Article from the Whitby Gazette, 12 October 1878.- 100 years ago. 'Boosebeck. Fatal accident. A miner named James Bottomley Duckering, 22years of age, was fatally injured at the Boosebeck Mines. belonging to Messrs Stevenson and Jacques on Tuesday afternoon. Deceased charged a shot in the mines, lit it, and went out the way. The shot went off, and burst through where deceased was standing, striking him on the back part of the head and fracturing his skull. He was removed home, and died from his injuries the following day.' (Lee 4.4.97)

James Bottomley's death certificate records that he died on the 9th October 1878 aged 22 at Boosbeck from injuries accidentally received by the explosion of a shot in Messrs Stephenson Jacques & Co's Mines. The inquest was held on the 10th October 1878 at the Commercial Hotel Boosbeck. See copy on file. (Lee 12.8.97)

DURHAM MINING MUSEUM Duckering, James, 08 Oct 1878, aged 22, Miner, whilst taking off the corner of a pillar he drilled a hole nearly through the stone; after charging and lighting the shot he went round the other side, and the shot blew through and killed him (from their web page - 13th April 2003)