Mexborough and Swinton Times June 19, 1936
Jury’s Rider
Fatal Accident at Cadeby Main
Long Sprag for Holing
At an inquest on a Cadeby Main miner, Joseph Tittley, 120, Doncaster Road, Denaby, on Saturday at Conisborough, the jury, in returning a verdict of “Accidental death,” appended a rider to the effect that the certain circumstances it would be better to set a long sprag as well as a short when holing operations were in progress in the mine.
The inquest was conducted by the Doncaster District Coroner (Mr WH Carlisle). Mr P L Collinson, HM Inspector of mines, J Madin, secretary of the Cadeby branch of the Yorkshire Mineworkers Association, Mr O T Storrs, under manager of the Cadeby Main Colliery, were also present.
The Coroner explained that on Tuesday, June 9, Tittley was working on a conveyor face in the Cadeby Main Colliery. He was in number forestall on the East Top Side. He was holing the face, and had made a hole to the depth of about a foot. He had set two short sprags, and was going to get his Sylvester when a large piece of coal came from the face and he was knocked back onto the conveyor. His skull was fractured.
Charles Tittley, 16 Peak Avenue, Conisbrough, brother of the dead man, said Tittley was 62 years of age, and when he last saw him three weeks he was in good health.
John Edward Knowles, 46 Barnburgh Street, Denaby, miner, said he was working on the afternoon shift at the Cadeby Colliery on the day of the accident, in number 4 stall, on the East Top side. He had examined the place, and it appeared to be safe. There was a visit from the deputy at 5.30 and again at six. He examined the place, and appeared to be satisfied.
Buried up to Knees
He (witness) was working next to Tittley, who had made a whole about a foot in depth in the face, and had set two sprags for safety. He estimated that there were between 3’3” in length he then went to fetch a bar, but before he could get this a piece of coal came over, knocking him backwards onto the conveyor. He was buried up to the knees. He was in a sitting position, and they got him out by means of a bar. The operation did not take more than five minutes. The lump of coal which came over from the face was estimated by the witness to be about 7 foot in length and about 2 feet thick. There had been no slips at this place before. The face was 5 feet nine or 10 inches in height. In the opinion of witness, it was the “top weight” which made the piece of coal come over, and he thought that it would have been safer if there had been a “cocker” set.
The witness agreed with the Coroner that if there had been a long sprag set it might have prevented the accident. But it was impossible to see the piece of coal which came away, before the accident. Witness said he knew that the “cocker” was old fashioned.
Mr Collinson asked witness whether it mattered if the method was old fashioned if it was satisfactory.
Mr Madin suggested that is, there are been standing at the time of the accident it will give the dead man more room. Witness agreed that it would, and said that in future he would ask that the conveyor be stopped.
Nothing unusual
Herbert Fennell, 9 Welfare Avenue, Conisbrough, deputy, said he visited the place about 5.30, and made an examination of the face. At the time the holing a not commence and there was nothing which the attention of the men need be drawn. At the time the conveyor, was standing owing to trouble in the haulage. He was called to the place after the accident, and at that time the dead man and not been got out. He was in a sitting position. It was his opinion that the coal “burst off” owing to the pressure from behind.
Dr T Forde said he examine the man after the accident fell at the call of death was due to a fracture of the base of the skull.
Addressing the jury, the Coroner said that it was a straightforward one, but it appears that it might have been safer and there been a long sprag set as well as a short one.
Sympathy with the relatives of the dead man was expressed by the foreman of the jury, Mr Storrs on behalf of the company and Mr Madin on behalf of the workmen.