South Yorkshire Times January 15, 1949
Crushed By Huge Stone
Denaby Miner’s Fate
How it took four men to lift a stone weighing 12 hundredweight when it fell on a miner, John Lomas Hanks (60), 9 Thrybergh Ave, Denaby was told at a Fullerton Hospital inquest on Monday on Hanks who died in Fullerton hospital on January 7, from shock and multiple injuries received from the falling stone.
Hanks, it was stated, worked in the Parkgate seam at Denaby Main Colliery. He began work on the morning shift of January 7 and shouted for help a few minutes later when trapped.
Albert Wordsworth, 50, Daylands Avenue, Conisbrough, said he was working near Hanks and went to his assistance with others. There was a break in the roof where the stone had fallen.
Raymond Ruecroft, contractor, 141, Doncaster Road, Denaby, said he had worked on the previous night and his opinion had left the roof well supported with props in the place where Hanks worked. He had noticed a large stone overhanging from the roof, had sounded it and it had seemed all right. There was no indication of any slip or break in the roof.
Reply to Mr G Miller HM Inspector of Mines, Ruecroft agreed that the props could have been set tighter. This was not done because a considerable amount of debris had to be cleared away.
Recording a verdict of “Accidental death” Mr WH Carlile said he knew the Parkgate roof at the Denaby pit was bad for breaks and he hoped that the alternative suggestions offered at the inquest for better support of the roofs would be taken into account.