Mexborough & Swinton Times, December 4th 1891
A Negligent Miner at Denaby.
John Malone, trammer, was charged with a breach of Special Rule 88 of the Mines Regulation Act, at
Denaby Main Colliery, on November 13th.
Mr. Hickmott prosecuted.
About nine o’clock in the morning William Wright, a deputy, went into the west district, and found an accumulation of gas of over 1000 cubic feet. He searched to find the cause after he had restored the ventilation. He discovered that the defendant had neglected to close a sheet, and thereby the ventilation had been taken away and impeded.
Defendant admitted he had rolled the sheet up to save himself the trouble of removing it.
Wright, in reply to Mr. Chambers, stated that if a naked light or defective safety lamp had come in contact with the gas there would have been an explosion. Between 600 and 700 were employed in the mine at the time.
Defendant pleaded that he was not acquainted with the rules. He had only worked in a pit seven or eight months, and had not been in a pit before.
The Chairman said they would have made the penalty heavier if the defendant had worked longer in a pit, but as he had only been there a short time they would fine him 20s. and costs.