Alarming Accident at Denaby Main Colliery

The inhabitants of Denaby and Mexborough were much alarmed yesterday morning by the news, which was very much exaggerated, of a terrible accident at Denaby Main Colliery.

It was afterwards discovered that no loss of life had occurred, but that six persons had been injured by a cage accident. It appears that late on Monday night, as the second shift men were being taken out of the pit and the datalers lowered, the engineman lost control of the engine.

About 14 men were descending, and when only a few yards distant from the bottom of the shaft the cage descended with alarming force, and was dashed violently against the bottom of the pit.

Six men were injured more or less seriously, a man named George Freeman having his leg broken, while five others, named James Crying, Fleming, Edward Perry, Michael M’Mahon, and Wm. Oakley, received severe shocks to the system.

They were removed home as quickly as possible, and their injuries attended to. No cause is assigned for the accident, but it is assumed either that one of the valves was defective or that the lever which regulates the descent of the cage was pushed over too far.

One of the slides down which the cage descends was damaged, but after about a quarter of an hour had elapsed the injury was remedied.

The majority of the datalers had been lowered when the accident occurred, and those who remained proceeded home. The engine was stopped when the ascending cage had reached a distance of three yards from the surface.

This is the first accident of the kind which has occurred at Denaby Main. The injured men are progressing as well as can be expected.