Mexborough and Swinton Times, February 5th 1897
Silly Youth – About a Drag
George Riley was charged with breaking special rule No. 66, at the above named colliery
Mr Hick marked explained that the defendant was in charge of a train of corves in the pit and he was going up an incline without the drag fixed on. The drag was a piece of iron to fit to the back of the corve in going up an incline so that is the couplings gave way it would not run backwards.
In this case it was a very serious offence as there were three miners and two fillers working at the bottom of the incline, and if the cars are run backwards there might have been a serious accident.
This lad had lent his drag to another boy to save him as the boy was going up an incline where one of the managers was located, but instead of them being that he came down the incline in, which Riley was going up, and it was what could be termed a very “fair catch.”
They are repeatedly warned the lads for this offence, and he asked for a penalty which would meet with the requirements of the case.
Defendant said he was guilty of the charge, and he had lent his drag to another boy.
A fine of 20 shillings including costs was inflicted