Mexborough and Swinton Times April 1, 1916

Conisborough Miner Overwhelmed
A Deceptive Roof

this At the Castle Inn, Conisborough on Friday, an inquest was held on John Currigan, 37, miner, of 6 Dufton’s Row, Burcroft, Conisborough, was killed in the Silverwood mine on Thursday morning about 11 o’clock. The enquiry was conducted by Mr F Allen, Doncaster District coroner, Mr H Danby, Inspector of Mines and Mr Ball, manager of the Silverwood colliery, attended the inquest.

Evidence of in of identification was given by Rose Currigan, wife of deceased.

Abraham Brown, minor, of 60, Dalton Lane Dalton, said that on Thursday morning he was working the same stall as deceased, and they were engaged in building a pack factory taking out a rib of coal. About 11 o’clock witness went into the gates about 15 yards away, while he was there he heard a crash. He went back to the stall and found that Corrigan had been completely buried by a fall of dirt of an estimated weight of seven ton.

The body was extricated at 1 o’clock.

Both men examined the roof before commencing work that morning, and were of opinion that it was quite sound. There was a slight break appearing in one corner, but the place was thoroughly well timbered. The roof had a tendency to tenderness, and they never placed the props more than four feet apart, and the bars never more than 3 feet apart. There was no sign of weighting or bumping, and the fall came without any warning. The roof appeared to have broken up and fallen around the supports.

George Thomson, over man deputy, of 7, Silverwood cottages, Thrybergh, said he was acting deputy in that district at the time of the accident. He examine the roof of the stall at 9 o’clock that morning, and everything appeared to be all right. The place was well barred and timbered. The roof and a hard even surface, but as the dirt and not been drawn it was impossible to determine the nature of the roof. He did not think any further precaution the way of boring or timbering could have been taken.

Mrs Amber said he did not suggest that the roof was not properly timbered.

A verdict of accidental death was returned.