Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 08 August 1879
The Melancholy Death of Mr. John Hudson.
Coroner’s Inquest.
On Wednesday last an inquest was held at the “Reresby Arms,” Denaby Main, by D. Wightman, Esq., touching the death of Mr. John Hudson, corn miller and farmer, of Conisboro’, who was killed at the Denaby crossing on Monday morning last.
Mr. Atkinson (Messrs. Shirley and Atkinson ) appeared on behalf of the friends of deceased, & Mr. Hemp represented the M. S. & L. Railway Company.
The foreman of the jury was John Warburton Esq, of Denaby Colliery.
Thomas F. Hudson deposed:- I identify the body of the deceased as that of my brother John, who was a corn miller and farmer at Conisboro’. He was 87 years of age. I last saw him alive on Monday morning at the office, about 7 o’clock, he left then to go home to breakfast, and I never saw him again until he was injured. When I heard that he was injured I went and found him in the Denaby gate-keeper’s house. He did not speak to me. He died about half-an-hour after he was injured. My brother was not deaf; his eyesight too was good, and he was neither subject to giddiness nor fits.
Arthur Rawson deposed:- I live at the Denaby gate-house, and am in the employ of the M. S. & L. Railway Company as a signalman and gate-keeper. I knew the deceased perfectly well. I saw him on Monday morning last as he was coming along the footpath before he was injured, at about 8-25. I was on duty at the gate and at the signals. The deceased was coming along the road towards Mexboro’ and would have to cross the line. A coal train was approaching at the time from Doncaster to Mexboro’. Coal trains have no specified time for arrival. It was going at the usual speed. As soon as the coal train had passed, the Midland passenger train from Sheffield to Doncaster approached the crossing. When the coal train had passed, the deceased attempted to cross passing behind the brake.
The Midland train in approaching from Mexboro’ to Doncaster then struck the deceased and knocked him down. The passenger train was due at Denaby at about 8-18. I could not see what part of the engine struck him. I was on the side of the line that he was coming to. I shouted to him with all my might to keep out of danger, but he was too late, and some part of the engine had struck him. The train was going at the ordinary rate. It had not to stop at Denaby. When the train had passed I looked to see where he was, and found him lying in the 6-foot, about eleven yards from where he was when struck. I and another went to him, but he did not speak, and I thought he was dead. I sent for the police and deceased was taken to my house. The passenger train was about 7 minutes late. I noticed deceased (just before the accident) appeared to be in a thoughtful mood, because I tried to get his attention and could not.
I was in sole charge of the gates and crossing at the time. It is my duty to see to the safety of all persons, horses cattle, and conveyances crossing the line; also to signal all trains, both passenger and goods trains, and to enter in a book the time of each train passing our place. I also have to attend to the points for shunting empty ns into the crossing, and to the bone mill. I have not more than I can do. I have time to do all, I am requested to do in a reasonable manner. I have to cross the line to go from the points to the signals. I have two distant signals, and 2 home signals to attend to. The signals were up when the deceased was killed. All signals were up but one which was out of order I warned Mr. Hudson by shouting to him. When I light the lamps it takes me from the crossing a short time.
In reply to Mr. Atkinson, witness said : The traffic at Denaby is very heavy. A great number of foot passengers as well as a carriages etc pass over the crossing every day. The gates are not locked. The deceased came through the small passenger gate. My “hut” is on the Mexborough side of the line. I am in charge of the gates for 12 hours, and then another takes my place for the other 12 hours. The signals were up at the time the trains were passing. There is nothing put up by which the public know that trains are coming. From the Conisboro’ side they could not see a long way on the line. There would only be two or three seconds between the coal train and the passenger train passing, and they were going in opposite directions. When Mr. Hudson was in the 6-foot he might have seen the Midland train coming. He put his foot on the rails and then tried to draw back. I do not think he saw the train until he stepped on the line. The only mark I saw on him was on his forehead. The shoulder of his coat was torn.
My duties are very heavy at times, as there are an army children in the neighbourhood. I booked the time of the missing of the Midland train (book produced). Mr. Hudson appeared to be in his usual health, but seemed to be in a thoughtful mood. I think he might have heard me shout to him, for others on the same side and further off could hear me. He was only about 17 feet from me when I shouted.
Dick Bryan deposed as follows: I am an engine driver in the employ of the Midland Railway Company. On Monday morning last I was driving the 7-45 passenger train from Sheffield to Doncaster. We were about 5 minutes late in leaving Mexborough, and the same at Denaby. We came at our usual speed, as if we were not late. The signals were all off at Denaby for me to pass, and a coal train was passing at the same time. Its brake was just clearing the crossing as I came on with my engine. The deceased appeared to make a move to get across when the coal train had passed, and then appeared to give back, as if to try and get back again. The right-hand buffer of my engine caught him and knocked him about 10 or 12 yards. I stopped my train as soon as I could and went back to see if I could render any assistance. We are going at the rate of about 35 miles an hour. We had the ordinary brake to our train. We went about 80o yards before we came to a stop. When I found we could be of no assistance, I then went on with my journey.
In reply to Mr Hamp, witness said he “whistled” on approaching the crossing. He saw the deceased peeping from behind the courtroom. He then made a “rush” and then a sudden stop. Others were there and they peeped too, but they kept clear.
In reply to Mr Atkinson, witness said he thought it would take deceased all this time to hear Rawson shout to him across the line when two trains were passing.
James Parker, fireman of the Midland passenger train corroborated the evidence of the last witness.
Hannah Flinders deposed:—I am a single woman and live at Denaby. On Monday morning last about 20 or 25 minutes past 8, I was going along the road from my breakfast to Meggitt’s works, and saw deceased walking before me. He went close to the rails as the coal train was passing. As soon as it went past he stepped forward to cross the other line, and was knocked down. I noticed nothing particular in his appearance. I heard Mr. Rawson call to him to keep back. He called very loudly.
In reply to Mr. Hamp, witness said:—I could see the passenger train coming. I should be live or six yards from Mr. Hudson and I heard Mr. Rawson very plainly. I would not have ventured across.
In reply to Mr. Atkinson, witness said: – I stood with my back against the wall. There were two other boys and a girl as well as myself waiting to cross. I heard the passenger train whistle before it came to the crossing.
- C. Midgeley deposed that he was present before and at the time deceased died. Asked him if he would drink, and he said he would. Asked him again soon afterwards and he declined repeatedly. Deceased then asked to be turned his body, and when turned he commenced to vomit blood, and died in that position.
Mr. A. Rawson (re-called) said the average number of trains passing every 2 ½ hours would be about 170.
The Coroner in summing up the evidence said it was pretty clear that deceased had met with his death by being knocked down by the engine of the Midland passenger train at Denaby crossing. This was a level crossing, and in his opinion all level crossings were dangerous, but the jury must at the same time bear in mind that these crossing were legal, and the Railway Company were not to blame, because the legislature sanctioned such crossings. The question for them to decide was whether all reasonable steps had been taken to prevent the accident. As regarded Rawson he appeared to have done all he could, for as he said he shouted with all his might. He must however remark that the great majority of those killed on the railway were killed by getting out of the way of one train and into the way of another. He thought out of a dozen killed, nine were killed in that way.
The jury then had a private consultation for about a quarter of an hour, after which the following verdict was returned:—”That the deceased, John Hudson, was accidentally killed by being knocked down by a passenger train of the Midland Railway Company; whilst crossing the Denaby Main crossing of the M. S. & L. Railway, on the 4th of August. The jury further say that the gates of the said crossing should be locked, or in some way fastened, so that persons would be unable to pass through or go on the railway on the approach of a train, or until admitted by railway servants in charge of the crossing.”