Mexborough and Swinton Times November 7, 1908

Gigantic Fall of Roof at Cadeby.
Mexboro’ Driver Crushed To Death.
Heroic Rescue by A Deputy.

Mr. Wightman held an inquest at the Primitive Methodist Institute on Friday afternoon last, touching the death of John Jas. Churms (20), of Swinton Road, Mexboro’, who was killed whilst following his occupation as a pony driver at this Cadeby Pit, on Oct. 27th. Those present included Mr. W. Walker, H.M. Chief Inspector of Mines for Yorkshire and Lancashire; and Mr. H. L. Witty, manager of Cadeby Colliery.

Mr. Walker said that a very big fall of roof occurred at the time of the accident, about 350 tons falling. The deceased was standing on the flat sheets when a slight fall occurred. He was buried, and all the lights went out. A filler named Green was also buried up to the waist, but he was pulled out in time by a collier named Benton. They went for a lamp, and shouted for assistance, but before deceased could be got out another large fall took place, and it was not until five o’clock in the afternoon that he was recovered. The falls occurred at 8 a.m. The stuff was mostly like sand, and as it kept running, the task of rescue was a very difficult and precarious one. The debris was heaped up to a height of 21 foot by 15 feet wide, and was over six yards down the “gait”.

The Coroner: I have seen thousands of similar falls, but this fall is exceptional.

The inspector said he had never known a case where over 300 tons came down. It was very difficult to keep such loose stuff up.

John Churms, Mexborough, said he was a miner and father of the deceased. The latter was 20 years of age last December, and was, pony driver. Prior to going to the Cadeby Pit, deceased was at Denaby, having worked as a collier for seven years. Witness worked now at Thrybergh Hall, but was recently at Cadeby. Deceased resided with him, and left home at about 4,-30 a.m. on the previous Tuesday, to go to work. The next witness heard was that his son was killed.

Deceased was insured for 3d. a week. Witness knew nothing as to the accident.

Henry Benton said he and deceased went on to work at about 6 o’clock on the morning of the 27th. At 7 a.m. witness thoroughly examined the roof with his pick, and it then seemed perfectly safe. The accident occurred at about 8 o’clock. Witness was then engaged in cutting coal, and deceased came , aIong with two empty tubs for the fillers to send along the coal, witness had cut.

De-ceased turned his pony round, and witness believed one of the fillers asked him to help him with his tub. Then came a fall of roof. Witness jumped away but was slightly caught by the fall. Then; he jumped back, and caught hold of Green and pulled him out. Witness then inquired for the lad. The filler did not know.

Witness’s and Green’s lamps were both out. There was another ‘lamp alight some distance away, but otherwise they were in the dark. Whilst witness was trying to discover deceased, another large fall of roof took place. This fell on to the mass which was already covering the deceased. Witness could not say how much fell, but they had to shift about 50 tons before they came to deceased. They found the fitter at about five o’clock. The deputy arrived before the lad was got out. Witness thought when he examined the roof in the morning that it was quite safe, and he could not account for the fall. There was plenty of timbering at the spot in question. The second fall was consequent upon the first fall. Witness did not think the accident could have been foreseen.

In the course of eighteen months there had been three or four falls at this point, but there had not been any during the last week or two. The last fall was a little over two months ago.

Witness described in detail the timbering at the spot in question. Witness had been a collier 18 years, and had never seen a fall so large as this before. It was a very difficult and precarious job to get the body of the deceased out from under the fall.

Mr. Walker, the inspector, said he should like-to say that, in the course of his investigation, he had found that Benton had behaved very well indeed. But for what he did the man Green would have been killed. Benton did not hesitate, but pulled Green out, although he himself was caught by the fall. Then, when he rushed to get another light, deceased was beyond help.

The Coroner, turning to Benton, said: You have beard what the Inspector said about you having saved a man’s life. I don’t know that you could receive, or any collier could receive, any greater praise, especially when we consider that it comes from the highest authority in this district. You leave this room to-day with as much credit as any collier can possibly have.

John Green was then called. He came forward with his head bandaged up and his left arm in a sling. He said he was a filler, and was working in the same place as deceased on the day of the accident. Witness had just filled a tub when deceased came in with his pony and two tubs. Witness asked deceased to give him a hand with a tub. Witness was just going to run out a full tub for deceased to take away when there was a fall of roof. Witness was knocked backwards, and knew no more until Benton pulled him out from under the fall.

Lala When witness got out, he was told to stand clear as there might be a further fall. In a minute or two another fall came, much larger than the first. Witness was incapacitated, and was unable to render any help, for which he was very sorry. He was not present when the body was recovered. Benton examined the roof properly earlier in the morning, and as far as witness knew it sounded all right. The fall gave no warning of its approach whatever. The fall consisted of more small stuff than big, The first fall was very small compared with the second.

Witness: I owe my life to Benton. No one could have done more than he did to save the lives of those who were with him. He would do the same for anybody.

Jurymen: Hear, bear.

The Inspector said all the men on the spot behaved in the best possible manner.

The Jury returned a verdict of “Accidental deaths” and expressed the opinion that Benton was entitled to the highest possible credit.

Mr. H. S. Witty, manager of the colliery, agreed.

The Foreman of the Jury suggested that Benton was entitled to the King Edward medal.

Another juryman said he thought colliers were the bravest men on earth.

The Coroner: They work in the face of danger all their lives. If I had to go down into a coal-pit to-morrow. I have no doubt but that I should be the greatest coward in England.