Mexborough and Swinton Times January 16, 1915
Colliery Contractors Death
Crushed in Denaby Pit
Mexborough Young Man’s Sad End
A Question of Delay
Mr Frank Allen (district coroner) conducted an inquest in the Denaby Main Fullerton hospital, on Saturday afternoon, relative to the death of Edwin Hepworth Goulding, Colliery Contractor who died on Friday, as a result of injuries received in the Denaby pit on Wednesday last
There were also present Mr H.M.Hudspeth (H.M.Inspector of mines), Messrs H.W.Smith, J.Cox and Phillips (representing the Colliery Company) and Mr J.D.Sharratt representing the Y.M.A.
The first witness call was Edwin Goulding, 7 Pinfold Road, Mexborough, engine driver on the G.C.Railway, who identified the body is that of his son, who 25 years of age last birthday was. He was a stone contractor. On Wednesday night he went to work about nine. He was then in good health, witness saw him in the hospital after the accident, and he then said that dirt was falling, and he went to put a prop under there. He understood deceased to say that the deputy ordered him to do this. He did not say the deputy was to blame
Deputies Evidence
Thomas Dugdale, 40 Clearview Lane, Mexborough, deputy, said deceased was working in his district on the night shift on Wednesday. During the daytime there been a fall and they had started to clear it, deceased been engaged on one side. About 2.30 they stopped for “snap” and it was then that witness arrived. Goulding was about 10 yards away from the fall getting his “snap”
Witness was near I heard a bit of dirt rolling about four or 5 yards away from the fall. The court Goulding and asking whether dirt was coming from. He replied “between the fall and when we have been sitting.” Witness asked him to get something to stop it, and then turned away to speak to a man behind. Goulding then came onto the fall. What intentions were witnessed did not know, for there was no need for him to get onto the fall
As soon as he got there a further fall occurred, and he was knocked forward across a girder and buried. It was half an hour before he was extricated and then he was taken out of the pit. The place was perfectly still, and he did not think the rolling of the dirt indicated a bit of weight somewhere. He would not have allowed a man to work under the uncovered space where the fall had been. The first fall occurred at 10 AM on Wednesday, and the roof had stood since then
By Mr Phillips: The deputy whom witness relieved said the place was quiet and alright. Witness added that no matter what Goulding’s intention work, he was somewhere where he was not expected to be.
By Mr Hudspeth: He did not go over the fall to get to work, but round by the face
“Everything Quiet.”
Henry Westwood, Denaby, the deputy was on duty before the previous witness, said he was in charge of the men clearing the first fall. All the time he was there the place was very quiet
Nurse Helina Stead, charge nurse at the hospital, said deceased was omitted on Thursday, at 7:30 AM. No bones were broken, but there were abrasions all over the body, and he had sustained internal injuries. He died at 4.30 on Thursday evening from injuries and shock
Google was recall, and said that deceased was liberated at 5.13, the delay being caused by the fix in which his legs were in. They first relieved his face, and the upper part of his body, and then he had to be carried on a stretcher for one and a half miles underground. It was 7 o’clock before he was removed from the pit
Question of Time
Summing up, the Coroner said it was clear that for some reason or other Goulding climbed onto the fall, was buried by further fall, and very severely injured. The time it took to extricate him at be explain. It was obviously not common sense to explore other men’s lives to very grave rest without taking precautions to protect them when getting a man position like that. So far as they can see, everything was done that could be done, although it took them nearly 3 hours to get clear of the fall
The father of the deceased observer that five hours is in a long time to get the man to the hospital
The coroner: it is a long time, but we are assured by the witnesses that everything was done to get the man out as quickly as possible. I’ve always held that is a wrong principle to adopt to lose three or four lives in attempts a one. I could never see the force of condemning a man who could not swim for not jumping into the river. I think you may take it from me that the men are not backward in helping a man out; on the other, they are too keen. If I thought any wannabe backward in helping your son I should say so but I don’t. We want to satisfy you
Mr Goulding: thank you, you have done; but I thought it rather a long time.
A verdict of accidental death was recorded and the jury expressed the opinion that no one was to blame
Sympathy
Mr Smith said that on behalf of the officials of the Colliery he wanted to express a great regret at the unfortunate occurrence. Diseased was a very nice chap, and it was unfortunate that these things did happen and still more unfortunate that the nicest chaps got killed. Also on behalf of the Colliery Company, Mr Phillips had asked him to express their regret.