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Fatal Accident No 62
Nottingham Guardian Saturday14-01-1933
Fatal Fall of Roof -
Carlton Miners Accidental Death
The fatal accident at Gedling Pit on Wednesday afternoon, when William Wheatley, 45, of 39, Westdale Lane, Carlton, was killed following a fall of roof, was inquired into by the Nottingham Deputy Coroner (Mr W S Rothera) and a jury at the Nottingham General Hospital yesterday. Arthur Wheatley, of 39, Westdale Lane, who was working with his father when the accident occurred gave evidence of identification, he said they were working in the mine when there was a sudden fall of roof, and his father was pinned by a large piece of rock. It was the duty of his father to see that the timber was set where it was required, and he was an experienced man, having spent most of his life as a miner. William Hibbard, of Duke Street, Arnold, who was working in the same stall as Wheatley, said that after the fall he shouted to Wheatley, but got no reply, and found his body under a large rock weighing anything from twelve to fifteen hundredweights. Dr A C Lyeaght, of the medical staff at the General Hospital, said Wheatley was dying when admitted, he obviously had severe internal injuries, and he passed away two hours later. Isaac Frost, of 31, Beech Avenue Mapperley, the deputy, said he was through the stall about fifteen minutes before the fall and he found everything apparently secure. In reply to Mr Steele H M Inspector of Mines witness said Wheatley and his son were working later than usual, owing to the fact that so many men were away with Influenza and they were about to finish when the fall came. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”
Fatal Accident No 63
Nottingham Journal Thursday 23-02-1933
Inquiry Into Mans Fate at Gedling Colliery
An inquest on Richard Duckworth (43) a miner of Doncaster, lodging at Hardys Drive, Gedling, who received fatal injuries when a fall of roof occurred at Gedling Colliery on Sunday, was held at the Nottingham General Hospital yesterday. The Deputy City Coroner (Mr W S Rothera) sat with a jury. The widow stated that the deceased only started working at Gedling a week before the accident. John James Burton, a coal cutter of Chestnut Grove, Gedling, who was working with Duckworth on Sunday, said Duckworth was driving a coal cutting machine and was at the rear of the machine. Witness heard someone shout “oh” and on running to the front of the machine found Duckworth with a piece of stone on top of his head and shoulders, a prop lay across the machine. Arthur Peet, of Calverton, a deputy said that when he examined the timbering at twelve o clock on Sunday it was adequate, but when he visited the scene after the accident he found five hundredweight of dirt down. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.
NB. Mr Peet became fatal accident victim 65 a year later
Fatal Accident No 64
Nott’s Advertiser Saturday 02-12-1933
Fatally Injured at Gedling Pit
A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned by the jury at an inquest at the Nottingham General Hospital, on Wednesday afternoon on William George Piggott, aged 63, a colliery haulage hand of Westdale Crescent, Westdale Lane, Carlton. He was fatally injured as a result of an accident last Thursday week at the Gedling pit. Piggott who was a single man had gone to live in Westdale Crescent during the last year, being for many years in lodgings in Beck Street, Carlton. He was a well-known personality in the district. Mr, W.S. Rothera (Deputy City Coroner) conducted the inquest. Giving evidence a Carlton, woman named Harriett Briggs, said she had known Piggott for forty three years. When she visited him in hospital he said he had been struck by a tub while working in the pit. Another haulage hand named Horace Elliott, of 6, New Road, Carlton, said that while trying to release two interlocked tubs with the aid of a bar, Piggott fell between them. Andrew Hill of 110, Dunstan Street, Netherfield, said he was working twenty yards from Piggott, and went to his assistance, he found him under the tubs and unable to speak. Medical evidence showed that Piggott’s injuries included a fractured pelvis, he died on Saturday. Sympathy was expressed by Mr. F. Hancock (manager of the colliery) and Mr, G.A.Spencer (Nott’s Miners Industrial Union). Mr Hancock said the occurrence was particularly sad, as Piggott had been employed at the pit since it was sunk thirty years ago.
Fatal Accident No 65
Nottingham Evening News Friday 23-02-1934
Fatal Elbow Injury, Calverton Man’s Death after a fall
An injury at the Gedling Colliery while leaving work on the 10th February was concluded at the inquest today to be the cause of the death of Arthur Allan Peet, colliery deputy, of Bottom Buildings Calverton. Peet died in the Nottingham General Hospital on Saturday from Septicaemia, he was stated by the colliery management to be a man of unusual ability. His brother John William Peet, said he hurt his elbow in the fall and it gave him trouble a day for or two afterwards. He had to give up work and the Doctor ordered him to the hospital. He reported having cut his head a day or two before the fall. Dr. J. F. Sheehan. Said that when admitted to the Nottingham General Hospital, Peet was suffering from Cellulitis and Septicaemia. The condition of the arm could have come from a bump on the elbow if the Bacillus was already present in the system. A Verdict of “Acute Septicaemia “following a fall in the pit was recorded.
Fatal Accident No 66
Nottingham Evening News Wednesday 28-03-1834
Miner Story of Tragic Mishap in Whilst Working in Gedling Pit
Buried When Prop Was Pulled Out Inquest on Victim of Colliery Mishap
20 Years at Pit Mates Narrow Escape from Similar Fate. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned at the inquest at Gedling today on Frederick Hughes, 35, miner of 128 Querneby Road, Mapperley, who was buried by a fall of roof on Monday morning. The Nottinghamshire District Coroner (Col. H Bradwell) informed the jury that Hughes was engaged with another man in removing a prop with what is known as a Sylvester and ringer, when a fall of roof occurred, and he was buried. Apparently the prop to which the ringer was attached gave way. Evidence of identification was given by the widow Jane Hughes. Harold Frederick Ellis, of 3, Edwards Place, Gadd Street, Nottingham, who was working with Hughes at the time, in No 21, face of the Top Hard seam when the accident occurred, said they had drawn sixteen props with the Sylvester and ringer and everything seemed to be sound and safe. Suddenly, a prop to which the Sylvester was attached gave way and there was a fall of bind, which buried Hughes and partly buried witness. Witness was perfectly satisfied that there was plenty of timber, and before they started to draw this particular prop the roof was safe. John Horrocks, colliery deputy of Mount Pleasant, Burton Road, Gedling, said four tubs of earth fell only one prop was dislodged. Mr F W Hancock manager of the colliery said Hughes had worked at Gedling for over twenty years and had not been involved in an accident before. This is the first accident of its kind we have had, added Mr Hancock. Mr G A Spencer of Nott’s Miners Industrial Union who represented the relatives associated himself with Mr Hancock’s expressions of sympathy
NB. This was the second fatality Mr Horrocks had to deal with
Fatal Accident No 67
Nottingham Evening News Friday 08-05-1936
Remarkable Story of Runaway Loco Fatality
Shunter Starts Loco In Drivers Absence
A remarkable story of how a shunter at Gedling Colliery, who had only driven a locomotive once previously, started an engine which ran away with him and crashed into some loaded trucks with fatal results, was told at an inquest at Gedling today. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned on Rowland Taylor 40, of Furlong Street, Arnold, and was employed by the Digby Colliery Company. It was shown in evidence that Taylor was not authorised to drive the engine, but after being told by another shunter that it was in the way, decided to move it in the absence of the driver. The jury expressed the opinion that Taylor acted as he did because he thought it his duty to facilitate shunting operations. The Coroner told the jury that about 10pm on Wednesday, Taylor was riding on an engine which was being driven by a man named Charles Clark. Clark left the engine and went into the Loco sheds near bye: while he was away the engine was started by some means, it ran away for about 100 yards and then crashed into some stationary wagons. When Taylor was extricated he was dead. He had received terrible injuries from the actual impact and from hot steam which escaped after the crash. The Coroner added that the name of the engine concerned was “Queen”. John Arthur Taylor, 67, Gedling Lane, Arnold, engine driver employed at Gedling Colliery, explained that although his brother had been employed at the colliery for 23 years, he had not been engaged in shunting for long. Witness said his brother left a widow but no children. The driver of the “Queen” Charles Clark, of 16, Morris Street, Arnold, said the engine was in perfect order and the brakes satisfactory, the handbrake was particularly keen. Taylor’s job as a shunter was to couple wagons on to the engine and give signals for starting and stopping. Coroner: Was it any part of his duties to interfere with the engine. Witness: No sir. Was it any part of his duties to be on the engine at all? Witness only when we were travelling along the road. Coroner: As far as you know had he ever driven a loco before? : Yes he had driven another engine on one occasion the loco “Audrey”, last Thursday or Friday but not with my permission. Coroner: Is it a simple thing to drive that engine. Witness: No sir you have got to get to know the workings and understand the water and steam. At 10pm Witness stopped the “Queen” on the weighbridge and went to fetch his Gauge lamp from the Loco sheds fifty yards away. As the engine stood on the weighbridge the nearest trucks were 20-100 yards away. Taylor was standing on the ground at the side of the engine and he had no authority to get into the engine and start it. Coroner: you gave him no instructions to do that. Witness No sir I was away only two or three minutes at the most there was no reason why the engine should have been moved until I came back. A moment later the crash occurred and witness saw that the engine had crashed into the empty trucks about 100 yards from the weighbridge. The engine had gone down in reverse and the violence of the impact had telescoped it, Taylor was crushed between the cab and boiler front. Witness jumped onto the footplate and called to Taylor but there was no reply. The regulator which controlled the supply of steam for motion was closed, and witness explained that while it was in such a position steam could not get through. While the regulator was closed the engine could not have been started, and somebody must have opened it on the weighbridge and closed it again before the crash. So seriously damaged was the engine that it took two hours to extricate Taylor (who was dead) he was burned scalded and crushed and his face was smashed to pieces added witness. In reply to further questions from the Coroner, Clark said the brakes of the stationary wagons were pegged down, as far as he knew Taylor had no experience of driving engines. Coroner if he did start the engine what would be his objective. Witness I don’t know unless it was to help the work along, Witness described Taylor as a rather impulsive and impetuous man Mr Scott remarked upon the fact that the engine ran backwards from the weighbridge to the trucks and asked “is it not far more difficult to drive an engine in reverse than it is to drive it forward?": Yes. In reply to Mr Roose Witness said that that the regulator of “Audrey” was quite different from that of the “Queen”.
On the former engine which Taylor had driven once the regulator went from right to left, while on the “Queen” it went from left to right. The only persons allowed to drive engines were regular driver’s officials and persons learning to drive. Taylor had only been working as shunter for a fortnight. Coroner could it have been possible for that engine to be started accidentally: No quite impossible. Another shunter Arthur Clark, of 143, Mansfield Road, Daybrook, said that at 10-15pm on Wednesday he saw the engine on the weighbridge and spoke to Taylor. He told Taylor that that the engine would have to be moved in order that he could lower a full wagon into the full siding and the engine could stand clear on No 2 siding. When he made these remarks he did not anticipate for one moment the Taylor would attempt to move the engine. Witness then asked where the diver was and Taylor replied “oiling underneath”. Witness called out but got no answer and therefore assumed that Clark had gone to the Loco shed and would be back in a moment. Taylor then said “I’ll drop her back down No 2”, and he got into the engine and started it. When he got it over the points he “opened out” and it went so quickly that witness became alarmed and ran after the engine. Coroner did you know he had no right to start the engine: Yes: Did you say anything to him about it: No: Why: Because he was superior to me: Coroner I should have thought that nobody was superior to anybody in a case like that. Also present were Mr A H Steele H.M. Inspector of Mines, Mr W Scott for the Digby Colliery Company, Mr T N G Roose represented the relatives and Mr Cooper Nott’s Miners Industrial Union.
Fatal Accident No 68
Nottingham Evening Post Wednesday 30-12-1936
Safety Precautions at Gedling Pit Questions Asked At Inquest on Nottingham Man
Signals and Tubs Methods Explained
The question of safety precautions was raised at the Nottingham inquest today on a miner who died on Christmas day, following an accident at Gedling Colliery two days previously. The inquest was conducted by the City Coroner (Mr W S Rothera) sitting with a jury at the Nottingham General Hospital this afternoon. The victim of the accident was Frank Corbett, of West Terrace, Sherwood Street, Nottingham; he was trapped by a tub while at work and died in hospital of a ruptured liver. “Accidental death” was the verdict returned. His mother Florence Matilda Corbett broke down, sobbing while giving evidence. Mr F Hancock manager of the pit by means of plans explained the operation of the pit to the jury. He said that as a result of the accident a change would be made to the procedures at the loading gate. It was explained that at the time of the accident a drift of 25 trams was being breasted towards the loading station. In reply to Mr A H Steele H.M. Inspector of Mines as to whether 25 were too many, Mr Hancock said that it may have contributed towards the accident. We have been doing it this way for many years, this operation has been done thousands of times and it is the first accident. In view of the accident he added that they had decided to limit the number of tubs to 15 instead of 25 and he thought that this would lead to greater safety of the operation. Joseph Fell, of Arnold, said Corbett was trapped between a tub and a prop when the tubs overran. Albert E James, of Westdale Lane, Carlton, (who receives signals by hand lamp) said that on receiving the signal he knocked the clip off, this time his view was obstructed by a tub of timber and he could not see both lights. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death” and the foreman asked whether an automatic devise could be installed for signalling. Mr Hancock said the company had considered every aspect of the system and it was felt that the present system was the safest and most reliable.
Fatal Accident No 69
Nottingham Guardian Thursday 01-04-1937
Death at Gedling Pit -
Inquest Jury Suggests Fishplated Rails
The death of a young Nottingham miner, who lost his life as the result of a fall of roof at Gedling Colliery on 24th March, was inquired into by the Nottingham City Coroner at the General Hospital yesterday. He was George Arthur Bartles, 22, of 27, Carlton Road, Nottingham. He was employed on haulage work. The Coroner explained that Bartles was following a train of tubs when the last one became derailed, and knocked out a prop, with the result that there was a fall of roof, and the man was trapped and sustained injuries, from which he died. James Gretton, of Mapperley, who is employed at the pit, said he heard the crash and found Bartles trapped. Further evidence revealed that one of the fallen stones weighed four to five hundredweights, and the other was three to four hundredweights. The timbering was quite adequate, but the roof was of a treacherous nature. It was stated that this particular rail was not fishplated. Returning a verdict of “Accidental death” the jury recommended that all rails should be fishplated. Mr Bird (of Messrs Elliott and Smith) representing the colliery company, said the plating the rails in a part like this might cause accidents because of the movements of the strata. It was a temporary blip, the recommendation however would be bourne in mind, and the company would fishplate the rails if the Inspector of Mines recommended.
Fatal Accident No 70
Nottingham Guardian Friday 03-09-1937
Struck by Two Ton Stone Inquest on Arnold Coal Cutter.
A verdict of “Accidentally killed by a fall of stone “ while working at Gedling Colliery was recorded at Carlton, yesterday on William Hamlet Ashmore, 44, a coal cutter of 1, Saunders Yard, Arnold. John Rowley, of Carnarvon Grove, Gedling, contractor, said he was in charge of a conveyor face in the Top Hard seam when a stone fell from an unseen slip in the roof on to Ashmore. Witness pulled the stone from him but he died almost immediately upon being released. Claude Knight of 131, Squires Avenue, Bulwell, the deputy said he examined the roof at 7am and found everything safe. The stone which fell weighed about two tons and had broken when it fell. |
