Sheffield independent Friday, May 10, 1895
Accident at the Cadeby colliery yesterday afternoon, a blacksmith, named Robshaw, employed at the new Cadeby Main Colliery, was knocked down and run over by an engine on the colliery premises. The poor fellow was promptly taken to Dr Twigg, and he, assisted by Dr Gilchrist, found it necessary to amputate both legs. Sufferer, a single man, is in a critical condition.
Mexborough and Swinton Times May 24, 1895
The Fatal Accident at Cadeby Colliery
An adjourned inquest was held yesterday by.Mr Darcy Wightman, touching the death of Edward Robshaw, who met with fatal injuries while employed at Cadeby colliery on Thursday last.
Mr witty represented the Colliery Company and Mr Mellors, deputy Inspector of mines also attended the enquiry. Mr Mellor sat down on the coroner’s right hand, and was requested by PC Cade to move further along. He complied with the request from the Coroner interrupted by asking PC Cade: Who is this place reserved for then?
PC Cade: The witnesses
the Coroner: Better of the government inspector near me, he is of more importance than the witnesses.
PC Cade: I put a chair for the Government Inspector over yonder.
The Coroner: But the Government Inspector has a right to sit when he likes.
Mr Mellors: I thought not; and began to think this policeman had charge of this court. (Laughter)
The Coroner: it is a good plan to put witnesses as far away as possible. It makes them speak up, and when they are near me their whisper in my ear, and no one else can hear a word they say.
Albert Robert Shaw, the father of the deceased, was the first witness. He identified the body as that of his son, age 32, a glassblower by trade, who had been working at Cadeby for some time recently. He saw the deceased before he died, but he said nothing to him as to how the accident occurred. Witness did not blame anybody for the accident.
William Groves, labourer, said he was working with the disease shortly before the accident. He left witness to go and get to take measure. Shortly afterwards witness heard a cry, and turning round saw the deceased under the wagons of a train. He shouted to the driver of the engine to stop, and went to the assistance of the deceased. In reply to questions witness said he did not know how many of the wagons are gone over the deceased when he first saw it, he did not know whether the wagons were loaded or empty, you did not know how fast the train was going at the time as he knew nothing about engines. Several other question were asked to which the witness replied he did not know, or shook his head.
The Coroner: You were not the gaffer of this job were you?
Witness: No sir.
The Coroner: I am glad to hear that because if you were I should not be surprised if one or two more men were killed.
Richard Hare, the driver of the train said the wagons were in front of the engine, and were 10 in number, all of them were loaded. A shunter was on one of the first wagons. He was travelling at the rate of between eight and 10 miles an hour when he saw the deceased struck by the leading wagon. Yet once reverses engine but he went past the spot where the deceased fell before he could pull up. Witness had his whistle going all the time, and the deceased and his back towards the wagons when he was struck.
James Brierley, shunter, said he was sitting in the second wagon when he first saw the deceased. He was about 15 yards ahead and quite 3 yards away from the rails in which the wagons were running, drawing near to the metals every step. Witness shouted to him but the next instant the wagons struck him and went over him. Witness considered the deceased had only himself to blame.
After some deliberation the jury returned a verdict of “accidental death”