Mexboropugh & Swinton Times, January 13th 1906
William Elvidge
Wagon-Lowerer Run over by Wagons at Cadeby Main
Inquest
At the Fullerton Hospital, Denaby Main, on Tuesday, January 16th, the deputy coroner, Mr. F. Kenyon Parker, held an inquiry into the circumstances of the death of William Elvidge, aged thirty 39 years, of 69 Schofield Street, Mexborough, which took place in the hospital on January 15th, following on injuries sustained whilst following his employment as a screen-man at the Cadeby Main Colliery on Saturday January 13th.
There were present Mr. Walker, Chief H.M. Inspector of Mines, and Messrs. Barnard and Williamson, representing the Colliery Company.
John Thomas Woodhead, miner, Manvers Main Colliery, living at 13 Cambridge Street, Roman Terrace, Mexborough, step-brother, said deceased had worked at Cadeby Main Colliery as a screen-man for about eight or ten years. Previously to that he had been employed at Manvers, and before that he was a bricklayers labourer. Witness saw him in the Fullerton Hospital on Saturday afternoon, when he was sensible. He asked him if he had much pain and he said yes. He also said he had got hurt by the buffers of the wagons, but he asked not to talk further as he was in so much pain. He did not blame anybody.
William Reuben Epworth, screen-man at Cadeby Main Colliery, lodging at No.1 Mitchell Terrace, Conisbrough, said he was working with the deceased on Saturday morning. It was the duty of the witness to look after the wagons loaded with dirt. The work of Elvidge was to remove empty wagons and put full ones in their place. The wagons of witness and deceased were on roads next to each other, there were some uprights between the two roads ; and the last witness saw was Elvidge sitting on a ladder against one of the uprights, he seemed alright, and just in the usual way. Witness had a full wagon to take down outside, and Elvidge was still sitting on the ladder when he whistled and shouted ” Look out for the dirt road,” as they did before they knocked the stop-blocks off. He made no answer, but stayed on the ladder, where he was safe and all clear. Witness then knocked the stop-blocks out, dropped the brake, and then walked down by the side of it to steady it to the other wagons, it was going slowly, and the witness heard a shout, “Oh! Dear”, recognising it as the voice of the deceased, after putting the brake on, witness went to the other side, and found Elvidge under the front left side of the wagon, laid face downwards. He was laid across the rails with his legs in the four foot and his body in the six foot. Witness had gone about eighteen yards down before he heard the deceased´s call, but could not say how he got under the wagon, and his work would not take him there. He was not helping with the lowering. Witness swore on his oath that he went in front of his wagon, where there was a clear space and gave Elvidge warning. When he found him under the wheel he went for help, and eventually the wagon was shifted off him, some four or five minutes altogether from the time the accident happened. The weight of the wagon rested on the lower part of the deceased´s body. It was before day-break, but there were plenty of lights nearby. He could not find any fault with the lighting of that place. The road was pretty fair to walk on, and witness knew of nothing that deceased could fall over there. When he was got out, witness asked him how he got there, and he replied he did not know.
Replying to the Inspector, witness said the wagon was running slowly. Deceased seemed healthy and strong, and never complained.
John Thomas Woodhead, recalled, said he was with his step-brother at the hospital for some time before he died. He was complaining of his ribs. The nurse told the witness the injuries were in the lower part of his body, and they were serious. Deceased´s sight was good and witness never knew of him having any dizzy attacks.
Miss E. Steele, nurse at the Fullerton Hospital, said she attended the deceased about nine o´clock on Monday morning, he was seen about quarter of an hour later by Dr. Maclure. The lower part of his body and left femur were injured. There were severe external marks, the result of a very severe crush.
The Coroner said if they believed the account of the witness Epworth, who had given his evidence in a straightforward and candid manner, there could be no doubt that deceased was crushed by the wagon, and he died from injuries he sustained. There was no evidence to show how the deceased had got under the wheel.
A verdict was returned to the effect that ” Death was due to injuries sustained through being crushed by a Wagon.”