RICHARDS James – 1907 – 15/05/1907 – Age 40 – Eastern Assistant repairer, Ocean Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Fall of roof on road, cliff, 9 feet by 11 feet by 12 inches thick, it fell while deceased and a repairer were ripping roof on a double parting. Deceased was pushing some loose stones off an old flat with the handle of the sledge when the fall occurred, smashed the flat and killed deceased. New seam.

RICHARDS James Lewis – 1908 – 20/05/1908 – Age 14 – Porthgalan Quarry Labourer, Forest of Dean Stone Firms Ltd., Pembroke. While working in a large bin shovelling fine stone dust to the bottom, he became under-pinned, and a quantity slid down to the lowest point, covering and suffocating him.

RICHARDS John – 1900 – 15/01/1900 – Age 38 – Wynnstay Wagon lowerer, Wynnstay Collieries Ltd., Denbigh. Inspection made and inquest attended. Deceased was attempting to cross the line between two wagons between which there was a space of three feet when he got crushed owing to the loco shunting up empty wagons at the time. The brakesman stated he had been up and thought everything was clear and the driver is said to have whistled at the time.

RICHARDS Morgan – 1906 – 28/04/1906 – Age 39 – Dowlais Cardiff Engineman, Guest Keen and Nettlefolds Ltd., Glamorgan. The deceased were killed by a runaway journey, which crashed into them as they were waiting at the pit bottom to ascend at the end of their shift. 5 killed.

RICHARDS Richard – 1908 – 07/01/1908 – Age 22 – Penallta Fitter, Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Deceased and two other men were replacing the motor-shaft of the overhead electric travelling crane in the engine house. Richards was seated on a plank waiting to receive the end of the shaft when he was joined by Phillips. Directly the latter got on the plank it broke in the middle, and they were precipitated to the floor, a distance of 50 feet. The plank which was 10 feet long 9 inches wide and 3 inches thick, rested on the two gantry rails, which were 7 feet apart, the actual unsupported span being 6 feet 9 inches. It had been kept up at the crane for some months, and had supported two men only a few days before. The fracture showed no sign of having existed for some time, the surfaces being quite clean and free from dry rot. That the mere weight of the two men broke such a good looking plank is incredible, it must have been severely strained some time previously. All witnesses agreed that it was not strained on the day of the accident, and no one could remember a previous strain. 2 killed.

RICHARDS Richard – 1908 – 09/05/1908 – Age 63 – Dolcoath, Tin Stoper, Dolcoath Mine Ltd., Cornwall. A piece of the shaft timbering fell down and struck him at the platt or mouthing where he and others were filling ore into a kibble for hoisting. As the kibble was about to land he stepped forward to guide it on to the platt and as he did so a piece of timber struck him on the shoulder causing injuries which proved fatal the same evening. The shaft, an old one, does not appear to have been examined since it was fitted up for hauling purposes some months before, which seems a serious omission where men were employed in filling stuff or working at the bottom. As it was not used for men to ascend or descend the shaft men whose duty it was to examine it believed that it was not necessary.

RICHARDS Richard Owen – 1908 – 17/06/1908 – Age 21 – New Tredegar Haulier, Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Co. Ltd., Monmouth. Fall of roof and timbers at a double parting where a fall of roof had previously occurred, and to secure which cogs had been put in above the double timbers. A stone 5.5 feet by 4.5 feet appears to have come out and knocked over the cogs, which were not tied together and caused the under timbering to also give way. There was clearly an error in not connecting these cogs for stability.

RICHARDS Taliesin – 1909 – 13/01/1909 – Age 43 – Cwmcynon Assistant Repairer, Nixons Navigation Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Deceased was found in a dying state on a private railway connecting the collieries with the Taff Vale Railway. He had probably been knocked down by a coal train.

RICHARDS Thomas – 1901 – 08/11/1901 – Age 65 – Lady Margaret Collier, Marquess of Bute, Glamorgan. While travelling out along the main haulage road he was knocked down and run over by the empty journey.

RICHARDS Thomas – 1901 – 19/09/1901 – Age 16 – Cwm Doorboy, Crawshay Bros. Ltd., Glamorgan. He had opened the door, he was in charge of, to allow the journey to pass out, when the rider at the journey reached the door deceased was not there but was found under the journey, 52 feet from his door. One of the trams must have caught his clothing and pulled him down.

RICHARDS Thomas – 1902 – 18/02/1902 – Age 56 – Glyncorrwg Master Haulier, Glyncorrwg Coal Co., Glamorgan. While riding without authority on the first of two loaded trams they left the rails and he was run over.

RICHARDS Thomas – 1905 – 10/03/1905 – Age 42 – Cambrian No.1 Fireman, Cambrian Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was the subject of a Special Report by FA Gray. 33 killed.

RICHARDS Thomas – 1907 – 08/03/1907 – Age 15 – Garnoch No.2 Door boy, Glasbrook Bros. Ltd., Glamorgan. Run over and killed by a journey of loaded trams, breaking through a door of which he was the attendant. He seems to have forgotten to open it in time and was standing in the middle of the roadway watching a mason at work on an airbridge. A manhole had been cut in the side and a rope attached to the door which could be opened and closed when the attendant was in the manhole.

RICHARDS Thomas – 1908 – 13/02/1908 – Age 37 – Whitworth Collier, Tredegar Iron and Coal Co. Ltd., Monmouth. A drawbar of one of the full trams, in a journey, on the engine plane broke at an unnoticed flaw in the iron, allowing seven trams to run wild which caught him and caused injuries from which he died on the 2nd of March.

RICHARDS Thomas – 1909 – 22/06/1909 – Age 67 – Ton Phillip Repairer, Ton Phillip Rhondda Colliery Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Fall of roof on road; while ripping the roof on a roadway, for the purposes of enlargement, a piece of stone which fell, slid down debris already on the floor, and struck him on the leg, causing a severe bruise. He died on the 26th from a clot of blood on the brain, due to a clot formed in the leg at the time of the accident. Rock Fawr. Naked lights.

RICHARDS W. – 1900 – 03/12/1900 – Age 14 – Cambrian No.1 Assistant haulier, Cambrian Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. Run over by a loaded tram which the haulier was taking out along a level. A sprag broke, the tram ran away and overtook deceased who was running out in front.

RICHARDS W. – 1900 – 08/08/1900 – Age 25 – Rhondda Llantwit Collier, FT McDonnell, Glamorgan. Knocked down by a runaway empty tram as he was walking up the dip. Just as the train was pushed over the brow of the dip the rope broke.

RICHARDS Walter – 1905 – 08/04/1905 – Age 70 – Swanwick Dataller, CRP Morewood, Derbyshire. He was injured on 6th April 1904 and died a year and two days later. No inquest was held.

RICHARDS Watkin – 1909 – 05/02/1909 – Age 32 – South Duffryn Rider, Hills Plymouth Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. Deceased pricked his thumb with a broken wire of a haulage rope which he was handling. Blood poisoning soon set in, but, owing to the objections of deceased, an operation was deferred until July 30th when he died under the anaesthetic.

RICHARDS Wiliam – 1902 – 03/06/1902 – Age 34 – Windsor Sinker, Windsor Steam Coal Co. (1901) Ltd., Glamorgan. Fell down the shaft. 6 killed.

RICHARDS William – 1907 – 13/11/1907 – Age 15 – Dulais Collier boy, Dulais Anthracite Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. Fall of roof on road. A horse was standing in charge of a haulier at a pass by, while the boy was assisting the collier to push a tram along the roadway. In passing the horse became restive and forced its limbers or shaft against a prop supporting the roof. The prop gave way, and a fall of the roof occurred, killing the lad instantaneously. Bleurs seam. Safety lamps.

RICHARDS William – 1907 – 24/06/1907 – Age 38 – Llanbradach Hitcher, Cardiff Steam Coal Collieries Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. In endeavouring to get out of the way of a journey of 30 full trams, which were out of control, and were approaching the pit bottom at a considerable speed, deceased attempted to jump across the shaft but failed and fell between the cage bearers, 15 inches apart, from the four feet to the nine feet seam, a distance of about 45 yards. There was a manhole on each side of the parting at the spot and into which deceased could have got. Cross pieces have since been fastened on the cage bearers to prevent anyone falling through.

RICHARDS William G – 1905 – 11/07/1905 – National No.2 Boy – United National Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was specially reported on by E Milner-Jones. 10 Pontypridd Road, Porth.

RICHARDSON Frederick A. – 1909 – 02/01/1909 – Age 43 – Horden Boiler Minder, Horden Collieries Ltd., Co.Durham. These two men and a third went to bring a truck of coal down from the sidings to the boiler fire-holes. They uncoupled the first truck but omitted to see that the second truck was made fast. It crept away and overtook them crushing these two men who were pushing at the buffers but not injuring the third man who was pushing at the centre bar. The gradient was 1 in 124. 2 killed.

RICHARDSON George – 1907 – 01/05/1907 – Age 39 – Leasingthorne Blacksmith, Bolckow Vaughan and Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. When doing some repairs to a cleaning belt, he fell 17 feet to the ground. He died from shock the following day.

RICHARDSON George – 1907 – 31/12/1907 – Age 47 – Cadley Hill Dataller, Halls Collieries Ltd., Derbyshire. Fall of roof. Deceased was straightening on the main road when it gave way and a quantity of roof fell on him.

RICHARDSON Henry – 1908 – 22/01/1908 – Age 55 – Vedw Collier, Vedw Colliery Co., (Davies Roe and Co. Ltd.) Monmouth. Fall of roof in his working place. The stone, which was reek, appears to have dropped out suddenly from smooth slips as he was sitting down having a whiff or rest. Although the clod at the place was down to the rock, he did not consider there was sufficient timber set to make the place reasonably safe. The maximum distance, apart for timbers under rock roof, was 15 feet, a distance which, in my opinion, is not reasonable, although argued by many mining engineers and managers to be ample in certain mines.

RICHARDSON James - 1901 - 31/05/1901 – Age 63 - Seghill Hewer, Joseph Laycock and Co., Northumberland. Inquest attended. While the deceased was kirving in the band the top coal fell away from a sooty back breaking one stay and knocking out another which had been placed to support the coal.

RICHARDSON James - 1909 - 05/05/1909 – Age 44 - Usworth Hewer, Johnasson Gordon and Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Fall of band at working face.

RICHARDSON James T. - 1909 - 04/02/1909 – Age 29 - North Skelton Ironstone Rolleywayman, Bolckow Vaughan and Co. Ltd., North Yorkshire. He was riding inbye on a set and either by striking his head against a tail rope sheave or by falling off the tub top on which he was sitting, he had fallen to the ground between the tubs and been run over.

RICHARDSON John - 1901 - 07/10/1901 – Age 60 - Sacriston Stoneman, Charlaw and Sacriston Collieries Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Preparing to timber a new flat end when a stone fell away from slips in the roof and broke his ribs. Died 9th.

RICHARDSON John - 1906 - 13/02/1906 - Oakenshaw Joiner, Strakers and Love, Co.Durham. Died from apoplexy whilst at work.

RICHARDSON John - 1908 - 05/10/1908 – Age 39 - St. John’s Collier, Locke and Co., Yorkshire. He and his mate had withdrawn the sprags under some holed coal, and tried to get it down with a crowbar. He was passing in front of it when the coal and overlying clod suddenly fell and caught him. Died two days afterwards.

RICHARDSON Margaret - 1906 - 18/02/1906 - Pelton Married woman, Owners of Pelton Colliery Ltd., Co.Durham. Poisoned by gases issuing from a burning rubbish heap adjacent to her house. Female.

RICHARDSON Mark - 1904 - 17/05/1904 – Age 26 - Walkmill Hewer, Moresby Coal Co. Ltd., Cumberland. Deceased and another hewer worked in the second working of the bord and pillar system or ‘robbery’ working as it is termed in Cumberland. In the Main Band, 5.5 feet thick. They had nearly finished the extraction of a pillar of coal and were returning to the fate after having been some little distance outbye for refreshment when a stone, 16 feet long 3 feet wide and 1.5 feet thick, fell from the roof without any warning catching deceased on the back. He was not fastened but died almost immediately. The stone was relieved by a natural joint at one side and by the vees or leader of a hitch at the other. It was not supported by timber but 5 props were set close to it between the hitch and the coal. Two deputies had examined the place during the course of the shift There was an ample supply of timber.

RICHARDSON Matthew – 1905 – 30/12/1905 – Age 47 – West Carterhouse Hewer, West Carterhouse Coal Co., Co.Durham. When working alone taking out the last stook of a pillar he was completely buried and smothered by a fall of roof. As no one was working with him it was difficult to say what caused the fall, as, apparently, the place was carefully timbered.

RICHARDSON R. – 1902 – 10/11/1902 – Age 37 – Park Banksman, Low Moor Co. Ltd., Yorkshire. Collapse of a scaffold. 3 killed.

RICHARDSON Richard – 1901 – 02/09/1901 – Age 65 – Shifter, South Durham Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Killed by being caught by a selfacting incline set. He had assisted to put a short set of five full tubs over bank head and did not get into a refuge and empty set when it came up and caught and killed him.

RICHARDSON Richard – 1905 – 17/05/1905 – Age 55 – Hodroyd Dataller, New Monckton Collieries Ltd., Yorkshire. He was cleaning the engine plane when a piece of stone fell from the roof and caused such injuries that he died at the Beckett Hospital, when under-going an operation, the following day. The stone measured 4 feet by 4 feet by 2.5 inches in thickness and fell away at a slip next to the coal side.

RICHARDSON Robert – 1901 – 28/03/1901 – Age 15 – Wallsend Driver, Wallsend and Hebburn Coal Co. Ltd., Northumberland. Inspection made and inquest attended. He was found lying under a full tub from which the pony was detached. It is probable he had been riding on the limmers which had not been secured with a cotter.

RICHARDSON Robert – 1908 – 20/03/1908 – Age 34 – Newmarket Silkstone Lampman, J and J Charesworth, Yorkshire. He went to get a bucket of coal for the lamp room fire, and instead of going to the boilers or landsale screen, near the lamp room, he went to the best coal screens. When standing between two sets of rails he was warned that the waggons were to be moved and he replied "all right," but he evidently passed between them as they were closing on two others standing under the screens and was crushed between the buffers and killed.

RICHARDSON Samuel – 1909 – 13/01/1909 – Age 14 – Trindon Grange Helper up, Walter Scott Ltd., Co.Durham. He went into a place with the putter to help to bring a full tub away. He stood on one side of the road, a few yards on the out-bye side of the tub. The putter lifted the tub away but when it got on to the second length of plates it stopped. The putter asked the hewer to help him pull the tub back but the hewer instead went past the side of the tub and then saw the boy lying on his back with one leg beneath the tub and the other by the side of the way, he was bleeding from the temple and the back of his head. Either he had been pulling at the out-bye end of the tub and had fallen down, or he had been knocked down by the tub. His skull was fractured and he died when being carried out of the mine.

RICHARDSON Stanley – 1906 – 26/11/1906 – Age 4 – Ouston Infant, Charles Perkins and Partners, Co.Durham. This accident occurred at the same point as the accident already described to another infant on August 14th. In the present case some children were returning from school and arrived at the crossing while sets were being run. The set rider on the first of the 10 empty waggons, when about 30 yards from the crossing, saw an elder boy hold up his hand to warn deceased who stopped for a moment and then went on again and fell against the rope, as it was rising out of the groove he ran in to the crossing and the set passed over him.

RICHARDSON Thomas – 1902 – 27/11/1902 – Age 30 – Hindley Green Dataller, John Scowcroft and Co., Wigan, Lancashire. Inspection made. The deceased and another person were engaged clearing a fall in a slant roadway when another fall of stone fell from the roof upon the deceased, killing him. A little more care might have prevented this accident occurring.

RICHARDSON W. – 1901 – 11/02/1901 – Age 16 – Nunnery Driver, Nunnery Colliery Co., Yorkshire. Fell out of cage while descending.

RICHARDSON W. – 1903 – 09/10/1903 – Age 22 – East Cannock Road Doggie, East Cannock Colliery Co. Ltd., Staffordshire. Found lying between a tub and the side of the road with his neck broken. He was driving for a driver who had left work. Nothing was found to account for the accident. He died on 11th October.

RICHARDSON William – 1901 – 10/04/1901 – Age 19 – Hodbarrow, Clay Quarry Labourer, John Aird and Co., Cumberland. Inspection made and inquest attended. A piece of clay weighing 15 or 20 cwt suddenly slipped and fell from the face and caught deceased who was at work at the Quarry bottom. The Quarry was only 8 feet deep at that point and the place had been examined by an official who considered it perfectly safe.

RICHARDSON William – 1906 – 16/02/1906 – Age 38 – Benwell Deputy Overman, W Cochran Carr Ltd., Northumberland. Deceased, assisted by a youth, was drawing timber during the night out of two opposite lifts in broken workings in the Brockwell seam of the North east flat. Before starting he set seven or eight props to protect his way out and near here was a chock. When he had drawn all the props, except about a dozen, as well as the chock 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 Inspector 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.”

RICHARDSON William - 1909 - 22/06/1909 – Age 16 - Preston Pony driver, UA Ritson and Sons Ltd., Northumberland. Fell before tubs drawn by a pony.

RICHMOND Alexander - 1908 - 07/09/1908 – Age 53 - Wester Moffat Miner, Wester Moffat Colliery Co. Ltd., Lanarkshire. Deceased was taking coal off the face, when a stone fell from the roof and injured him, causing death a week after. The stone in falling threw out a prop, which supported it.

RICHMOND John - 1900 - 08/11/1900 – Age 20 - Highhouse No. 2 Miner, William Baird and Co. Ltd., Ayrshire. Fall of roof in working place.

RICHMOND John - 1901 - 18/05/1901 – Age 23 - Earnock Miner, John Watson Ltd., Lanarkshire. Fall of roof at working place.

RICHMOND John Edward - 1900 - 22/10/1900 – Age 37 - Wheatley Hill Hewer, Weardale Steel Coal and Coke Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. A shot had been fired in top coal which did not bring jud down, he started to hew it down standing up in front of the jud when it fell away and knocked him against the pack breaking his head and killing him.

RICHMOND Joseph - 1909 - 19/10/1909 – Age 16 - Common No.15 Pony driver, William Baird and Co. Ltd., Ayrshire. Run over in some unknown manner by race of hutches which he was taking along a road.

RICKABY Stephen - 1907 - 13/09/1907 – Age 13 - Trimdon Driver, Walter Scott Ltd., Co.Durham. His head was squeezed between the fore-end of a tub and a prop.

RICKARD Charles William - 1903 - 13/10/1903 – Age 18 - North Walbottle Putter, North Walbottle Coal Co. Ltd., Northumberland. While deceased and another putter were coming out behind two loaded tubs in pillar workings of the Engine seam one of the tubs became derailed at a bad joint and knocked out a prop and the roof fell. A pony was drawing the tubs but as the road inclined outbye one sprag was in one of the wheels of the first tub and two sprags were in the wheels of the second tub and deceased and the other putter were holding on behind as the pony was somewhat spirited. The Local Inspectors examined the place but did not suggest any neglect on the part of the management.

RICKETTS Harry - 1906 - 18/08/1906 – Age 26 - Kinson Clay Quarry Labourer, Kinson Pottery Ltd., Dorset. Fall of overburden (sand, etc.) which he and others were working at. He went to the ledge below for a bar and in climbing up the sloping sand when the fall occurred and caught him.

RIDDLER James - 1904 - 02/05/1904 – Age 51 - Meiros Repairer, Gas Coal Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. While accompanying one tram, laden with foundation stones, which were being drawn up an incline towards the colliery, the front tram got off the rails and capsized. Deceased, who happened to be on the side of the road, was struck by some of the stone. He died in 15 days from shock and exhaustion.

RIDDOCH John - 1909 - 08/12/1909 – Age 51 - Whitrigg Fireman, R Forrester and Co. Ltd., Linlithgow. Deceased was on his way home, and in walking in front of the rake of tubs on dook he appears to have stepped to one side, to allow the rake to pass him, and was crushed by the tubs. He should have stepped into a manhole.

RIDER Francis - 1902 - 13/10/1902 – Age 14 - South Co.Durham Driver, South Co.Durham Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. When taking empty tubs inbye a piece of stone fell from the roof and killed him.

RIDER Henry - 1903 - 01/12/1903 – Age 32 - Shelton No.1, Deep Mason, Shelton Iron Steel and Coal Co. Ltd., Staffordshire. Fall of side (stone) in shaft during process of widening. Whilst men were walling the shaft, working on a scaffold, the temporary supports of the sides of the shafts above them gave way, and a large fall took place which tilted the scaffold and caused deceased to fall to the bottom of the shaft.

RIDGE John - 1905 - 10/03/1905 – Age 48 - Cambrian No.1 Roadsman, Cambrian Collieries Ltd., Glamorgan. This explosion was the subject of a Special Report by FA Gray. 33 killed.

RIDGE Thomas - 1903 - 28/01/1903 – Age 18 - Sharlston West Pumper, New Sharlston Collieries Co. Ltd., Yorkshire. Fall of roof in a roadway along which he was travelling.

RIDGEWAY Joseph - 1901 - 21/03/1901 – Age 35 - Holly Bank Overman, Holly Bank Colliery Co. Ltd., Staffordshire. A shot charged with five cartridges of gelignite had been prepared in the face of a heading and Ridgeway, he fired it with the electric battery. He was 56 feet away and in a direct line with the shot and was crouching against the side without shelter when he fired. A stone projected from the shot struck him over the heart and kill him on the spot. He was the holder of a second-class certificate and would have been appointed Under Manager in a few weeks.

RIDGWAY F.W. - 1905 - 28/09/1905 – Age 48 - High Carr Pumping Station Bricklayer, High Carr Pumping Co., Staffordshire. Knocked out of sinker’s cage by a pipe swinging across the shaft whilst a range of steam pipes was being removed.

RIDING Jonathan - 1907 - 18/12/1907 – Age 55 - Appleton, Sandstone Quarry Quarryman, William Hampson and Co. Ltd., Yorkshire. The deceased was assisting to move a bogey, on which there were 10 tons of sawn stone, by means of pinch bars. He was pinching at the front when one of the stones fell off the bogey and caught and killed him.

RIDLEY George - 1900 - 28/11/1900 – Age 18 - Skelton Park Ironstone Rope Attendant, Bell Bros. Ltd., Yorkshire. N.R. He was employed to see that tubs went round the curves on endless rope all right but by some means he got caught between a tub and a curve and was killed. Probability is that he was riding on the tub at the time.

RIDLEY James - 1903 - 07/10/1903 – Age 57 - North Biddick Engineman, Lambton Collieries Ltd., Co.Durham. He was alleged to have died from the effects of a fall in the engine house but medical evidence proved that his death was due to syncope.

RIDLEY John - 1905 - 01/03/1905 – Age 38 - Gelli Steam Labourer, Cory Bros. and Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. On road, rock, 4 feet 6 inches by 12  inches thick, fell as deceased was barring down some loose stones in front of it. A small fall occurred there and deceased had been sent to make the place safe. Ridley was killed on the spot, and Williams died on May 8th. Two feet nine seam. 2 killed.

RIDLEY John - 1905 - 07/04/1905 – Age 42 - Lintz Deputy, South Garfield Colliery Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Deceased ordinarily employed as a deputy but was engaged at the time of the accident as a hewer in the Main Coal seam at a pit recently opened. He worked at the face of a rolleyway place 6 feet wide which was being driven through old pillar's, and had advanced 55 yards from the shaft he had holed into an old bord when a triangular shaped stone, 3 feet at the base next the bord and about 4 inches thick fell from the roof onto him, relieved by fissures, obscured by a brat above the coal sticking to the roof. He showed lack of judgement in not having better supported by timber, there was a sufficient supply of timber, he was under the stone that fell, the nearest prop being 6 feet from the face. The Local Inspectors made no report.

RIDLEY Ralph - 1909 - 10/05/1909 – Age 17 - Murton Runrider, South Hetton Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Presumably he had fallen off the main rope chain as the set was being hauled inbye. There was no apparent reason why he should have fallen off. The set was a slow moving one, four miles per hour, the road was of good height and width. His skull was fractured.

RIDLEY Thomas Whitfield - 1906 - 06/08/1906 – Age 41 - Bebside Onsetter, Bebside Coal Co. Ltd., Northumberland. Died August 7. Deceased was night shift onsetter and about 2.30 am. he was at the Low Main seam alone, and wishing to descend to the Plessey seam below, he signalled to the surface, this signal was heard both by the engineman and the waiter on but the engineman did not move the cage until the waiter-on shouted the signal to him. He said after he got the shout he wanted 8 or 10 seconds before moving the cage as he knew deceased was alone at the Low Main seam and would rap himself down. The engineman had to liberate the steam lever and foot brake before the cage moved. Both the engineman and waiter-on stated at the inquest that sufficient time was allowed for a man to get into the cage between the signals and its moving. The rapper handle was used to close the cage. The cages were double decked and ran in end guides, deceased used the bottom deck 3 feet 6 inches high. At the Low Main seam a person entering has to make use of a space 2 feet wide between the guide and either side of the cages. Deceased had been born lame in one leg but this did not impede his movements. He was found lying in the cage at the Plessey seam by the back overman who was on duty at the bottom of the shaft. Before his death deceased told his brother that he had not been given sufficient time to get into the cage and had been rolled over against one of the guides and rendered unconscious. The Local Inspector a made no report.

RIDYARD Joseph - 1906 - 04/04/1906 – Age 48 - Bickershaw No.3 Collier, Ackers Whitley and Co., Leigh, Lancashire. Inspection made and inquest attended. Deceased went into the waste, at the back of the chocks, for a certain purpose, where the props had been withdrawn when a fall of roof occurred upon him killing him.

RIGBY James - 1906 - 17/01/1906 – Age 42 - Bold No.2 Packer, Collins Green Colliery Co., St Helens, Lancashire. Inquiry made. While he was lifting a stone from a heap on the floor, a second stone fell down and injured his thumb. He expired January 31st 1906, at St. Helens hospital, from the effects of blood poisoning.

RIGBY John - 1900 - 28/11/1900 – Age 47 - Chell Heath Collier, Chatterley Whitfield Collieries Ltd., Staffordshire. Fall of roof at working face in Rowhurst Seam. Fall of a large block of stone, 15 feet by 6 feet and 5 or 6 feet thick, liberated at slips on 3 sides breaking down 2 bars.

RIGBY John - 1905 - 03/03/1905 – Age 44 - Amberswood Dataller, Henry Atherton, Wigan, Lancashire. Inspection made and inquest attended. He was engaged getting up the floor and packing side of the roadway when a stone fell upon him from the roof, capping a prop, which it was thought probable had been disturbed in getting the floor up near to it.

RIGBY Samuel - 1901 - 06/03/1901 – Age 52 - Jammage Slack Emptier, Stafford. Rigby was fastening the bottom door of a slack wagon, standing over a hole where it delivered to the elevator of washing machine when a loco with seven trucks came towards him on a slight incline. The trucks should have been stopped before reaching the slack wagon but the brakes and scotches applied were insufficient to stop them and there was a collision by which Rigby was killed. A stop block to protect the slack wagon was advised.

RIGBY Thomas - 1908 - 16/10/1908 – Age 19 - Sovereign Lasher on, Wigan Coal and Iron Co. Ltd., Lancashire. Crushed by tub, it ran amain down the main downbrow haulage brow. Left with two scotches in the wheels by collier, against customary practice which is to keep it in the tub until he is able to attach a rope. Another collier came with a tub to attach, it bumped into the first tub, and set it running away. (Died 19th Oct.).

RIGG Alfred – 1907 – 07/06/1907 – Age 24 – Featherstone Main Byeworker, South Kirkby Featherstone and Hemsworth Collieries Ltd., Yorkshire. Deceased and other three men were straightening a gate by removing a pack from one side and placing it on the other, under the charge of a well experienced man, when a bump took place and a piece of stone, 6 feet 4 inches long by 3 feet 7 inches wide by 4 inches thick at the one side and trailing to a feather edge at the other, flashed out of the rock roof and caught and fatally injured him. He died the following day. A barrier of coal was being left between this and neighbouring colliery on one side of the gate, and this no doubt had something to do with the accident.

RIGG James – 1908 – 30/07/1908 – Age 30 – Roanhead, Iron Ore Miner, Kennedy Bros. Ltd.,  Lancashire. Fall of ground from the face while in the act of working it out with a pick.

RIGG John – 1906 – 09/04/1906 – Age 23 – Mossrigg, Roofing Slate Quarry Quarryman, James Stephenson and Co., Lancashire. Deceased and James Capstick, were drilling a hole in the Quarry face at a point 35 yards above the Quarry floor. Their stage consisted of three planks, 5 feet long, 12 inches broad and 2 inches thick. These planks were supported by two iron bars termed nogs, 3 feet 4 inches and 3 feet 1 inches long respectively and 1 inch in diameter. The nogs were inserted and wedged in a hole, 6 inches deep, which had been drilled specially for the purpose by deceased and Capstick, who subsequently fixed the stage. They had been drilling about an hour when the staging gave way. One of the men had a miraculous escape; in falling he mechanically clutched at a rope which was hanging close to him, and eventually he was able to slide to the bottom uninjured. The other man received terrible injuries and died as he was being removed home. Investigation showed that the rock in which one of the nogs was inserted had given way. Accidents of this type are rare in this district, as the rock is usually of a strong and solid character. Ropes are provided for the men to use when working on the Quarry face and two ropes were actually hanging within reach, but they had neglected to attach themselves.

RILEY Christopher – 1901 – 06/08/1901 – Age 45 – Usworth Hewer, Johnasson Gordon and Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Inspection made and inquest attended. A large stone fell away from four slips killing him and injuring his mate. The deputy had just left the working after setting two props.

RILEY George – 1906 – 09/04/1906 – Age 29 – Hamstead Driver, Hamstead Colliery Co. Ltd., Staffordshire. Deceased was taking a loaded tub of coal outbye in the thick seam when a bump took place and about 20 tons of coal fell killing both him and his horse.

RILEY James – 1906 – 19/02/1906 – Age 21 – Clock Face, Sinking Sinker, Wigan Coal and Iron Co., St Helens, Lancashire. Inspection made and inquest attended. A new winder, when learning how to use the engine (when the regular man was present with him), in lowering the empty hoppit let it run past the holding up place, and it ran fast into the bottom alighting on the deceased, who was fatally injured. The sinkers should have been withdrawn whilst these lessons were being given.

RILEY John – 1902 – 11/10/1902 – Age 56 – Selston Stallman, James Oakes and Co., Nottinghamshire. Fall of roof. Deceased was passing along the stall when a piece of roof fell from between the props supporting the roof.

RILEY Joseph – 1903 – 12/03/1903 – Age 25 – Wyken Loader, Wyken Colliery Co., Warwickshire. Fall of coal. A piece of coal fell over the sprags and struck deceased against a prop. He died the next day.

RILEY Martin – 1906 – 04/10/1906 – Age 47 – Apedale, Burley Shifter, Midland Coal Coke and Iron Co. Ltd., Staffordshire. Deceased was killed by a fall of bass from the arching of a roadway that had been ripped in the roof of the Bullhurst, where it is inclined at an angle of 40 degrees to the horizontal. He was at the time cleaning dirt up off the roadway after repairing operations.

RILEY Richard – 1906 – 17/08/1906 – Age 54 – Gambleside Collier, George Hargreaves and Co., Lancashire. In roadway of pillaring place, whilst striking a prop with a short hammer, a large fall of roof came away from a well defined ‘rig,’ a small fall just before the fatal fall showed the rig. A gablock and chain ought to have been used. (Good roof)

RILEY Stephen – 1909 – 16/02/1909 – Age 17 – West Stanley, Owners of West Stanley Colliery, Co.Durham. Explosion of gas. 168 killed. 4 Rifle Street, Stanley.

RILEY Thomas – 1905 – 23/03/1905 – Age 38 – Cadzow No.2 Oncostman, Cadzow Coal Co. Ltd., Lanarkshire. Fall of roof on road while repairing it to get access to stoops.

RILEY Thomas – 1909 – 16/02/1909 – Age 42 – West Stanley, Owners of West Stanley Colliery, Co.Durham. Explosion of gas. 168 killed. 4 Rifle Street, Stanley.

RILEY William – 1901 – 12/07/1901 – Age 51 – Whateley Stallman, Hockley Hall Colliery Co., Warwickshire. Fall of roof. The deceased and his son were lowering a roadway, with packs on both sides. The lowering appears to have caused the pack to give way slightly and this caused a large fall of roof to come away from an unseen slip. Deceased's son was injured.

RILEY William – 1908 – 16/01/1908 – Age 57 – Langwith Screenman, Sheepbridge Colliery Co., Notts. Deceased was found dead in the sidings under the screens, and as he had severe injuries to the body, it is assumed he was crushed by waggons. No person witnessed the accident.

RIMMER Ernest – 1905 – 03/02/1905 – Age 15 – Queen Pony Driver, Richard Evans and Co., Haydock, Lancashire. Inspection made and inquest attended. He fell under the journey of full tubs attached to a pony which he was driving in the Nine Feet Level and he was fatally injured.

RIMMER Robert – 1900 – 23/06/1900 – Age 35 – Long Lane Carpenter, Garswood Coal and Iron Co. Ltd., Ashton-in-Makerfield, Lancashire. Inquiry made and inquest attended. He, with others, was engaged in the Fan drift near the edge of the shaft changing one of the conducting rods. Deceased went out into daylight for a hammer and there appears to have upset his eyesight as when he came back, and not seeing well, he, by misadventure stepped into the pit shaft, although there were a number of lamps there.

RIMMINGTON A. – 1902 – 10/05/1902 – Age 58 – Robin Hood Miner, J and J Charlesworth, Yorkshire. Fall of roof in his working place. Cause careless working and neglect to set timber.

RIMMINGTON George – 1906 – 08/08/1906 – Age 46 – Glapwell Deputy, Sheepbridge Coal and Iron Co. Ltd., Derbyshire. Deceased was walking up an endless-rope roadway on the full road side, when a train of seven full tubs broke away from the clip and ran over him. He died the same day.

RIMMINGTON Richard – 1906 – 10/08/1906 – Age 44 – Woodpark Dataller, Chamber Colliery Co. Ltd., Lancashire. Crushed by cage in sump of the shaft when trying to get out of the cage. Engineman lowered the cage containing the undermanager and seven others beyond the usual getting-out place, into the sump. Owing to a breakdown, the engineman had been on duty 34 hours. No bell to indicator to warn the engineman.

RINCAVICH Joseph – 1903 – 06/05/1903 – Age 38 – Stonelaw No.1 Miner, Farme Coal Co. Ltd., Lanarkshire. Fall of roof at working face.

RINGWOOD William – 1904 – 19/11/1904 – Age 26 – Killaloe, Slate Quarry Labourer, Tipperary, Ireland. Fall of ground from beyond control. About 2 tons of slate rock fell from a sloping joint on the face, 200 feet into the bottom of the Quarry pit where several men were at work. 2 killed.

RINTOUL George – 1907 – 10/08/1907 – Age 35 – Dalmeny Oil Shale Repairer, Dalmeny Oil Co. Ltd., Linlithgow. During the holiday, deceased and several others, were engaged heightening the roof at the pit bottom, and while thus engaged a stone fell and fatally crushed him.

RISO Mechelo – 1903 – 21/01/1903 – Age 30 – Polton Waggon Trimmer, Lothian Coal Co. Ltd., Fife. Deceased was standing between two waggons, probably taking shelter from a storm, which stood five feet apart when two other waggons came down and striking the nearest sent it close up to the other and fatally crushed him. A workman who saw deceased's danger shouted to him but although he appeared to hear he stood until the waggons collided. He could neither speak nor understand the English language. He was Italian.

RISPIN Frank – 1904 – 22/06/1904 – Age 29 – Loftus Ironstone Deputy, Pease and Partners Ltd., North Yorkshire. He and his mates were arranging to put a baulk of timber in the face of a working place when a large cauldron shaped stone, 4 feet 6 inches by 10 feet, with glossy slips all round it fell from the roof and caught and killed him.

RITCHIE Andrew – 1907 – 13/12/1907 – Age 39 – Bowhill Pumpman, Bowhill Coal Co. Ltd., Lanarkshire. Electrocuted.

RITCHIE George – 1901 – 05/08/1901 – Age 16 – Harburn (limestone) Drawer, Shotts Iron Co. Ltd., Edinburgh. While filling a hutch with limestone, at the face of a dook, a mass of limestone fell from the side near the roof.

RITCHIE George – 1905 – 06/12/1905 – Age 14 – Newbattle Miner, Lothian Coal Co. Ltd., Edinburgh. Explosion of firedamp or coal dust.

RITCHIE George – 1906 – 02/11/1906 – Age 35 – Lochside Miner, Lochside Coal and Clay Co., Fife. The blaes in the openings of the old stoop and room workings is worked for the purpose of making bricks, and while deceased was shovelling, an overhanging piece of the blaes fell and fatally crushed him. The part did not seem to be sufficiently timbered.

RITCHIE James – 1903 – 06/02/1903 – Age 14 – Prestongrange Haulage Assistant, Summerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co. Ltd., Haddington. Deceased was attempting to prevent some tubs, which had been struck by the horse-rake, from fouling a crossing when the leading tub left the rails and crushed him against a brick wall.

RITCHIE Robert - 1903 - 19/10/1903 – Age 24 - Carberry Pitheadman, Edinburgh Collieries Co. Ltd., Edinburgh. Deceased ran a loaded tub of debris, from the shaft to the waggon tip, and by some means was thrown over the scaffold to the railway below, a distance of 14 feet. The tub was found off the rails and it is supposed that it had struck him as it came back after being emptied. The tip was a side one.

RITSON Frank - 1900 - 05/12/1900 – Age 34 - Cowpen Mill Deputy, Cowpen Coal Co. Ltd., Northumberland. Inspection made and inquest attended. He was drawing timber at the longwall face and for this purpose was using an ordinary axe instead of a proper pole, which was provided for the purpose. In all probability if he had been using the pole he would have escaped the fall which took place when he was knocking out the timber.

RITSON Robert - 1905 - 15/09/1905 – Age 64 - Bullgill Head inspector, Bullgill Coal Co. Ltd., Cumberland. Died October 22. On a day when the pit was not working a locomotive engine and train was coming from the public railway into the colliery sidings, and deceased, who was moving about doing odd jobs, lifted a points lever to direct the engine into a particular line of rails; he was seen to do this by the engine driver who, however, noticed nothing unusual, but according to deceased's statement to a labourer the same day the lever had slipped and struck him on the left thigh. The leg commenced to pain him and he was absent from work on the 20th Sept. he worked on the 21st Sept. and then worked no more. On the 21st Sept. he saw a doctor, who found the thigh swollen; an abscess developed which was drained in the usual way but he eventually died from exhaustion. He was in indifferent health at the time of the accident. The jury found that death resulted from the effects of a blow from a lever.

RITSON Thomas - 1902 - 18/11/1902 – Age 69 - Urpeth Wasteman, Charles Perkins and Partners, Co.Durham. Occurred in a return air in the Busty Seam. Several sets of wood had been put in at the place but the crowns, having no hold at one end, were canted over when a fall 10 feet long took place. The place was near the face and had been examined by a deputy and thought safe.

RIX Edward - 1903 - 09/03/1903 – Age 21 - Skelton, Ironstone Driver, Bolckow Vaughan and Co. Ltd., North Yorkshire. When coupling his horse to a tub, some distance from the face, a piece of roof stone fell away at a place end and killed him.

RIX George - 1908 - 12/03/1908 – Age 39 - Cowpen Stoneman, Cowpen Coal Co. Ltd., Northumberland. Scratched his knee in the pit and blood poisoning supervened.

ROACH Martin - 1902 - 30/05/1902 – Age 37 - Washington, Glebe Sinker, Washington Coal Co. Ltd., Co.Durham. Died 3rd June. A pit was being sunk through soft alluvium after it had been frozen by the Poetsch process. Gelignite with detonators and fuse for firing was used. During the previous shift six holes had been charged and the fuses kindled but only five had been heard to explode. This was reported to the chargeman of deceased's shift who searched the pit bottom and found one unexploded cartridge. Five shots were afterwards fired with two cartridges in each hole and 10 kibbles of stuff sent out. When the deceased was using his pick he struck some gelignite and it exploded injuring him and eight other sinkers.

ROBB Gavin - 1901 - 01/08/1901 – Age 13 - Lightshaw Hooker on, William Baird and Co. Ltd., Ayrshire. While disconnecting a hutch of props from a tail chain on the surface haulage road, when in front of it he fell and the hutch ran over him.

ROBBINS Frederick - 1901 - 18/05/1901 – Age 34 - Arril Griffin Collier, J Lancaster and Co. Ltd., Monmouth. Fall of coal upon his having knocked out a sprag preparatory to getting it down.

ROBERT Robinson - 1905 - 09/08/1905 – Age 61 - Broomhill Shifter, Broomhill Collieries Ltd., Northumberland. On his way outbye, the route being by a drift to an upper seam, and then by a drift to the surface, deceased had arrived at the bottom of the drift to the upper seam up which empty tubs are drawn by a rope. A set of 25 tubs was coming to the bottom of the drift at a speed of about three miles per hour and deceased was warned by a rolleywayman, who was near to their approach he said he would let them pass but after about 15 tubs had passed he attempted in contravention of the rules to get between two tubs to ride up the drift but fell and was dragged about eight yards and crushed against a brick side wall. The Local Inspectors reported ‘we found everything in order and consider it was just an accident.'

ROBERT William - 1908 - 28/01/1908 – Age 37 - Pentyffynnon Collier, Blain Colliery Co. Ltd., Carmarthen. Explosion of firedamp or coal dust. 2 killed.

ROBERTS Arthur Henry - 1908 - 02/04/1908 – Age 25 - Ty Trist Collier, Tredegar Iron and Coal Co. Ltd., Monmouth. Fall of roof in a road where he was knocking up an arm under a collar, which had been set in the morning and which had sprung a little. Apparently he had miscalculated the position of things when he was engaged at this work.

ROBERTS B. - 1902 - 02/08/1902 – Age 40 - Nunnery Collier, Nunnery Colliery Co. Ltd., Yorkshire. Fall of roof in a working place. Cause neglect to set timber.

ROBERTS Benjamin - 1906 - 09/02/1906 – Age 37 - Black Boy Hewer, Bolckow, Vaughan & Co., Co.Durham. Had an apoplectic seizure whilst in the mine, and died the same day.

ROBERTS David - 1901 - 26/06/1901 – Age 34 - Ynysyfaio Sinker, Troedyrhiw Coal Co., Glamorgan. Fell out of bowk while descending alone. The pit was only 18 yards in depth and he was within 5 yards of the bottom when he fell.

ROBERTS David - 1902 - 23/05/1902 – Age 26 - Plaspower Collier, Broughton and Plaspower Coal Co., Denbigh. Inspection made and inquest attended. He was in the act of drawing coal down off the face when a stone fell upon him from between three slips in the roof, the coal he was getting down liberated a slip running with the coal face. The props were set about four feet apart.

ROBERTS David - 1903 - 19/10/1903 – Age 37 - Minllyn, Slate Quarry Slate getter, Minllyn Slate Co., Merioneth. A large block of slate, resting on the ground, turned on to him and crushed him to death.

ROBERTS David John - 1905 - 25/08/1905 – Age 20 - Cwmneol Haulier, Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Co. Ltd., Glamorgan. While trying to screw back on the road a full tram of rubbish, which had left the rails on a parting off a dip heading, deceased was squeezed between the tram and the side and sustained internal injuries from which he died in 6 days.

ROBERTS E. - 1902 - 20/06/1902 – Age 24 - Nostell Fitter, Lord St. Oswald, Yorkshire. Crushed by the wagons when foolishly passing between them.

ROBERTS E. - 1909 - 29/10/1909 – Age 35 - 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.

ROBERTS Edward - 1907 - 05/07/1907 – Age 43 - Saltwells No. 37 Gripper, Earl of Dudley, Staffordshire. A side of work on the inbye side of a rubble or want had been finished on the day prior to the accident and deceased and two loaders had commenced to ‘side line’ on the main haulage road immediately on outbye side of the rubble which was about 50 yards wide. The haulage road was 11 feet wide, the roof being supported with steel girders and timber bars apparently at intervals of 2 feet, each girder or bar being carried on props. The place was examined by the overman five minutes before the accident. There were no broken timbers and everything appeared to be safe. The man had filled 18 tubs of coal and had come back about 10 yards from the rubble to shift some empty tubs from the empty to the full road, when a severe bump occurred, and about 50 tons of crushed coal and slack suddenly came down upon them and buried them. The loaders escaped but the others apparently suffocated. The roof was left upstanding near the rubble where they had been at work. A short distance outbye from the fall a brick arch 25 yards in length had been erected a number of years ago to build off a fire which is apparently still burning and the roof weight appeared to have concentrated at the point where the fall took place. 3 killed.

ROBERTS Edward - 1909 - 24/03/1909 – Age 22 - Black Park Filler, Black Park Colliery Co., Denbigh. When engaged drawing out props with the gablock and chain, the roof gave way, over the deceased, and he was fatally injured.

ROBERTS Edward H. - 1901 - 12/02/1901 – Age 20 - Vron Stoker, Vron Colliery Co., Denbigh. Inspection made and inquest attended. He went to open a steam valve, in connection with the hauling engine on the surface when the steam valve burst killing him. There was probably a little water in the steam pipe which should have been let off previous to turning the steam on.