January 11th 1904 – H. Davis
Another Fatality At Denaby Pony-driver Killed.
Age: 19 Driver Struck by brake of self-acting Incline wheels.
Another shocking fatality occurred at the Denaby Main Colliery on Monday night, making it the second quite recently, the victim being a pony-driver named Henry Davis, living with his parents at 23 Park Road, Mexborough. It appears that about seven o´clock on Monday night he was in the pit-bottom, in the company of Edward Severn, aged fourteen years, and Henry Brammer, sixteen years, pony-drivers. Deceased was sat on the handle of a brake, which prevented the full tubs going down the loop line, whilst a man named John Whitehouse was knocking the blocks off. The tubs suddenly ” sided away ” from the deceased, whilst the brake handle, bouncing up, the deceased´s head was struck against an iron girder in the roof. He died five minutes later.
The Inquest.
The inquest was held yesterday afternoon at the Mexborough Montagu Cottage Hospital, before Mr. J. Kenyon-Parker, the deputy coroner.
Mr. A.H. Barnard, agent, and Mr. C. Bury, colliery manager, represented Denaby Main Colliery Co., whilst Mr. J.R. Wilson, Assistant Inspector of Mines was also present.
Thomas Davis, of 23 Park Road, Mexborough, father of the deceased, gave evidence of identification. He used to work in the mine. Deceased was nineteen years of age, and was employed as a pony-driver in the Denaby Main Colliery. He had worked there for upwards of six years. He thought the deceased met his death accidentally. He did not see how any blame could be attached to any one.
John Whitehouse, residing at Church Street, Mexborough, said he was employed as a corporal and jinnier at Denaby Main Colliery. He had known the deceased for five or six years. He saw the deceased the last time before the accident descending the pit between 1-30 and 2-00 o´clock. It was part of his ( deceased´s ) duty, to help him in the jinney. He was ten tubs away from the deceased when the accident happened. When witness had got the tubs attached to the rope the deceased said, ” Are, you alright Jack?” Witness said “Yes” and commenced to knock the blocks out, and deceased put his weight on the brake handle to stop the tubs going down the loop. When he got to the other end of the tubs he found two had `sided-over´, and deceased was on the ground. Deceased said to him, ” Jack, pull my neck”. He pulled his neck and turned him over, deceased asked him to lay him down, and he did so. Deceased died almost immediately. There was a mark on the back of his head where it had been caught by the brake handle. It was his duty to hold the handle down. He would have not have had any difficulty in keeping it down. When he got there the handle was up in the roof. It should not have been in that position. Deceased was used to the handle, and had done it scores and scores of times. His opinion was that the cappel of the rope caught the pin. Witness had never known the cappel to catch before.
Edwin Severn, fourteen years of age, a lamp carrier, residing with his parents at 43 Cross Hallgate, Mexborough, said he had been employed at Denaby Colliery for twelve months. He knew deceased, and was working with him on Monday night. About nine o´clock he was near the jinney wheel. Deceased was sat upon the brake handle. Whitehouse shouted to Davis, “Are you ready?” and deceased said, “Yes”, Whitehouse knocked the blocks out, and the handle flew up and caught him on the head. Witness at once shouted for Whitehouse to come up.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental Death.” Mr. John Shaw was foreman of the jury.