Big Fall of Roof At Cadeby – Miner’s Terrible Death

November 1907

Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Friday 01 November 1907

Big Fall of Roof At Cadeby.
Miner’s Terrible Death

Mr. F. E. Nicholson held an inquest at Conisborough yesterday relative to the death of Isaac Cresswell (22), single, a miner, living at 51, Park Road, Conisbrough, and employed at the Cadeby Colliery, where he was killed by a heavy fall of roof on Tuesday.

Mr. Mellors, H.M. Inspector of Mines, and Mr. H. S. Witty, representing the company, attended.

Martin Devlin, deceased’s trammer, said about p.m. on Tuesday deceased took up his shovel and went to work. He had not put more than half-a-dozen shovelfuls when the loose dirt at the back of the gob started roiling down. He stepped back to get out of the way, but was too late, the whole roof coming down and burying him. Witness, four yards away, was struck with the debris buried up to his legs, whilst another man named John Clooney was knocked down. All the lamps were extinguished.

Help came from the next bank, and looking for deceased his head was discovered through the finding of a prop and blood. He was completely buried, and it took two and a half hours to get him out. The fall of roof was a very, large one. Deceased was literally crushed to death.

William Humphries and Samuel Kynaston, deputies, spoke as to the place being well timbered and apparently safe.

The Coroner said it was evident there was no blame attaching to the company or the workmen.

The jury brought a verdict of Accidental death.”