South Yorkshire Times, May 9, 1953.
Cadeby Pit Shaft Tragedy
Haulage Hand, 21, killed at end of Shift
Coroner Commends Friend for Attempts to Save Him
Mondays Conisbrough inquest on 2021 year old Eric Sellars, for, Annerley Street, Denaby, a haulage hand at Cadeby colliery, who carried to the top of the shaft last Thursday afternoon on the hydraulic lift fatally injured, the Doncaster district coroner, Mr. W. H. Carlile, warmly commended Martin Jennings, 22, Denaby Avenue, Conisbrough, for trying to stop the lift and also for assisting Sellers to get some tubs back on the road when he was having difficulty.
“You seem to have been the only one with any sense; you went to his help instead of joining in the jeering when the tubs were off the road, and then you attempted to save him when he was being carried to the top. I am sure everyone will commend you for what you did” Mr. Carlile said to Mr. Jennings
James Leonard Mellor, 26, Harthill Road, Conisbrough, a contractor, said that he joined a queue at pit bottom waiting to leave the colliery last Thursday afternoon. Sellars was busy pulling off empty tubs from the hydraulic lift and appeared to be having some difficulty getting them clear. The men in the queue became restless and began abusing Sellars.
Martin Jennings went to his assistance and helped him to get the tubs back on the rails. While the empty tubs were being removed the Denaby side chair came down the shaft with six empties. Sellars then picked up his “snap” tin and lamp and went on to the top deck of the hydraulic although there were still some empty tubs to be got out.
Mellor said he was surprised, but that Sellars seemed to think he had finished his work. The lift stopped twice before the fatal one, and when the men began to shout Jennings jumped the rails and tried to signal the lift to a stop.
Difficulty with Tubs
Jennings told the coroner that Sellars was a very good friend of his and that he was waiting at pit bottom when Sellars was pulling the tubs of the hydraulics. He was having some difficulty getting them clear and the men were jeering at him.
He went to his help and then rejoined the queue. Jennings said he was at a lower level than Sellars and consequently could not see him, but when the men started to shout he realised something was wrong and tried to stop the hydraulics. He was too late and when the lift came down again Sellars’ body was on top of it.
Joe Porter, Danesby Villa, Doncaster Road, Denaby, a hydraulics operator, told the Coroner that it was customary to work by sound when moving tubs, and explained that he listened for the sound of the tubs running off.
Coroner: Would it not be safer to work by signals?—Yes, sir.
“If signals had been used this thing might not have happened,” Mr. Carlile said. “I suppose you have thought since how foolish it is to work by sound?”—”Yes, sir.”
From where Porter operated he could not see the tubs going off.
Coroner: I suppose it is less trouble to work by sound than by signals?—Yes, sir.
Witness said the lift had reached the top when he got a signal. When he commenced to lower it he got a long signal and stopped the lift. It was then practically down to its normal position for riding men.
Safer by Signals
Frank Hobson, 15, Welfare Avenue, Conisbrough, an on-setter, said it was the practice for men engaged in taking tubs from the lift to ride to the bottom level and from there enter the cage.
Coroner: Do you think it would be safer to operate by signals?– Yes, sir.
“The thing is to get the safest working in the pit,” Mr. Carlile observed.
William Henry Bedson, a deputy, Warmsworth Road, Balby, told the Coroner that there was not usually much trouble at pit bottom like abusing or barracking.
In his summing-up the Coroner observed: “Had there been a signalling system in operation this accident would not have happened and I hope some steps will be taken to stop it happening again. I do not think anyone has been guilty of criminal negligence.”