South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 03 June 1944
Run Over by Tubs
Coroner’s Rebuke at Conisbrough Inquest
Two haulage hands who were responsible for a set of tubs some of which ran away, running over and killing John Morgan (69), collier, of 10, Annerley Street, Denaby, in the Barnsley seam at Cadeby Colliery last Wednesday, were admonished by the Doncastel District Coroner (Mr. W. H. Carlile), at the Conisbrough inquest on Saturday, when he recorded a verdict of ‘“‘Accidental Death.”
“It is terrible to think you have caused this to happen,” said the Coroner, “simply because of being keen to get out of the pit, or failing to do something you ought to have done in the first place.” He hoped it would be a lesson to them for a long time.
Thomas Madden, filler, 7, Dun Street, Conisbrough, said with Morgan he was making his way out of the pit about 8.50 p.m. When they got to two’s cross gate there was a run of about 20 tubs. A haulage hand, named Jackson, was there. The tubs set off with a jerk and the draw bar broke. Witness shouted a warning to the men behind, and stepped into a man hole. Morgan, who next but one to him, turned and ran back. Eight of the 12 tubs were derailed. He found Morgan had been trapped, and appeared to be dead.
In answer to the Coroner, witness said there was nothing other than a jack catch to prevent the tubs running back. There should have been a drag on the back of the tubs.
Fred Jackson (20), haulage hand, 14, Peake Avenue, Conisbrough, said he was working with a youth named Keeton. Witness was at the front of these tubs and Keeton behind. Witness said he held the tubs on the jack catch until he had thrown the haulage rope over, and called to Keeton that he was going to signal the engine to pull, which he did. He was then preparing to transfer the rope to the main haulage when Keeton told him they wanted the rope back as there was a man under the run.
Jackson said they did not use the drag. They took turns at the front and behind the run, and Keeton was at the back, but he did not know whether he had told Keeton to put the drag on when he knocked the rope off. He himself went to the front because of the rope was not thrown over properly it might foul the road.
Coroner’s Questions,
Coroner: Don’t you think you ought to have told him?—Yes, I do now.
Raymond Sidney Keeton (18), haulage hand, 3, Pope Avenue, Conisbrough, said he had worked 11 or 12 weeks at Cadeby, and before that for three years at Hatfield Main. He had been on this job three days. The only instructions he received were from Jackson. The occasion when the accident happened was only the second time he had come up behind the run.
Coroner: Did Jackson say anything tp you about putting this drag on?—No, we were in a hurry.
Was it because you were in a hurry to get away that you forgot about the drag?—Yes, I suppose so.
The deputy, Robert Arthur Wray, 2, Castle Terrace, Conisbrough, said he saw Keeton at the junction, and he told him the tubs had gone up. He asked Keeton if he had put the drag on, and Keeton replied that he had forgotten to put it on the empty tubs when he had lowered them. Witness held the men back until. by the time that had elapsed he assume the tubs had landed.
Dr. D. T. Clark, of Denaby, said Morgan had injuries which included a fracture of the base of the skull, broken ribs, and abrasions. Death which would be almost instantaneous, was caused by the fracture of the skull and ribs. In his opinion Morgan would be dragged about 12 yards. An assurance that preventive measures would be installed, including a bell system to warn the men when it was safe to travel, was given by the manager (Mr. W. Mitchell).