morning repairing a level road and when repairs were almost finished he left and proceeded to the coal face and when there a piece of coal fell away from between two sprags on him. The sprags were 5 feet 6 inches apart.

PROCTOR Charles – 1909 – 08/01/1909 – Age 55 – Apedale, Wood Lane Collier, Midland Coal Coke and Iron Co. Ltd., Staffordshire. Deceased had just come into the place and was preparing to begin work at the corner of a pillar in the Bullhurst Seam, when without any warning, a piece of top coal 2 feet 6 inches thick, 9 feet long and about 3 feet 6 inches wide fell from two parallel slips which converged upwards. The roof was supported by bars, 9 feet long and set 4 feet apart. The coal which fell was supported solely by one of these bars which was reeled by the fall. Deceased was struck by the end of the fall and received injuries from which he died on the following day.

PROCTOR George – 1905 – 22/11/1905 – Age 55 – Apedale Watermills Shifter, Midland Coal Coke and Iron Co. Ltd., Staffordshire. Fall of roof (shale) while repairing gateway in Little coal.

PROCTOR J. – 1901 – 03/07/1901 – Age 24 – Langcliffe, Limestone Quarry Quarryman, Craven Lime Co., Yorkshire. Stone from the face rolled upon him.

PROCTOR John William – 1902 – 26/03/1902 – Age 46 – Co.Durham Main Hewer, Framwellgate Coal and Coke Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Injured on June 4th last by fall of band and coal. He worked on afterwards but died from heart disease.

PROCTOR William – 1905 – 05/06/1905 – Age 29 – Wearmouth Hewer, Wearmouth Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Deceased and his marrow were working in the back shift in a 4 yard lift in broken workings in the Maudlin seam. The lift had gone about 10 feet and deceased was preparing to set a prop, his marrow holding a light, when a heavy fall of roof took place displacing several props and covering deceased and fastening his marrow by the foot. The fall was 10 feet long and 4.5 feet wide and varied in thickness up to 5 feet. It was relieved by a breaker on one side and a slip on the other. The foreshift deputy had thoroughly examined the place at 8 a.m. but the backshift deputy had not reached it. The overman was in about half an hour before the accident. There was a good supply of loose timber. The Local Inspectors reported ‘We are of the opinion that it was a pure accident.’

PROFFITT Edwin – 1908 – 18/12/1908 – Age 18 – Southgate Clipper, Shire Oaks Colliery Co., Derbyshire. He was found dead under a set of six full tubs on an endless rope plane. He appeared to have been, contrary to the rule, and when he jumped off he fell in front of the train.

PROSSER Arthur J. – 1901 – 10/12/1901 – Age 20 – Hetty Collier, Great Western Colliery Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Fall of side at face of coal, 5 feet by 2 feet by 8 feet thick, which he was pulling down and crushed him against a prop. Four feet seam.

PROSSER Charles – 1902 – 19/03/1902 – Age 64 – Wharton Hall Labourer, Bridgewater Trustees, Lancashire. Knocked down and run over by empty wagons being shunted whilst he was oiling the points.

PROSSER David – 1901 – 08/02/1901 – Age 54 – Tunnel Screener, Marquess of Bute, Glamorgan. As a full tram was being lowered past the screens, close to the screen wall, he stepped across and was run over by it. It was understood by the other men at the screen that he heard the tram was coming.

PROSSER Evan – 1909 – 29/10/1909 – Age 65 – Darran Repairer, Rhymney Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. This accident has been the subject of a Special Report. 27 men lost their lives and 4 were injured.

PROSSER Rees – 1900 – 12/07/1900 – Age 36 – South Duffryn No.1 Collier, Hills Plymouth Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Concussion of shot of Bulldog powder. He put his head against the face of a hard heading when a shot was being fired on the other side and the concussion killed him.

PROSSER Rees – 1900 – 23/01/1900 – Age 17 – Arral Griffin Haulier, J Lancaster and Co. Ltd., Monmouth. His horse kicking lashed the hook at the end of the trace out of another haulier's hand and it struck Prosser on the forehead. He died on the 27th February from fracture of the inner skull although he had resumed work for two or three weeks. But for the Compensation Act this case would probably not come under notice.

PROSSER Richard – 1900 – 04/12/1900 – Age 39 – Pentre Repairer, Cory Bros. and Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Fall of roof on road cliff, about 9 tons fell while he was preparing a prop to put under a long collar that had bent slightly on a main road. The collar broke before he had propped it. Five feet seam.

PROSSER Thomas – 1905 – 11/07/1905 – National No.2 Boy, United National Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported on by E Milner-Jones. 30 Lower Bailey St Wattstown buried at Llethrddu Cemetery on Saturday.

PROSSER Thomas – 1906 – 10/11/1906 – Age 41 – Albion Master haulier, Albion Steam Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Explosion of firedamp. 6 killed.

PROSSER William Henry – 1907 – 30/09/1907 – Age 21 – Lower Duffryn Collier, Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Fall of roof at face, cliff, 5.5 feet by 5.5 feet by 2 feet thick, fell from between two slips. It was quite unsupported. Nine-feet seam.

PROSSSER Thomas J. – 1905 – 11/07/1905 – Age 16 – National No.2 Collier boy, United National Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported on by E Milner-Jones, FA Gray and JT Robson. 119 killed.

PROTHEROE Gwilym J. – 1908 – 05/11/1908 – Age 14 – Glynea Haulier, Glynea and Castle Coal and Brick Co. Ltd., Carmarthen. Fall of roof at face; the three were killed by it, fall of top coal 21 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 2 feet 4 inches in thickness, extending from the face back along a narrow heading, having coal on either side. A slant ran along the right side, and another at the coal face. Five props, fixed about 4 feet 6 inches apart, in the centre of the roadway supported the top coal. In a roadway, 9 feet wide props fixed in the centre would have a tendency to assist the breaking of the coal at the ribs. Flats should have been set in the place of props. There was no evidence to show what the men were doing when the accident occurred. Fiery Vein. Naked lights. 3 killed.

PROUD Joseph – 1901 – 14/08/1901 – Age 25 – Glass Houghton Collier, WM Wood, Yorkshire. Fall of coal over sprags while holing. Cause a bump.

PROUD Richard – 1909 – 16/02/1909 – Age 62 – West Stanley, Owners of West Stanley Colliery, Co.Durham. Explosion of gas. 168 killed. 14 Ann Street, Stanley.

PRYDDERCH Thomas Owen – 1907 – 05/09/1907 – Age 22 – Phoenix Drawer, Phoenix Colliery Co., Flint. He was following behind, holding his full tub, going down a brow, when it got off the rails and the last end tilted up, which crushed him against a low roof. He expired on the 7th instant. Another drawer was following with a full tub but denied that his tub crushed the deceased.

PUDDLE Thomas – 1907 – 02/09/1907 – Age 35 – Trefor Collier, Lewis Merthyr Consolidated Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. Fall of roof at face, deceased had knocked out two sprags set in front of a ‘face slip’ and barred it down. In falling the coal knocked out a prop, which struck deceased on the abdomen. He died on Sept. 6th from peritonitis. Five feet seam.

PUGH Charles – 1903 – 13/03/1903 – Age 53 – Cwmneol Collier, Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Fall at face shale, 3 feet 3 inches by 3 feet by 6 inches thick, smooth on all sides, fell on the deceased as he was holing clod off the top of the coal. Nine feet seam.

PUGH David – 1901 – 09/02/1901 – Age 50 – Griffin Collier, J Lancaster and Co. Ltd., Monmouth. Fall of roof from a kind of bell-mould in his working place. He, at the time, engaged in ripping to make height at the place that had been idle for 2 or 3 days. There had been crush on the place which no doubt loosened the bell mould.

PUGH George – 1907 – 02/10/1907 – Age 64 – Varteg Hill Collier, J Vipond and Co. Ltd., Monmouth. Fall of top coal from the face as he was getting out some bottom coal. Due to his not spragging the coal properly.

PUGH John – 1901 – 24/05/1901 – Universal Waller, Universal Steam Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported upon by W Galloway Cd 947. 81 killed.

PUGH John – 1905 – 12/09/1905 – Age 41 – Deaf Hill Hewer, Trimdon Coal Co., Co.Durham. Fall of stone at face while hewing in a jud. A very large fall of 20 or more tons came away from a slip knocking out the timber and killing deceased on the spot. It gave no warning.

PUGH John – 1908 – 02/09/1908 – Age 66 – Cwmneol Repairer, Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Deceased and another man were walking up a drift close in the rear of a journey of 20 full trams, when a shackle broke and 14 trams ran back. The barhook acted and threw the last few trains off the road, the third catching deceased as he was making for a manhole. They were warned by three persons against following the journey so closely but persisted in their conduct. The broken shackle showed a large internal flaw.

PUGH Price – 1903 – 19/01/1903 – Age 24 – Dowlais Cardiff Ripper, Guest Keen and Nettlefolds Ltd., Glamorgan. Crushed against the side of a level by runaway trams. A haulier was taking three trams up a heading, rising 3 inches per yard, when the pin of the gun rose or broke and the trams ran back. The pin could not be found.

PUGH Richard (injured) – 1905 – 10/03/1905 – Cambrian No.1, Cambrian Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was the subject of a Special Report by FA Gray. 33 killed.

PUGH Thomas – 1905 – 07/02/1905 – Age 18 – Eldon Putter, Pease and Partners, Co.Durham. A fall had occurred on the drawing road. After filling a tub he set the tub away with it up rather a steep gradient and the pin got jolted out. He then returned to help the hewer to clear the road when the tub ran back and crushed him against a prop. He died on the 10th.

PUGH William – 1900 – 09/03/1900 – Age 48 – Frongoch Lead and Zinc Miner, Frongoch Lead and Zinc Mine, Cardigan. While he was using a crowbar, to clear out a shoot (ore pass) that was choked, a stone slipped on to the bar which struck him on the stomach and knocked him under a fence into old workings. Died on the 12th.

PUGH William – 1908 – 17/04/1908 – Age 60 – South Dorothea Slate Quarry Blacksmith, South Dorothea Slate Co., Carnarvon. He inadvertently stepped backwards and fell off a platform. Died on the morrow.

PUGH William E. – 1903 – 13/11/1903 – Age 35 – Britannic Assistant timberer, Dinas Main Coal Co., Glamorgan. Run over by trams running amain from a parting, owing to attendant's neglect in failing to close the stop-blocks.

PUGHSLEY S.R. – 1904 – 28/07/1904 – Age 16 – South Wales, Cwmtillery Lamp cleaner, Lancasters Steam Coal Collieries Ltd., Monmouth. Deceased was ordinarily employed tilling lamps with oil in the lamp cabin but at the time of the accident he was, it seems, moulding lead plugs. His clothes were saturated with oil and an apron made out of sacking, which he was wearing, caught fire and ignited his clothes, which could not be extinguished before he was badly burned.

PUGSLEY Thomas – 1905 – 05/04/1905 – Age 33 – Llwynypia No.6 Repairer, Glamorgan Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. On road, cliff, 24 feet by 8.5 feet by 4.5 feet thick. Deceased and a labourer were re-timbering a road that had become too low. He had been told by the fireman not to remove a pair of old timbers until he had put a new one in, he however began to cut one of the arms, and had nearly succeeded when six pairs of timbers and the roof above collapsed and buried him. The roof was very much broken by the existence of a fault and by a recent heavy squeeze. Five feet seam.

PULHAM Joseph – 1909 – 17/08/1909 – Age 21 – Cannop Trammer, Cannop Coal Co. Ltd., Gloucestershire. An empty tub, which was going up a steep self-acting road, about 14 yards long to the face, became unhitched from the rope and running back, crushed him against the lower side at the bottom. Probably the tub unhooked in consequence of a jerk.

PULLEN Frank – 1901 – 22/07/1901 – Age 47 – Albion Ropeman, Albion Steam Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Knocked down by three runaway trams which had been left standing below the stop blocks. The accident was the result of carelessness.

PUNCHEON Thomas William – 1907 – 26/09/1907 – Age 47 – Garesfield Hewer, Consett Iron Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. A drop staple, about 10 feet by 5 feet sectional area, had been put up 15 fathoms from the Brockwell to the Five Quarter seam, and was fitted up with two cages, each holding one tub and a ladder way. The wheel, over which the rope passed in the Five Quarter seam, was provided with a break and controlled the cages. The fitting up of the staple had only been completed two days before the accident, and the self acting gates to fence the top, in preparation in the staple, were not fixed and in the meantime a temporary fence consisting of wood spars extended across each side, 3 feet 1 inch from the flatsheets. There was no tub way from one side of the staple to the other, at the Five Quarter seam. There was no fixed light at the top of the staple. There were three or four hewers, a deputy and a putter at the top of the staple and the putter was in charge of the staple. Deceased was alone at the staple top and appears to have intended pushing an empty tub from one side to the other through the empty cage and seems to have mistaken the side at which the cage was and pushed the tub into the staple and fell with it. He was found dead with the tab on the top of the cage which was at the bottom of the staple. The tubs stand 2 feet 10 inches high and would pass under the fence which was intact. The Local Inspectors reported ‘Found everything all right excepting there was no gates at the staple top. There is a fence round staple one yard of top of plates in height.’

PURCELL Albert – 1908 – 07/09/1908 – Age 17 – Brereton Brick Kiln Bell ringer, Earl of Shrewsbury, Staffordshire. Deceased was employed, temporarily, in the absence of the usual bell-ringer at a curve on a main-and-tail rope haulage road. It was his duty to follow the empty set inbye for a distance of 265 yards and assist the engine plane man to change the ropes at that point; and then, while the set was going inbye for a further distance of 800 yards and returning, to return to his signal cabin to be in readiness to make certain signals. He had acted as bell-ringer on at least one previous occasion. No one witnessed the accident, but it appears that when returning to the signal cabin he had turned aside presumably out of curiosity to examine the horizontal wheel round which the tail rope passed at the curve. In some way he was caught by the on-going rope and dragged in against the wheel. He was decapitated, his left arm cut off above the elbow, and his safety lamp cut in two.

PURCELL John – 1907 – 02/08/1907 – Age 22 – Bearpark Timberer, Bearpark Coal and Coke Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. When altering the timber in a longwall face in front of a coal cutter, a thick stone fell from between two parallel joints and killed him.

PURCHASE E.H. – 1908 – 16/07/1908 – Age 42 – Binney, Clay Miner, Watts Blake Bearne and Co. Ltd., Devon. Fall of clay from the side of the road where he was sitting having his food. Died 22nd September.

PURDY Francis – 1904 – 17/06/1904 – Age 58 – Clifton Stallman, Clifton Colliery Co., Nottinghamshire. Fall of roof. Deceased was drilling a shothole in the coalface when a piece of roof fell and fatally injured him. He died 21st June.

PURDY Robert – 1908 – 09/10/1908 – Age 35 – Southgate Stallman, Shire Oaks Colliery Co., Derbyshire. Fall of roof. Deceased knew that the roof of the stall was bad, and was taking steps to set some timber to secure it, when it fell and fatally injured him. He died 21st October.

PURDY Thomas – 1906 – 05/07/1906 – Age 36 – Heworth Hewer, Heworth Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Deceased and another hewer in the fore shift were turning away a lift 12 yards wide off an old waggonway in which a 3 feet top canch had been taken down in the 5th South way of the Five Quarter seam, when a stone fell without any warning from the brow at the loose side of the lift and killed him. The stone would weigh about 2½ tons and was relieved at the back by the breaker nearly always found from 2 feet to 4 feet from the side of an old road. The deputy had examined the place about 3 hours before the accident, when he thought it safe. There was a supply of loose timber close at hand, but none had been used to secure the brow. The Local Inspectors reported, "In our opinion it was a pure accident and that there was plenty of timber lying near." In my opinion the stone should either have been taken down or stayed, and the manager has decided to use extra precautions when starting places off old roads in the future

PUREGLOVE Richard – 1901 – 08/02/1901 – Age 55 – New Hucknall Stallman, New Hucknall Colliery Co., Nottinghamshire. Deceased was found dead in his working place in the mine. He died from 'syncope.' He had not received any injury in the mine. The coroners jury gave a verdict 'that he died from Fatty degeneration of the heart.'.

PURSLOW John – 1903 – 07/01/1903 – Age 37 – Blaina South Griffin Collier, J Lancaster and Co. Ltd., Monmouth. Deceased appears to have knocked out a sprag, which caused the others to give way under the weight of coal and which falling over caught and injured him fatally.

PURSLOW Stanley – 1909 – 11/01/1909 – Age 29 – Windsor Collier, Windsor Steam Coal Co. (1901) Ltd., Glamorgan. Fall at face, coal and cliff, about a ton weight crushed a sprag out, fell on deceased and injured his face and head so severely that he died in 4 days from septic pneumonia. Four feet seam.

PURSS William – 1905 – 25/04/1905 – Age 34 – Caledonia fireclay Miner, Spiers Gibb and Co., Renfrew. Fall from the side of the road while enlarging it. Contrary to the managers instructions he was drilling a shothole in the strata which was known to be insecure. Another man injured.

PURVIS Edward – 1901 – 25/02/1901 – Age 63 – Pontop Shifter, John Bowes and Partners Ltd., Co.Durham. Inquest attended. Supposed to have strained himself internally when at work causing injuries from which he died on March 2nd.

PURVIS Robert – 1908 – 29/06/1908 – Age 35 – Broomhill Loco fireman, Broomhill Collieries Ltd., Northumberland. Crushed between waggons while uncoupling.

PURVIS WL – 1904 – 12/12/1904 – Age 24 – Hedley Hewer, South Moor Colliery and Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. He had gone into an adjoining place for a few minutes, when waiting for the putter, and on his return the place collapsed and he was killed. It was well timbered, 8 feet apart, but the weight of stone forced the timber out.

PUSEY John – 1909 – 10/06/1909 – Age 69 – Arrail Griffin Labourer, J Lancaster and Co. Ltd., Monmouth. Foot crushed by a coil of wire which fell from a railway van from which he was unloading material. Died August 13th, 1909, from pneumonia accelerated by the result of the injury. It is a case on which grave doubt exists but on the whole, on the Doctor's evidence, I consider it should be included as a fatal accident in or about a mine.

PYATT Jonathan – 1901 – 08/01/1901 – Age 43 – Biddulph Valley, Brown Lees Dataler, R Heath and Sons Ltd., Staffordshire. Large fall of roof while drawing timber in rough 7 feet seam. A number of posts were reeled out by the fall over an area about 11 yards x 8 yards. Another man had a narrow escape.

PYECROFT Charles – 1907 – 30/11/1907 – Age 62 – Howley Park Ripper, Howley Park Coal and Cannel Co. Ltd., Yorkshire. When engaged widening an engine plane, for a pass-bye, some of the side fell upon and killed him. He appears to have been holing under the side instead of working at the end of the stone.

PYLE Joseph – 1901 – 11/12/1901 – Age 47 – Rough Lea Hewer, North Bitchburn Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Died from spasms of his heart while at work in the mine.

PYLE William Thomas – 1906 – 15/11/1906 – Age 57 – Whitburn Shifter, Harton Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Died December 24. Deceased was sitting in a bord with his back against a chock and his legs extending over the tramway getting his bait. The bord dipped outbye about 3.5 inches per yard. Two men working further in brought out a kibble loaded with old wood. They had put a drag into one pair of the wheels of the kibble, and while one carried the lamps the other held on to the kibble, but allowing it to get away it ran forward and caught deceased. The men shouted before the kibble got away, as although they did not see deceased they saw the reflection of his lamp, but as he was deaf he had probably not heard. He was taken to the Ingham Infirmary at South Shields and treated for a broken thigh, and he then went to his son’s house at North Seaton, in Northumberland, where he died. A post-mortem examination revealed that in addition to a broken thigh two of his ribs were fractured and pleurisy had supervened. The verdict of the Coroner’s was accidental death.

PYNE Robert – 1909 – 09/10/1909 – Age 33 – Balleece, Whinstone Quarry Quarrier, Balleece Quarry Co. Ltd., Co. Wicklow, Ireland. Standing with two others on a ledge, 7 feet long, 5 feet in width, at one end and 2 feet wide at the other end, 57 feet above the bottom of the Quarry, and 50 feet below the top, drilling a hole for a shot, when about a shovel full of small stones came away from near the top of the Quarry face. A piece of the stone struck deceased whilst stooping down, he overbalanced and fell to the bottom of the Quarry.