Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 05 August 1881
The Fatal Accident at the Denaby Main Colliery
The Inquest
On Friday last, an inquest was held at the Beresy Arms, Denaby, before Mr. Dossey Wightman, coroner, touching the death of a miner, named Joseph Morgan, who died from injuries sustained at the Denaby Main Colliery, by being run over by corves, particulars of which accident appeared in last week’s Times.
Mr. Wardell, her Majesty’s Inspector of Mines for South Yorkshire, was present at the enquiry, as was also Mr. Warburton, manager of the colliery, and Mr. Slack, the underviewer.
The jury having viewed the body, which had been frightfully lacerated, Susannah Morgan, widow of the deceased, was called.
She said deceased was 37 years of age. He had been a collier since he was seven years of age, but had only worked at Denaby a month.
The next witness, W. T. Bower, deposed that deceased went to him on Wednesday for a light for his lamp. He (witness) was then at the top of the “jinney.” He told deceased he had not got a light.
Deceased stopped until Herbert Hobson came and gave him a lamp.
Witness was then lowering four full corves to go to the “dick,” but they ran down the “jinney.” Witness went down and found the deceased dead. He was lying between the third and fourth corve.
By Mr. Wardell: I am sure only four corves went away. It was the duty of John Cox to put the “dick” right. I have nothing to do with that. The deceased might have knocked the “dick” off. I cannot tell whether the “blocks” were right or not.
John Cox deposed that it was his duty to look after the “blocks” at the pit. He saw deceased go down the “jinney.”
He (witness) was then in the refuge hole. Witness shouted to him to get out of the road. He did not see deceased, but afterwards found him dead between the third and fourth corve.
It was his (witness’s) duty to put the “blocks” right, and he was sure that he had done so. The rope got over and through the “blocks.” It had done so many times and did so on Thursday.
By Mr. Wardell: The rope had done so many a time before the accident happened. I have never said anything about it to any one. The rope does not get underneath the “blocks.” I work backwards up to the top. I am sure that I put the “dick” right. I had put it right a good bit before the accident happened.
The “block” fastens itself when put across, but it does not fasten tight. The deceased was not there when I put the “blocks” right.
I am 15 years of age, and have been at this job eleven months. I did not see the deceased in the “refuge hole” when he called out to me. The tubs were running when I heard him call. No one saw me attend to the “dick” and “blocks.” The other boy was at the top of the “jinney.” There was a light there. There was no corporal there and no one else.
In answer to a juryman, Mr. Warburton said it was possible for any one, when walking near the “block” to displace it with the feet.
The Coroner: If a man were to kick his foot against it unintentionally would it knock it off?
Mr. Warburton: Yes.
A juryman considered that it was very probable the deceased had done so.
The Coroner: He should know better. But if he knocked it out he might have put it back easily.
A juryman: The man either knocked it “out” or the boy never put it in.
In reply to a juryman, Mr. Warburton said the deceased had two or three lights with him.
Cox, in answer to the Coroner, said he was quite sure he had put the “blocks” in.
The Coroner: I cannot think that the deceased would have knocked them out and then walked down there. If he knocked them out and knew he had done so he must have been a fool, because he was more likely to be hurt himself than any one else.
Herbert Hobson said he was the man who lent the deceased a lamp with which to go down the “jinney.” The lamp was lighted.
When he lent deceased the lamp he (witness) was eight or ten yards from the “dick” and “blocks.” He did not pass the blocks.
By Mr. Wardell: I never noticed whether the “block” was set properly. I gave the lamp to the deceased before he got to the “dick.”
By the Coroner: I have formed no opinion as to how the accident may have happened, only that the deceased may have knocked the “dick” off as he was going along.
The Coroner: From some reason unexplained this “block” was not put in at right angles, but diagonally and just sufficient to give the corve a jerk, and then being knocked out of the way, it let them go through.
The Inspector states that all the things are in proper order. I don’t know that you can make anything more of it than an accident.
A juryman thought it would have been better if lower had seen that the “block” was right before he let the corves down.
The Coroner: I should like to ask, Mr. Warburton, if you think this lad is quite enough a man for a job of this sort. You are justified in employing him because he has attained the age; but he is a very small specimen of a 15 year-old. Don’t you think it would be better to let an elder man do it?
Mr. Warburton: He has got an old head on. And its not hard work.
The Coroner: He says he cannot lift the rope, and if he had been a bigger and stronger lad he could have done so.
A juryman replied that the rope could not be moved by a stronger person if it was tight.
A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.