Boy’s Pit Death – Theory That He Tried To Avoid Delay

November 1937

Sheffield Independent – Wednesday 10 November 1937

Boy’s Pit Death

Theory That He Tried To Avoid Delay

A fatality in Denaby Main Colliery Saturday, when 17-year-old haulage hand was klled by a falling girder, was inquired into by the District Coroner. Mr. W. H. Carlile, at Conisborough, yesterday.

The inquest was Thomas Arthur McDonald. 3. Clifton street, Denabv.

Evidence showed that was instructed not to use the haulage rope for half hour. A few minutes later he was found lying on the roaddway with a girdler across his neck. The girder had apparently been knocked out by a tub which was the road.

John Richardson, Firbeck street, advanced the theory that instead of summoning assistance to out the tub on the rails, had used the rope to pull the tub along – still off the rails – to a point a few yards further along, where there was a “chucker – on.”

If the tub had been put back in that way it would have saved delay in supplying the colliers with tubs. The boy was obviously anxious to get on with his work.

A verdict of Accidental death was returned.