Back in Time mid-February 1873                   

Wednesday, February 12-Saturday, February 15,1873

Wednesday: At North Levant, a minor accident left Thomas Trembath with a fractured skull and his work-mate Francis Clemmens severely bruised. The cause was simple, and preventable: some ‘stulls’ (usually meaning timbers, but explained on this occasion as waste material) – left in the underground workings above their heads - had simply fallen away.

Thursday: Charles Jelbart, who worked on the  mine-engine at Spearne Consols near Trewellard, met with an accident while out shooting. His gun burst and shattered his thumb, which had to be amputated. Wheal Spearne employed 80 people in 1870, and by 1873 was producing 565 tons of black tin and 34 tons of copper ore. 

Friday: A Lelant boy aged 15 or 16 named John Eddy, working at Wheal Providence near Carbis Bay, decided to reach ‘grass’ a few minutes sooner at the end of his day’s work by coming up in the skip rather than wait his turn for the man-engine. Some wood caught in the skip on its way up, and trapped him and his friend. Eddy’s leg was amputated, but he died the following day. It was recognised that the dangerous practice should be discouraged, and that in future, anyone trying to use the skips in this way should be heavily fined.

Elsewhere, a 46 year-old miner who had recently moved from Relubbus to Camborne to work at Carn Brea, was crushed by the man engine and sustained injuries sufficiently serious to be admitted to the Miners’ Hospital at Redruth.

Meanwhile, the remaining plant from the old East Carn Brea mine, auctioned off two days previously for £665, was perhaps being removed by its new owners, F W Mitchell.

Saturday: At Tincroft, near Camborne, Richard Collins slipped on a ladder at the 224 fathom level – over 400 metres underground – and fell 18 metres.

He was brought to the surface alive after three hours’ effort, and regained consciousness – but died the following day.

Just a normal week for the mining communities of West Cornwall, back in the ‘good old days.’  

Saturday , February 15, 1873

Madron workhouse was stocking up on provisions, and inviting tenders to see them through to the end of the summer. Goods required included bread with and without barley flour – 5,700 4lb loaves of each – ‘seconds’ quality would suffice. But for other foodstuffs, including 20lb of mustard and 1,500lb of Bengal rice – only the highest quality was sought.

Other requirements included 150lb of sago, 260lb of mutton, 125lb of ‘soft soap’ and 40lb of Taddy’s snuff. 

Treacle and liquorice were also on the list, along with four dozen felt hats and 200 yards of blanket material. Nor was the housekeeping forgotten – 24 new scrubbing brushes would be required.