Breach of Colliery Rules – Death of a Pony

October 1896

Mexborough and Swinton Times October 2, 1896

Breach of Colliery Rules

David Lowe, and Ernest Kitchen, two trammers, working at the Denaby Main Colliery, were summoned for breach of special rule four, on September 26. An act libel to endanger the safety of persons in the mine.

Mr W. Hattersley (Mexborough) defended Lowe.

Mr Hickmott said that lowe was engaged on an incline 80 yards long, with a gradient of one in 28, and the tramming was done by gravitation. On the morning of the 26, one of the officials a chargeman named Roebuck, warned lowe to be careful in tramming, because there were some full corves at the bottom, and it was then Lowe’s duty to go down and see that the road was clear before sending down any more corves, and to have his pony secured in a place of safety.

Kitchen, who had finished his shift, and was returning to the stable with his pony, passed immediately afterwards, and to save himself trouble Lowe said to him, “drive my pony down, see if the road is clear, and signal when I can let them go.” When Kitchen got to the bottom he did not take the trouble to look whether the road was clear, but gave the signal, and Lowe sent eight full corves down.

The ponies had not been secured and hearing the calves coming, did their best to get out of their way. The two full corves and some empties at the bottom blocked the way, however and Lowe’s pony try to get into a manhole, but it was not large enough, and the tram striking it, took off the ribs on one side and killed the animal instantly.

Kitchen could not get away, and did the best thing possible, turning his pony with its haunches towards the train. The collision with the other pony checked the speed, however, and he and the other pony escaped. But for the first accident Kitchen must have inevitably been killed, and the company thought the case was one that should be brought forward.

Benjamin Roebuck, chargeman, Denaby Main, said that on the date named, he had charge of the district in which the defendant Lowe worked. He told him to be careful, because there were two full corves at the bottom of the incline, it was Lowe’s duty to see that the road was clear. On the day in question the communication was made to him, and he went to the district and found a pony dead. Kitchen had no right to interfere. Lowe ought to have taken the full corves away before.

Lowe was fined 5s and costs and Kitchen 2s 6d and costs.