Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 15 December 1933
Run Down
Denaby Rope-Runner’s Back Broken
One of the Best
A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned at an inquest at Denaby on Friday on Walter Lees (25), rope-runner, employed at Cadeby Main Colliery, of 25 Cliff View, Denaby Main, who sustained injuries while working in the pit on September 5th, from which he died on December 6th in the Fullerton Hospital.
The Coroner (Mr. W. H. Carlile), who was assisted by a jury, explained that on September 5th Lees was working in a 155 stall on the east low side in the Barnsley seam and about 10.30 a.m. was walking in front of a run of full tubs when he was struck by the run and was afterwards found by the engine driver lying by the side of the road. He had injuries to spine and head.
James Lees, father, 25 Cliff View, Denaby, said his son had worked at Cadeby since he was 14. He had seen him in hospital since the accident and was with him when he died, but he would not say anything about the accident, and witness never asked him anything about it.
Story of the Accident
Edward Wilkinson, underground engine driver, Thurcroft Terrace, Conisbrough, said that when the accident occurred Lees was working with him. Witness was bringing out a run of 28 full tubs and it was Lees’s duty to walk in front of them. Witness received the signal to start, but did not get any further signals and when the run arrived Lees was missing. Witness found him about 180 yards down the road lying at the side of the run.
“The first thing he asked me was whether his leg was on. I told him it was, and then asked him what he had been doing. He said he had been cleaning the dirt off the rails and the tubs had overtaken him. I found his lamp still alight, in the middle of the run about ten yards away.”
Witness added that the road was practically straight, with only one dip about half-way along it.
The Coroner: The haulage road should keep about 40 yards in front of the run. The rope not?—Yes.
In reply to Mr. W. Still (manager of the Cadeby Main Colliery), witness said he had asked Lees whether he had tried to stop the run and he said he had no time to get to the wires. Lees told him not to worry as he was not to blame.
John Henry Jackson, assistant deputy, 95 Tickhill Street, Denaby Main, said that when called to the scene of the accident by Wilkinson, he received the same explanation from Lees. Witness took charge of Lees and sent Wilkinson for the deputy. It was the duty of the haulage hands to keep about 30 yards in front of the tubs.
The Coroner: What speed would this run be travelling at?—Not more than four miles an hour.
Witness said Lees had been working on haulage for years, and the road was good and the roof high where the accident happened.
Mr. P. L. Collinson, H.M. Inspector, asked how many sets were run per shift on this road.
Witness: We average eight, and on a good day, nine.
One of the Best
Mr. Collinson: And this road was about 1,000 yards long. That means the man would walk 16,000 yards per day?—Yes.
Mr. Collinson: And the haulage road was about a mile and a half from the pit bottom?—Yes.
Mr. Collinson: So he would walk a few miles during the day?—Yes.
Mr. Collinson: Have you ever seen him riding on the tubs?—He was one of the lads I never saw riding.
Mr. Collinson: Do you think it is possible he was riding on this occasion?—No, sir.
Mr. Collinson: Since the accident there has been no runner on this section?—No, sir.
Mr. Collinson: Did you see anything to indicate there had been any fall of dirt on the road?—Nothing to indicate a heavy fall.
Mr. Collinson: So was it possible he was able too close to the run?—It was possible.
In reply to Mr. J. Madin, the Y.M.A. representative, witness said: “I have never seen this lad riding. He was one of the best lads I had on haulage.”
William Henry Bedson, deputy, 18 Tickhill Square, Denaby, gave similar evidence and spoke to Lees being an experienced and reliable man.
Broken Back
Dr. J. McArthur said two lacerated wounds to the face and two at the back of the skull had been found. He had a fracture of the spine, and there was never any chance of his recovery, the spinal cord being completely cut through. The cause of death was septic cystitis due to the fracture of the spine.
The Coroner said Lees was apparently trying to clean the road and misjudged the distance of the tubs, which ran into him. Since the accident no men had been employed to walk in front of the tubs on this section, so there was no chance of this happening again. Under these circumstances the jury could only return a verdict of “Accidental death.”
The jury returned a verdict accordingly, and Mr. Still expressed sorrow at the fatal termination of the accident. Lees was a man of excellent character and one whose work was much appreciated by the officials at the colliery. He was also a man of very pleasant disposition, and on behalf of the Colliery Company he tendered sincere sympathy to the family.
The Coroner and Mr. Madin associated themselves with these expressions of sympathy.
The funeral took place on Saturday and was attended by seventy members of the Denaby Parish Church Bible Class and C.L.B. Prior to the interment at Conisbrough, the Vicar (Rev. S. Powley) conducted a service, assisted by Messrs. S. C. Padgham and T. Horcroft (lay readers), with Mr. T. Holmes at the organ.