Sheffield Daily Telegraph
Fatal Accident at Denaby Main Colliery
A fatal accident happened on Saturday night in the horse level of Denaby Main Colliery, near Mexborough. It appears that a scaffolding had been erected about a fortnight ago for the purpose of enabling the workmen to excavate some earth, in order to allow of an engine being placed in the pit.
A man named William Morris was on the top of the scaffolding, and two others, named Walker and Morris, were beneath it. Walker called the attention of Morris to the fact that one of the balks of timber supporting the scaffold was giving way. While the men were examining it more closely, and without a moment’s warning, the structure—on which was deposited about six tons of earth—gave way and fell on them.
Morris was killed instantaneously, but strange to say Walker escaped with comparatively slight injuries, his foot being crushed and his back slightly hurt. Morgan, who was standing on the scaffold, jumped off when he felt it giving way, and fortunately escaped with only a mere scratch on one of his fingers.