Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 22 December 1933
Cadeby Miner Killed
Accident Due to Irregular Practice
Runaway Tub
An irregular practice at Cadeby Colliery which resulted in a fatal accident on Tuesday to Fred Rockett (34), miner, 5, Athelstone Road, Conisbrough, was the subject of close questioning at the inquiry held yesterday by the Doncaster District Coroner (Mr. W. H. Carlile). Besides a jury, there were Mr. P. L. Collinson (H.M. Inspector), Mr. W. Still (manager), and Mr. J. Madin (secretary, Cadeby Y.M.A.).
The practice was that of using a tub to haul the rope from a pass-by on a gradient of about 1 in 7 into a gate.
Tom Rockett, 21, Marr Street, Denaby, father of the dead man, gave evidence of identification.
Crushed Against Face
Joseph Turton (miner), 21, Parkgate Avenue, Conisbrough, said that he was working with Rockett on Tuesday in 223 stall of the Parkgate seam at Cadeby Colliery. At about 12.30 p.m. six full tubs were being taken out of the stall. Owing to the gradient there (about one in seven) these had to be pulled out by the winch. He was standing by the flat-sheets as they were going out. A man named Arthur Goodinson was in charge of the run.
“He stopped them when they were about ten yards from me and loosened the last tub off so that the tub could drag his rope back for the next run. It is usual for that to be done.” The other five tubs went past witness. He did not see a sprat put in the wheels of the last tub. Suddenly this last tub set off backwards. At that time witness was standing between full road and the empty road. He shouted “Look out, there’s a full ‘un coming back.” The tub ran back to the sheets and pinned Rockett against the coal face.
Witness added that someone shouted immediately afterwards, “Come on, there’s a chap fast.” Witness ran to the place and assisted in liberating Rockett. He showed little sign of life.
The Coroner: Was it usual to leave the tubs on a locker?—Yes.
To Save Trouble
Can you account for this setting off backwards?—Well, the road had been re-laid recently and the surface was not too sound. I think with the other tubs going off, they shook the road and started this backwards.
Well, that was all the more reason for it not to have been left?—Yes.
Really it was left there to save a bit of trouble?—The rope was too long and it was too heavy for the lad to drag back.
But he could have done with the help of the colliers working there?—Yes.
So it is done really to save some trouble?—Yes.
Were there some “dummies” there?—Not in the full road.
If there had been they would have stopped this from running back?—Yes.
So this accident boils down to two things. Either this tub should not have been left there, or, if it was, there should have been a “dummy” to prevent it running back?—Yes.
Answering Mr. Collinson, witness said he thought an iron locker in the rear wheel was sufficient to hold a full tub there.
To Mr. Madin, witness said he had asked the deputy about three weeks ago to have a jack-catch put in at that place and the deputy said he would see about it.
Mr. Madin: And you wanted this because of the steep gradient there?—Yes.
To further questions by the Coroner, witness said he had heard other collieries mention the same matter to another deputy a fortnight ago. He added that the deputy he asked went to hospital for an operation immediately afterwards and therefore could not have done anything.
Usual Practice
Charles Bernard Briscoe, Cadeby, who was working with Rockett, gave similar evidence. The runaway tub passed him and he saw Rockett attempt to jump clear, but he was caught by his heel and knocked against the coal face. It was the usual practice to have a full tub in the pass-by. The thought it was safe if the tub was locked. He had never asked a deputy for another safety device.
Arthur Goodinson, 12, Washington Avenue, Conisbrough, the rope-runner in charge at the time, told the Coroner that when he uncoupled the last tub in one of the roadways, he put a locker in the run and ran away. “After I had rapped the run away, I put the drag on and split the points. I was going towards the head of the run when I heard Turton shout for me to stop the run.”
Have you had any instructions about this matter?—Yes. The deputy, Morton, got on to me one day when I was dragging the rope down. He asked me why I did not leave a full tub to do it, and so I have done that ever since. The same day as the accident the deputy, Wallis, came up to the gate and told me to fetch a full tub back to take two more out of the gate. I have never been forbidden to do this.
To Mr. Collinson, witness said that if there were no full tubs a miner would help him to drag the rope back to the gate. It was too much for himself to do.
Benjamin Smith, 18, Parkgate Avenue, Conisbrough, said that when Goodinson went out with a run, he sometimes put a “dummy” from the points into the full road. There had never been three “dummies.”
He had complained to one of the deputies that we need a jack-catch there. He said he would see about getting one in.
The Coroner: If that had been done this would never have happened?—Not if it had been put in to low side of the gate.
Mr. Collinson: Have you ever seen three “dummies” there?—Yes.
The Coroner: You told me not when I asked you the same question.
Mr. Still: Where do you want this jack-catch?—About four yards above the flat sheets.
Would it be any good there?—Yes.
But it would never be solid?—It would have to be moved from time to time.
Mr. Collinson: You would require it above six tubs’ lengths from the face?—Yes.
Thomas J. S. Wallis, 49, Garden Lane, Conisbrough, deputy in charge on Tuesday, said that when he visited the place about 8.30 a.m. he found two extra tubs on lockers near the pass-by. He assisted the boy Goodinson to bring a full tub down and then to take the three tubs out.
The Coroner: Did you tell Goodinson definitely not to leave a full tub there?—Yes. Those have been my orders continually.
You told him this practice was to cease and the rope had to be fetched down by hand?—Yes.
Because of the steep gradient making that practice dangerous?—Yes.
Would it have been safe with a “dummy”?—No.
Why?—Because of the gradient. The tub would be liable to over-ride the “dummy.”
The boy does not seem to agree with you?—Well I told him, and that was why I cleared the place of tubs. Personally I have never seen a tub stand there except on this particular day.
Mr. Collinson: Do you really mean that?—Yes.
Does that mean the evidence of the previous witnesses is not correct?—I have never noticed one.
According to the law there should have been a safety device below them?—Certainly.
I think that since the accident you have given instructions for a jack-catch to be installed?—Yes.
Mr. Madin: You say you took a tub down with the rope to pull two more out?—Yes.
Why did you not pull that rope down by yourself?—You are asking me to pull 120 yards.
Mr. Madin: You did the same thing as you stood these people from doing.
Witness: It was from the top end of the gate.
Mr. Madin: I do not care if it was from the top end of the pit. You did it.
Dr. T. Forde said he saw Rockett at the colliery about 1.30 p.m. on Tuesday. He was dead, and death had been caused by a fractured neck and fracture at the base of the skull.
A Dangerous Practice
The Coroner said it seemed that the practice was according to the miners, to leave a tub on a locker and by which the rope was pulled into the gates. The deputy had said it was the only occasion he had seen a tub standing there, and he had ordered it to be removed. The rope-runner disagreed.
“There seems to have been some misunderstanding, but nevertheless this is a dangerous practice to save a little time. I think that evidence may have been given us there, an accident may happen. In future steps are to be taken to prevent this.”
A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.