Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 20 May 1911
Breach of Colliery Rules at Cadeby
Clifford Taylor, Clipper, Conisborough, was summoned at the instance of Mr Harry S Witty, of the Denaby and Cadeby Colliery Company Limited.
Mr Allen, who prosecuted, said the defendant was charged with violating rule number 106 of the Coal Mines Regulations.
The rules had reference to the hauling up of tubs up an incline. Defendant was stationed at the foot of a very long incline, and it was his duty to clip the tubs onto the endless Rope which hauled them up. The incline was an exceptionally long and steep one, and defendant’s orders were to prevent breakaways on the road. The rules with reference the number of tubs to be sent up at times were playing and were posted up where the defendant was working. The maximum number of full corves to be sent up with safety was five, but on the day in question, May 2nd, defendant sent up 10.
The length of the incline was 800 yards, and in some parts the gradient was one in six. At several points of the incline there are jack casts, which check the corves in case of breakaways. On this occasion the corves had only travelled a distance of 20 yards when they broke away, dashing into the jack cast. All the tubs were smashed up, and the place was absolutely a wreck. Luckily the Jack catches acted, and the corves were prevented from doing any personal injury.
William Berry, deputy in the Cadeby Pit, was on duty in the district where the defendant was working, and bore out Mr Allen statement.
In reply to a question, he said defendant was about 23 years of age, and his wages were 5/9 (29p) per day.
The defendant was fined 40/- including costs or one month.