Buried for Two Hours – One Taken and the Other Left – Miner’s Neck broken

February 1909

Mexborough and Swinton Times February 6, 1909

Buried for Two Hours

One Taken and the Other Left.

Denaby Miner’s Neck broken

On Friday afternoon, at the institute, Denaby, Mr. J. Kenyon Parker held an inquest  relative to the death of George Edward Sheldrake (27), filler, 13, Adwick Street, Denaby Main„ who ,was pinned by a fall root whilst following his employment the previous Tuesday night and when extricated was found to be dead. His neck was broken. His workmate a collier named Davis, of Mexborough, was also buried, but he survived, and is expected to recover from his injuries.

Mr. Walker, Inspector of Mines and Mr. C. Bury, manager, Denaby Colliery attended the enquiry.

The Coroner at the outset, address the jury-. He said in this case the deceased George Sheldrake, was a filler employed in the Denaby Colliery. He was working with another man, getting stone down on the afternoon shift, and somehow or other both men were buried by a fall. The other man, called Davis, was unable, on account of injury, to attend to give evidence, so that, it might be necessary to adjourn the inquest for his evince, though probably it would not be necessary. The two men, after the fall, remain buried for some considerable time, about, a couple of hours, until another man came into the place and heard Davis call out. When the men were extricated Sheldrake was found to be  dead.

Anna Elizabeth Sheldrake, 13, Adwick St., Denaby, identified the body as that of the son who lived with her. He had worked at the Colliery, since he was 13 years of age. He went to work on Tuesday in good health for the afternoon shift. He was brought home dead the same night.

John Jones, 70, Barmbro’ street, Denaby, said he was a collier employed at the Denaby Colliery. At ten minutes past ten on Tuesday night, he went into 28 stall in the East, Plane District, and saw that a fall of dirt had occurred. He also saw a light, and shouted “Hello!” Davies replied “Be quick, Jack, and get me out. Witness threw his clothes off, and went to a man below and told him that two, men were buried. They got spades and started shifting the dirt. They got the, head of Davis clear in about five minutes. It took an hour to get him out altogether. Davies said Sheldrake was buried somewhere. They got Sheldrake out dead, about 20 minutes after Davies was extricated. Harwood, the assistant deputy, who helped the men out, said that Sheldrake was dead. The, two men had been working quite alone in the place, and witness was going to follow them, so that he was the first man there after the fall. He could not give an opinion as to the cause of the fall.

Answering the inspector, witness said they got both men out from under the fall near the face. He could not see either, but heard Davies shouting. There was plenty of timber about. They saw one prop under the fall. He did not think there had been any neglect on the part of the men.

William Lawrence,: deputy at Denaby Colliery, living at 4, Tickhill Street, Denaby, Main, said he saw the place where the accident occurred at 7-40 the same night, when the filler and the collier were there. The filler was getting coal and the collier was setting timber. Witness ordered Davies to set two props, which the coal had knocked out on the low side of the stall. He also told him to “line up.” He gave these orders because the end was knocked out. Witness next saw the place about 3-30 p.m. the next day. The fall was a big one. A slip caused it. The slip was visible before the fall at the end of the bridge. So far as witness could see there had been no neglect on the part of the collier and filler. In his opinion, more had come with the fall than was expected.

Answering the Inspector, witness said the men had set props. There was plenty of timber in the stall close by. Davies had worked a long time under witness, who considered him a careful man.

Frank Harwood, assistant deputy, of Denaby, said he was the man in charge, and helped ‘to get Sheldrake out. Deceased was then dead, and he was dying partly on his face and partly on his side. When witness inspected the place the same morning, previous to the accident, he did not think it necessary to give any orders as he thought the place .was safe. Props were set near the slip

The inspector mentioned that: the men were buried two hours, which seemed rather a lone time for the place to remain unvisited

The Coroner said if the Jury, the Inspector and Mr. Bury were satisfied that Sheldrake’s death was accidental and that there was no blame attaching to Davis he would not adjourn the inquest, but he wound do so if it it was thought desirable to have the evidence of Davis.

The Inspector said he thought they could not got much further evidence, and all agreeing, the jury brought in a verdict of “Accidentally killed.”

The Funeral

The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon at the Mexboro’ Cemetery, there being a very large attendance of relatives of the deceased and general public.