August 15th 1904
Miner Run-over By Coal Tubs.
On Saturday at the Mexborough Montagu Cottage Hospital, the coroner for the district, Mr. Dossey Wightman, held an inquiry respecting the death of John Ellis, pump-man of Denaby.
Mr. Biggs was foreman of the jury, and present at the inquiry were Mr. J. Pickering, H.M. Inspector of Mines, and Mr. C. Bury manager Denaby Main Colliery.
Caroline Ellis, wife of the deceased, said he was forty one years of age, and employed as a pump-man at Denaby Main Colliery, where he had filled his last position for about eight years. He was a healthy man and was injured on 15th of August, being conveyed to Mexborough Montagu Hospital at once. Witness after -wards saw him in that institution, but he did not tell her how he got injured. He never blamed anybody, and died in the Hospital on the 25th of August. He was insured by the Prudential Assurance Co.
John Collins, corporal at the Denaby pit, said he worked with the deceased, who was a pump-man in the pit. Witness saw him on August 15th before he was injured – the time was 7-15 p.m. and they were on the Montagu Plane.
Deceased was examining a tap about fifteen yards off when the witness first saw him. Witness left him to go further down the plane, and when he returned two minutes later the rope was going. It was a double road, with full tubs going one way, and the empty ones the other. Deceased was standing on the empty side, with his back to the oncoming empty tubs, with the result that the latter caught him. When witness shouted to warn him, he turned right round, turning his back to the oncoming full tubs, with the result that the latter caught him. Unfortunately he stepped into danger, instead of out of it. There was a manhole within a yard of the spot where the accident occurred. After the deceased had stepped out of the empty road into the full road, witness shouted twice to warn him. As soon as he fell, witness rapped the signal, and the engine-man stopped within the length of two tubs. His legs were badly smashed.
A verdict of ” Accidental Death ” was returned.