Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 20 July 1940
Eased Dying Man’s Pain
Denaby Doctor who Went Down Pit
To Tend Trapped Miner
Appreciation of the services rendered by Dr. David T. Clark. of Denaby. last Thursday, were paid by colliery and workmen’s representatives at the inquest at the Council Offices.; Conisborough, on Saturday, on John Whittaker Booth (22). collier, of 44, Ravensfleld Street, Denaby. A verdict of “Accidental Death” was recorded.
Booth’s father. Phillip Booth, colliery stone contractor. Ravensfield Street, Denaby. giving evidence of identification, said he was involved in a motor accident last October, but had recovered from the effects.
Harry Hill. Filler, 25, Willowdene Low Road. Conisborough, said that on Thursday he was working in 35’s, stall of the Barnsley seam in the North-East No. 1 District. and in the same stall were Booth and Hardeman. They began work about 6-45 a.m.. and the accident happened about 9-55 a.m. Booth and he had been filling tubs and witness asked Hardeman if they could get their tubs out. Hardeman replied “No. let us get ours ‘out first.”
Booth then said to witness “Let us go and pull that piece of coal.” The, coal. 12 feet long. was on the far side of the tubs on the right-hand side of the face. They had tried to get the, coal down, but had been unable to dol so; the coal, he expected, was fast on the low side.
Pinned Against Prop.
Booth asked where the coal bar was and witness told him that it was on the top side of the piece of coal. Booth asked witness to stop where he was but witness said. “No, let me help you.” Booth replied. “No. you wait there.” and as he passed the lump of coal it came over. Both of them had to run. But Booth was caught, he was pinned against a steel prop and witness called for help and was released in about 20 minutes The piece of coal was 2 feet 6 inches thick.
Hill added that Booth was pinned, by the right leg and the body. The face was a straight face. He could not say what had caused it to come down. There was no warning. They tried the coal first about an hour before. The fall knocked three middle sets out. The place was properly supported. Hill stated that there was a slip on the low side of the coal they were getting down. They tried it and broke it off. and it was not the slip they expected it was
George Wilfred Hardeman. collier. 95. Annerley Street. Denaby who was working in the same stall as Booth explained that he examined the place when he went in and found’ everything in order. They had finished filling and had just commenced setting their tubs out when Hill shouted: “Come up here Wilf. Jack’s fast,”
Replying to Mr. David Cowburn, agent and manager of the colliery Hardeman said that if he had had the same piece of coal under the same circumstances he would have worked in the same manner as Booth did, Booth was working in a practical manner.
Mr. Cowburn: The coal anticipated him by two minutes ?
Hardeman: Another two inches would have done.
Herbert Fennell. depute. “Cher .Nous.” Minneymonr Lane. Conisboro’. said that he visited the stall about q-45 n m. and examined it thoroughly. The men were filling coal just below where the accident haSppened. The middle sets were up and were all right.
Signs of Slip
Witness was called to the scene of the accident and Booth was still fast when he got there. He was released by removing the prop against where he was pinned. The piece of coal was still in one piece. Witness found signs of a slip at the back and from ,where the coal had come. It was not possible to have seen the slip before the fall occurred. The slip was the cause of the fall.
Dr. David T. Clark. Denaby said that he went down the pit and met Booth about a mile from the pit bottom. He examined him and gave him emergency treatment and examined him again in the colliery ambulance, but he died a few minutes afterwards.
The cause of death was shock due to an incised wound of the abdomen.
Expressing sympathy with the relatives. Mr. Cowburn said that on behalf of the colliery company he would like to pay tribute to Dr Clark who by his action in going down the pit and travelling in-bye saved the man a lot of pain.
Mr. J. Nadin. secretary of the Cade-by Y.M.A. branch. also expressed appreciation of the workmen who had helped to rescue Booth and added that he wanted to associate himself with Mr. Cowburn’s remarks. Booth, he disclosed, personally asked for Dr. Clark to attend him
Dr. Clark. replying. Praised the efficiency of Booth’s workmates and mentioned that Messrs. Cowburn, Halford and Harvey (colliery officials). were also present Mr. Cer nell. the Matron. and the staff at Fullerton Hospital were waiting at the hospital. and he wanted to assure Boioth’s father that if anything could have been done they would have don so and got him to hospital inmmediately.