Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 24 June 1932
Killed By Tubs
Denaby Boy’s Neck Broken
Unexplained Accident
“I am afraid the evidence has not carried us much further in the way of finding out how the accident happened. You can only conclude as to what did happen,” said Mr. W. H. Carlile, the Doncaster District Coroner, addressing the jury at an inquest nt the Fullerton hospital on Monday on Arthur Stephenson (15), haulage hand, of 77, Clifton Street Denaby Main, who was killed by a run of in the Denaby Main Colliery on Friday.
There were present at the inquiry: Mr. C. Scott, H.M. Inspector of Mines; Mr. Norman Hulley, manager of the Denaby Main Colliery; and Mr. H. Johnson, secretary of the Denaby Main Branch of the Y.M.A.
The Coroner explained that Stephenson left home at 5.45 a.m. on Friday to go to the Denaby Main Colliery where he was employed. He worked with a lad named Jack Barrett, and they were bringing out a run of eighteen full tubs at about 10.15 a.m. when Barrett heard a noise like tubs falling over and on going to investigate found the tubs off the rails. Stephenson’s lamp was near-by, still alight, and Stephenson was later found lying under the tubs. He was dead when extricated.
George Thomas Stephenson, father, gave evidence of identification and said his son had been working at Denaby since last November.
First Intimation.
Jack Barrett, haulage band, S 2, Wath Road, Mexborough, said Stephenson and himself were bringing out a run of 18 full tubs. Stephenson’s job was to bring up empties and witness had to take the coal down. Stephenson was in front of the empties and witness asked him to take the front end of the run of full tubs down. Witness went to the back and followed the tubs through the door to Fives junction. When he turned round to shut the door and while he was shutting it he noticed the clip was resting on the tubs and gave it a kick with his boot. He found it was no use and shouted to the corporal. They went down to see what was the matter and found Stephenson underneath the tubs, which had come the line and were in a ring. There would be about seven tubs off the tine and Stephenson was on the full road. His lamp was about live yards away.
The Coroner: You knew something had gone wrong when you found the clip was useless?—Yes.
Do you know now what caused the tubs to go off the line?-I have no idea.
Stephenson should have been in front of them should he not ?—He should have opened the door.
Witness said the tubs were derailed.about 17 yards from the door.
The Coroner : He should have been getting towards the door when the tubs were about 17 yards away ?—Yes.
He was not riding on the tubs was lie?- I could not see, but I have never seen him riding.
In reply to Mr. Scott witness said Stephenson was on the empties and witness was on the full tubs, but they often helped each other.
Answering a question Mr. Hulley witness said the clip seemed in good condition when he put it on.
Head Under Tubs.
Samuel Davie, pit corporal, 2, Clifton Street, Denaby, said he was about 200 yards away when the accident happened. When he accompanied Barrett they found Stephenson lying between the rails on the full road. His head was under the fifth tub, and the first tub was on his feet. lie was dead when they gut bhu out. Witness said Stephenson’s job was on the empties. “He had really nothing to do with the full tubs, but he was a boy who was willing to do anny work to help anyone.” There was no trace of anything which could have sent the tubs off the road.
The Coroner: Really, this boy should have been far enough front to have avoided contact with the run of tubs?—Some of them have their hand on the first tub as they are walking along with it, but I have never seen Stephenson walking with his hand on the tubs.
Frederick Owen, haulage corporal, 68, Morton Mexborough, said he was in Fours junction when the accident happened. Barrett came to fetch him, and he went to help Davies to get the boy out. They had to move the tubs to get the boy out as part of his clothing was fast under the wheel of the first tub. He had always been a careful lad and witness had never seen him walking close to the tubs. If he had seen him on the full tubs witness would have told him that it was not his job.
George Williams, deputy. 33, Bolton Street, Denaby, said the boy had been got out when he arrived on the scene. They could find no reason for the tubs having left the rails. “The only thing I can suggest.” he said, “is that the boy may have moved the slackening clip to take it off and may have stumbled while walking backwards.”
The Coroner: Still there was a considerable distance before he need have done that wasn’t there ?—Yes.
Witness said, “Stephenson hid plenty of experience for the job he was doing. He was rather an intelligent boy, and he was willing to do anything he was asked. I would not have allowed him to go on the full tubs if I had seen him.”
Neck Broken.
Dr. J. MacArthur said Stephenson was brought to the Fullerton Hospital where it was found that his neck was broken. He also had a fracture of the right upper arm, a fracture of the right femur and abrasions. From the nature of his injuries be must have been carried some distance. The cause of death was a fracture of the neck.
The Coroner said there did not appear to be any blame attached to anyone. Stepheneon appeared to have been a most willing boy, ready to help anyone and he (the coroner) was afraid that in that way he lost his life. The jury could only find a verdict of “Accidental death.”
The fury returned It verdict according the coroner’s direction, and the Coroner expressed the sympathy of all present, with the boy’s father. Mr. Hulley and Mr. Johnson associating themselves on behalf of the Colliery Company and the Y.M.A.