Crushed to Death at Denaby

Buried Beneath a Fall of Roof

Early on Monday morning, a dataller named Thomas Musgrave, aged 35, met his death at Denaby pit, through a fall of roof, deceased and a fellow workman being at the time engaged in moving the debris of a previous fall.

Mr. Dorsey Wightman, district coroner, held an inquest at the Montagu Cottage Hospital, on Tuesday, Mr. G. Rothery being elected foreman of the jury.

Mr. Pickering, H.M.I.M., and Mr. Hort Barnard (Agent Denaby Colliery Company), and Mr. C. Bury (manager) attended the inquiry.

Susan Livesey, Sheffield, aunt, said that deceased was 35 years of age. He was a native of Worksop, and had been working in mines all his working life. He was a healthy man, and witness last saw him alive in Sheffield a fortnight or three weeks ago.

John Harding, a dataller at the Denaby pit, said he worked with deceased on and off since March 30th. He also was a dataller. They went on to work at six o’clock on Sunday night, to clean up the roads to get ready for tramming at ten.

When they went on to work they knew nothing of a fall of roof, but the chargeman sent them to shift one that had taken place. They got about six or seven yards from the old fall, witness and deceased were working together and had nearly cleared away the first fall.

About a quarter to three the first indication of a second fall was when the deceased was struck with a falling stone.

Deceased was working about seven yards away from witness, and there was no warning of any description of the second fall, which amounted to about 30 tons.

Deceased was unable to miss the fall, and was buried underneath, six or seven yards, the fall coming right up to the feet of witness, who ran back another five or six yards, and stood there until the fall had done rolling.

Witness shouted for help.

Deceased said, “Is there much dirt on me,” and witness made no reply; afterwards deceased said, “I’m choking.”

Witness sent for Alfred Dudhili (the chargeman). That was the last witness heard from him.

Deceased was got out in about four hours. Neither deceased nor witness had set any timber, nor did they receive any orders from the chargeman or deputy.

Mr. Pickering: What timber was set in the place?

Props and bars were over our heads, where we were working.

Was there any covering wood?

No sir, it did not need it where we were. The fall knocked the timber down.

When you went in to clear the first fall up, what condition was the timber in?

All right and straight.

The Coroner: The first fall had knocked the timber out. Were you under that?

No, sir.

Mr. Pickering: Was there any timber where the stuff fell?

It knocked one prop and bar down, but deceased was not standing just there. There was no timber where the actual fall occurred. They were making ready to put some up.

The Coroner: If the fall had not taken place, would somebody have set some timber when the debris was cleared away?

Yes, sir, decidedly.

Was there any timber in the place, in proper lengths?

Yes.

How far off?

Close to.

Alfred Dudhili, chargeman at the Denaby pit, said he had charge of the district in question, known as the Montagu section. He set the previous witness and deceased on to work to clear away a fall, which had taken place in the “gate” on Saturday morning.

Witness considered they were sufficiently experienced men to do the work. It was their duty to set timber if it was necessary. Witness trusted to them setting timber sufficient for their safety. They did not set any because none was required.

Witness first heard of the accident at three o’clock on Monday morning, and on going he found deceased buried under about 8 yards fall of dirt, probably about 20 or 30 tons.

Witness did not hear deceased speak, and stayed till the poor fellow was got out, five hours later, he was dead.

Witness did not know how the accident happened, for the place was properly timbered underneath the roof. As far as he could hear, it was a big side fall which came over the packing, knocking out one bar and prop.

Mr. Pickering: Was the pack built up alongside the road?

Alongside the “gate,” sir.

Did the fall come from the roof?

Yes, sir.

Right up to the roof?

It came off the side.

The Coroner: Do you think a deputy or yourself could have foreseen this?

No sir, it could not have been foreseen.

The Foreman: There were two falls. Was it the second fall that killed the man?

Yes.

It knocked the timber out.

Yes.

A Juryman: In your previous visits, you did not think any extra timber necessary?

No.

The Coroner: The deputy had not been round that morning?

No, but I went round before the shift began.

A verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned.