Breaches of Colliery Rules at Denaby and Cadeby

September 1905

Mexborough and Swinton Times September 2, 1905

Breaches of Colliery Rules at Denaby and Cadeby.

Several Denaby and Cadeby Main miners were summoned for having committed breaches of colliery rules stop

Mr WM Gichard, solicitor, of Rotherham, prosecuted in each case.

George Henry Myles, a jinnier, of Denaby Main, was summoned for having committed a breach of special rule 4. He appeared and pleaded guilty.

Mr Gish and explained that a jinnier had charge of the top of incline road, and his duty was to see that the tubs were sent down in proper order, and under proper condition so as not to endanger the safety of the persons working below. The offence consisted of the defendants having neglected to fix a block of wood between two trains, the consequence being that several tubs ran away. If the block had been in position it would have prevented the occurrence. The accident might have resulted seriously.

The Bench imposed a fine of 5s with 11s 6d costs.

Herbert Tyler, a miner, of Denaby Main, was summoned for having committed a breach of special rule 101 and pleaded guilty.

Mr Gichard stated that the rule provided at management set short sprags every 6 feet under undermined coal, in order to prevent it falling unexpectedly. In this case the defendant had “holed” under 14 feet, and withdrawn his sprags and cockers, as he was entitled to do, to see whether the coal would come down. As the whole of it did not do so he ought to have either got the coal down one or set some sprags.

Instead of doing either he allowed his trammer to fill the coal in front of the overhanging coal. If it had fallen suddenly the man might have been very seriously injured.

A fine of 5s with 11s 6d costs was imposed.

William Elsey, a miner, of Denaby, summoned for a similar offence, had ”holed” under 16 feet, and had only one sprags set, while they should have been at least three. He was working underneath the coal himself.

A similar fine as in the previous cases was imposed.

Edward Jackson, a Conisborough miner, was summoned for having committed a breach of rule 101 a in the Cadeby Main mine, on 17th of August.

Mr Gichard stated that the rule was known as the “timbering”rule, and the offence consisted of the defendant not having set a sufficient number of props. The rule was one of several special ones framed by the desire of the Home Secretary, in order to make more secure the timbering of mines. It provided that props should be set every 3 feet.

On the day in question the defendant had a quantity of coal down. He had “holed” a distance of 15 feet long by 5 feet deep from the last row of props to where the coal was actually lying down. In that distance they should have been at least four more props.

A fine of 2s 6d was imposed, and the defendant was ordered to pay the costs, which amounted to 16s 6d.