Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 27 December 1929
Fatal Accident at Yorkshire Main.
Conisborough Man’s Escape.
An inquest was held on Friday into the death of Matthew Wood, aged 33, of Edhagton Lane, Warmsworth, who had been fatally injured in the Yorkshire Main Colliery, Edlington.
The story of the accident was told by Wood’s mate, John Henry Wormley, Sprotborough View, Conisborough, who said they were at work in the Yorkshire Main Colliery when a fall of stone occurred, and Wormley told the Coroner (Mr, W. H. Carlile) that he “ducked” and the stone missed him, although he was nearer to the actual fall than Wood. Wood was caught and crushed.
The Coroner: So that you are the man on whom the inquest should have been?
Witness: I suppose I am.
He added that he and Wood examined the place before beginning work. Close by was a deep break, bat he thought it safe to drill where the bore was put in. They had gone about 11 inches when the stone fell and buried them. He had been working with Wood for 15 or 16 years. On this occasion they decided themselves where to bore.
John Horton of Alexandra Road, Balby, deputy in charge of the district, said in is his opinion the vibration of the drilling caused the stone to come away. He thought it would have been better to have drilled against the grain of the roof, instead of with it.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”