South Yorkshire Times – Saturday 08 March 1913
Fatal Mistake
Tubs that Were not Double Coupled
Denaby Pit Fatality
Mr. Frank Allen, the District Coroner, held an inquest at the Fullerton Hospital, Denaby Main, on Monday afternoon, touching the death of Tom Bell (19), of 101, Bridge Street, Swinton, a joiner employed at the Denaby Pit, who died on Friday in the hospital from internal injuries sustained on 21st February.
Evidence of Identification
John Bell, brother of the deceased, gave evidence of identification. He said he was a labourer in the employ of the canal company, and the deceased lived with him. Deceased left home at 5 a.m. on 21st February, for the morning shift at the Denaby pit, and witness heard of the accident at 7-30 in the evening. Witness subsequently saw deceased in the hospital, but deceased did not give any information as to how the accident occurred. Witness was of the opinion that the deceased was suffering from internal injuries.
A Breakaway
Richard Sneaton, corporal at the Denaby Main Living at 35, Church Street, Mexboro’, said he was at the bottom of the “jinney” when the accident took place. Witness saw deceased trying to turn the points, and he afterwards came back in the direction of the “jinney” and he went back again to see if the points were quite right. Whilst he was coming it there was a breakaway, and the tubs ran down the “jinney” and ran off the line at the junction. Deceased was between the links of the third and fourth full tubs, being pinned in the lower part of the body. Witness helped to extricate him. Deceased was conscious and asked witness to try and get him out. He never complained of much pain at the time.
Could not Be Avoided
In answer to His Majesty’s Inspector, witness said the rope was not stopped, but he did not know the reason. It was a dangerous place for an automatic set of points as an ordinary set, because they would have to be examined just the same. They could not be kept clean. Witness did not think the accident would have been avoided if the rope had been stopped.
The Coroner: Have you ever cautioned these lads about coupling?
Witness: Yes.
Supposing you found this train was improperly coupled, what would you have done?
I should have reported him to the deputy.
Alfred Dunhill, of 33, Tickhill Street, Denaby, a deputy, said he was with Bell an hour on the morning of the accident. Whilst he was talking with the deceased, witness saw a run of tubs come down, and Bell carried out the order and stopped the points. Witness had never known tubs break away on that “jinney” before. The gradient was one in eight.
The Inspector: There is a rule that there should be double stoppings on tubs going down.
Witness: Yes.
Does that apply to all tubs in your district? – Yes.
How is that rule published? – It is published in the rules.
Is it published by notice at the top? – No, sir.
Is it published by notice on the pit? – Yes.
Whereabouts? – At the bottom.
When was the notice put up? – It has always been up to my knowledge.
Did you notice anything about the tubs when the lad was got out? – No.
Not All Coupled
Were they all coupled? – Not all of them.
You have examined these couplings before? – Yes.
Have you found them come down with single couplings before? – No.
In answer to further questions, witness said he spoke to Rushton, the person responsible for the coupling of the tubs, and asked him why they were not double coupled, and he admitted that he had made a mistake. Double couples were used on trains of 15 tubs. There would be no more risk with 30 tubs than with 15.
Foreman’s Protest
The Foreman of the Jury (Mr. Wright): I don’t see why we should waste our time.
The Coroner: We only want to see if anybody is to blame.
The Foreman: It is all nothing that he is asking.
Coroner: We must inquire properly into the thing. We must not skip it.
Train Increased
Mr. Watson Smith, employed at the Denaby Colliery, said there were 2 tons and 15 cwt. on the 30th hook of the train. There were 30 tubs, each 3 cwt., and containing 10 cwt. of coal. The number of tubs on that “jinney” was increased from 15 to 30 about a month ago under witness’s instructions. The double couple had been in force at the Denaby Pit for a considerable number of years. The double couple had no relation to whatever to the hook. In witness’s opinion a flaw in the iron hook was the cause of the accident. Rushton was responsible to the management for the supervision of the coupling. Witness had asked to see Rushton twice on the matter but had not seen him.
A Flaw
Answering the Inspector, witness said the strength of the hook was eight tons, but it had only two tons fifteen hundredweight on. Mr. Hudspeth saw the iron hook and agreed with witness that there had been a flaw in it, and that caused the accident.
Rushton Responsible
Summing up, the Coroner said it was no good embarking upon an inquiry of that sort without getting at the full facts of the case. He thought it seemed perfectly clear that on that occasion, Rushton omitted to double couple the train, and that was the cause of the accident. He thought the jury could dismiss from their minds any connection between the accident and the presence of the lad at the bottom turning the points, and any connection with his turning the points while the tubs were moving.
They had to consider that Rushton was away and they could not get him, and although one did not like to say things to damage a man behind his back, it seemed to him (the Coroner) that Rushton must bear the whole responsibility on his back. It was a moral responsibility, and it seemed perfectly clear that the accident had arisen through him omitting to double couple the tubs.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death,” attaching no blame to anyone.
Sympathy
Mr. Watson Smith, on behalf of the Colliery Company, expressed deep regret at the loss of Tom Bell. He was a splendid boy, and it was a great pity he had gone.
The Foreman of the Jury also expressed similar sentiments.