One Escaped – One Died In Cadeby Roof Fall

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After a 33 years old Conisbrough miner, Arthur Houghton of 81, Denaby Avenue, had told the Doncaster district coroner, Mr WH Carlyle, at an inquest yesterday (Thursday) how he had been trapped under a heavy fall of roof at Cadeby Colliery, last Sunday morning, he was told, “You are very lucky to be here alive.”

The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death” on Houghton’s’s friend and colleague, Herbert Robinson (30) of 79, Denaby Avenue. Robinson died from asphyxia after being trapped for several hours.

Houghton said he and Robinson were working on the coalface in the number two area of the Barnsley seam, removing timber from a “fault area,” Using a Silvester chain and one anchor prop, the men removed the first support from the face without difficulty.

They were then seen by Deputy Robert Arthur Wray, of 22, Tickhill Square, Denaby, who inspected the area and told them to remove another supporting prop. Soon afterwards, as they were working on the second prop, a large area of roof – the equivalent of approximately 25 tons of earth – fell without warning.

“We were hanging on to the chain,” witness said, “when the roof suddenly came down. I was completely buried. I don’t know whether the anchor stake came out, or the prop, or what.

“As I fell with my face on the floor, I managed to put my hand over my mouth. I was able to breathe and started shouting. I was fully conscious when I was released, I am told, some two hours later.”

Asked by the coroner whether he thought they were using the best methods to do the job, Houghton replied, “Yes, sir. We dare not take any risks.”

The “Fault Area”

Harry Hill, of 18, Gomersall Avenue, Conisbrough and Patrick Ruane, of 81, Old Road, Conisbrough, said they were working in the “fault area,” known as a bad area of the Barnsley seam early on Sunday morning. Hill told the Coroner that he examined the roof and noticed a slight weight on the surface had moved the props slightly.

“But that is natural in the “fault area,” he said. Robinson told him later that because of the weight, they were going to take the precaution of setting middle props, the normal thing for a collier to do. Mr WWray visited Hill and Rouane soon afterwards and made an inspection. After Wray had left them, another collier shouted that something had happened “I knew Robinson and Houghton had been buried,” said Hill, “and I went to ring the under manager before going to help on the rescue work.”

Ruane told the Coroner that only a short time after Wray visited the face, another collier shouted for assistant to rescue the trapped men. Asked by the coroner whether he thought the roof support be adequate, he replied, “Yes sir.”

R A Wray, a deputy at the colliery, told the Coroner that the fall occurred at about 730 on Sunday morning – only 10 or 15 minutes after the men at commenced work on the face. When he arrived to inspect the “fault,” Robinson and Houghton had already removed one prop. “I told them to draw out one more prop,” he said, “I showed the one I wanted removing and told them to leave the others. I don’t recover more than two at any time.”

The Anchor Prop

Questioned about the anchor prop being used with the Silvester chain, Wray said he was already fixed when the men started work, but he had no recollection of seeing it on the Saturday morning shift, when he last inspected the area.

Mr EJ Lane, Inspector of Mind told the Coroner that it was a colliery rule that colliers should fix their own anchor prop, and on this occasion they had not done so.

Wray said he realised this, but in his opinion, the anchor prop was adequate.

Said the coroner: “You, as a deputy, are supposed to see that rules are observed, and on this occasion allowed it to pass. I always regard deputies as very important people. They advise on what should be done. You should know the rules of by heart and see that the men comply with them. If they do not do this, they are committing a breach of duty.”

Dr MD Innis said that when Robinson was recovered – at about 2 PM, his body was covered with bruises and abrasions, and both lungs were congested.