Fatal Accident No 7

Nottingham Evening News Thursday 13-01-1910

Killed By Runaway Wagons

How an Arnold Miner Was Fatally Injured

An inquest was held at the Nottingham General Hospital this afternoon touching on the death of Samuel Kirk, aged 36, of 2, Cavendish Street, Arnold, who was the victim of an accident at the Gedling pit on Tuesday last. He was knocked down by some runaway wagons and received such serious injuries that he was brought with all possible speed to the Nottingham General Hospital. Death, however took place about an hour and a half after admission. The inquiry was conducted by Mr C J Rothera the City Coroner. Those present were Mr W H Hepplewhite H.M. Inspector of Mines and Mr C S Smith with Mr W Tate manager on behalf of the Colliery Company and Me C Bunfield of the Nott’s Miners Association. Evidence of identification was given by Mrs Mary Ellen Kirk, who was quite overcome with grief. She stated her husband had been a collier all his life. Arthur James Ball, a contractor at the Gedling pit, stated he was at work there last Tuesday in the same stall as Kirk. They commenced work at seven o clock in the morning, but the accident did not happen until afternoon. About one o clock some tubs were being conveyed on a double line, the empties coming down and the full ones going up. The tubs were hauled by ponies and at this particular time there were four “empties” about four or five yards away waiting to come into the stall. By some means these tubs were set in motion, and witness was struck by the first of them whilst in the act of picking up some coal that had fallen off a previous tub. Witness saw Kirk endeavour to get clear, but one of the tubs crushed him against a prop in the mine injuring his head and shoulders. Artificial respiration was tried and the injured man was conveyed to the hospital. By Mr Tate: The empty tubs had run down to the stall despite the fact that two of them were lockered. John Bowley, a pony driver in Gedling pit: stated that on Tuesday he took four empty tubs to the stall. He then turned his pony round to pull out the full ones meanwhile placing a “locker” in one of the wheels of the empties to stop them from running. This did not stop their progress however, and another locker was put in. He commenced to pull out two full tubs but they caught the fourth empty which set the remaining three running. Witness at once stopped his pony and gave a warning shout, for he knew he could do nothing to stop the runaways. He did not know whether the lockers had broken or given way. John William Chapman, of Mapperley another pony driver bearing out Bowley’s statement. At the conclusion of Chapman’s statement the Coroner remarked upon the clear, thoughtful manner in which both boys had stated their evidence. Mr Tate also testified to the intelligence of the boys. Dr. J A Hendry assistant House Surgeon at the hospital said the deceased man was brought to the hospital on Tuesday suffering from a fracture to the side of the skull. The man was operated upon to raise pieces of bone which were pressing on the brain, but death took place within an hour and a half after admission, and death was due to injuries received. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.

NB John Bowley would be about 13 at this date; he would became victim No 58

Fatal Accident No 8

Nottingham Evening News Wednesday 09-02-1910

Crushed to Death

Gedling Pony Driver Fatally Injured By Tubs

The sad death of John Horsley, aged 15, a pit pony driver who was found crushed to death in the Gedling Pit on Monday afternoon was inquired into before Mr D Whittingham, the County Coroner this afternoon. The owners of the Colliery were represented by Mr W Tate (Manager) others present were Mr W Carter of the Nott’s Miners Association and Mr J Hepplewaite H.M. Inspector of Mines. Joseph Horsley, brother, stated that deceased had worked in Gedling pit for twelve months as a gang boy. Herman Smithurst, of Giltbrook, a dayman in the Gedling pit said he was working in the 69 stall on Monday last, and saw the boy “Ganging” with a pony and six tubs. Deceased was carrying a lamp before the pony on a single line. At a quarter to twelve witness saw the lad under the front tub about forty yards away from the door leading to the stables. The pony was in front of the boy. Witness went to his help and found him dead. He called for help, removed the tub, and sent for the official. None of the tubs were off the lines. A Ventilation door was open opposite the fourth tub and deceased must have passed through it. In reply to Mr Hepplewaite, witness said that in order to close the door the boy would have to let the tubs pass and return to the door. No one saw the deceased enter the doors with the tubs, the pony was quite peaceable and witness did not see it kick or appear spirited. The deceased worked on the line by himself. In replying to a question from Mr Carter, witness stated that when he found the boy the lamp was extinguished. Charles Fisher, of Arnold, a “corporal” stated that he missed the deceased and went to see where he was as it was snap time. Witness heard Smithurst call for help and went to his assistance and in conjunction with Smithurst recovered the body from under the tub. The roadway was about four or five feet wide at that the part where the accident occurred. Asked how the accident could possibly have happened, the witness stated the deceased in order to fasten the door would probably have climbed over the tubs and the pony would have started suddenly throwing the deceased between the tubs. The pony was inclined to travel fast to start suddenly and in witnesses opinion that was what happened. Witness had occasionally seen Horsley go over the top of the tubs to close the door. Mr Hepplewaite stated that the boy would have to remain on top of the tubs for some time before he was able to get down. The stallman would in the ordinary course of events have seen to the door but on Monday he was not on duty. Mr W Tate the manager stated that he arrived on the scene of the accident about an hour after the fatality was discovered. The boy had been taken away. It was the boy’s duty to open and shut the door, and at times the stallman helped him. There was no need for the boy to climb over the tubs, in the opinion of the witness he was riding the crank and fallen off. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.

Fatal Accident No 9

Nottingham Guardian Monday 19-12-1910

Fatal Fall of Roof

Inquest on the Miner Killed at Gedling

The fatality which occurred in the Gedling Colliery on Monday 21st November was investigated at the Nottingham General Hospital on Saturday evening, when the Coroner held an enquiry into the death of the victim, Fred Lievesley, aged 41, of 138, Sneinton Boulevard, Nottingham, who died in the hospital on Thursday morning. The father said the deceased’s own impression was that the affair was an accident and he had no fault to find. The deceased said that the roof was treacherous at times, and took a lot of watching. Percy Hackett, a loader in the stall in which Lievesley worked, said the latter was in the act of knocking a prop out, so that the wagons could pass. Witness was thirty yards away when he heard a fall of roof, which came immediately after the blows on the prop had ceased. Witness ran to the deceased, and found that a piece of stone, part of the fall was lying on his stomach, the fall was large one. Witness, with assistance carried the injured man into the gate, and he was taken to the surface as quickly as possible. It was necessary to move the prop. The deceased sounded the roof immediately before he commenced to knock the prop away. Answering the Inspector, Mr H R Hewitt the witness said the stallman was not present when the deceased expressed his intention of knocking the prop away. The accident happened about nine o clock in the morning, and the deceased was doing nothing unusual. Charles Thorpe, the stallman said Lievesley was an experienced miner; witness examined the place shortly before seven when it was quite safe, all the side props were in. It was not considered necessary to use the ringer and chain to remove the middle set of props when the side ones were up, and when he regarded the roof as safe. Although there was a regulation to the effect that the ringer and chain should be used, this piece of roof was not suspiciously regarded. Bars were provided, and would have used them had he considered it necessary. Witness did not consider it necessary to order bars there when he saw the place. Thomas Beer, of Carlton, the deputy said he examined the stall about eight thirty but did not sound the roof, which his examination with his lamp showed to be apparently very good. It would be advisable as a general rule to set a bar across- the setting of bars did not occupy much more time than the setting of props. The decision as to whether bars should be used was left to the discretion of the dayman, and again to the stallman and deputy. One objection to bars would be the reduction in the height of the stall. Which was only between four to four feet six inches high? Dr Neil said that the deceased was admitted to the hospital suffering from a fractured spine later in the same morning, and died on Thursday from exhaustion. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”. Present at the inquest was Mr C Bunfield of the Nott’s Miners Association, Mr C S Smith assistant manager and Mr Astill under manager.

Fatal Accident No 10

South Nottinghamshire Echo Saturday 14-01-1911

Gedling Pit Accident

The terrible circumstances under which Arthur Guy, aged 22, of Leverton’s Row, Arnold, met his death at the Gedling pit on Wednesday of last week, were investigated on Friday afternoon by the District Coroner Mr. D. Whittingham. James Guy, the father of the deceased said he was a farm labourer, and that his son worked on the roads at Gedling Colliery. He was single and lived at home. He left home to go to work about 1pm on Wednesday last in good health and they brought him home at night dead. Witness added “I blame no one, because I don’t know the facts”. Arthur Stapleford of Bulwell said he was at the pit on Wednesday last. He stopped work at 10-45pm and reached the pit bottom at 11pm. He was about to follow the deceased on to the lower deck, when the cage lifted. He drew back, the cage went out of sight and he saw the deceased falling. The deceased had been half on and half off the cage when it took him up, and witness noticed that he was crushed against the top deck landing stage, and that he fell down onto the sump landing boards. Witness assisted to lift him up, the deceased at that time being just alive, he was very badly injured. Witness went on to explain that ten men could ride on each cage, across which when full a bar was placed. The signal for raising the cage was three soundings of a gong at the bottom deck and it was repeated at the top deck. The signal was repeated three times, and was answered by the banksman. “At the time of the accident there was no irregularity, larking or any undue haste to get on. G, Smith, was the onrunner at the bottom deck and A. Hough at the upper deck. Witness added that he had never known the cage to lift as it did when the accident happened. He himself was almost caught up in it. In reply to Mr, Hewitt. Inspector of Mines, witness said that Smith did not ring his bell when the cage ascended. He was close to Guy when the cage went away. Witness informed Mr, H. Smith. Solicitor for the Company, that he would have been the fifth man to enter the cage, and there was room for five more. He was sure that the gong was not struck. In reply to Mr, J.G. Hancock, miner’s agent, witness said there were a number of men behind him and there was no scrambling. The gong which hung from a landing was an iron plate, and it was struck with a piece of iron. It was hardly possible for it to be accidently sounded. There were ten men on the top deck and there were three on the bottom. The cage did not go far before it was stopped. G. Smith said he did not sound the gong and the bar was not across the cage. He had been in the pit for four years, and never before had a mishap similar to the one which caused the accident. Someone must have made a mistake. He had been used to sounding the gong for a year. He was the only one with the right to sound it, and as a matter of fact no one else did sound it. J.H. Bangor, banksman, said his duties were to see to the cage and signals from 6am to 6pm, he was at the top when the deceased came up. He had given three electric signals to the onsetter at the pit bottom who repeated three. Witness gave the usual signal to the engineman, and the cage was started. He was surprised to hear a bell ring four times from the pit bottom. The engine was stopped, but he heard a bell ringing again and the cage came up. He heard someone say that the engineman had gone on without the signal. The deceased was brought up on the next “draw”. Witness said that before they had heard of the accident he spoke to the engineman Williams who asked him why the bell had been rung four times and later asked if anyone had been hurt. He knew a mistake had been made by somebody but did not know who made it. Engine man Williams of Carlton, said that he had been winding for ten years and this was the first accident in which he had been concerned, he heard the abnormal four rings and stopped the engine, and asked for an explanation from the banksman. He thought that the fault lay on the part of the onsetter. Albert Hough, of Arnold, who was cautioned by the coroner, said that he wished to make a statement. He had been onsetter at Gedling for four years. He was on duty on the upper deck of the cage when the deceased was killed. There were ten men on the top cage, but he could not say how many were on the bottom. He was waiting for the first signal when the cage started. As soon as it did he rang one to stop it, and then rang three, which was answered by the banksman. He did not give the final signal for the cage to go up, as there were other men waiting to go up. He did not ring three until the man had been got out of the sump. His view was that the engineman was in fault, as he must have moved the cage before he had any signal to do so. Witness said he never made any mistakes. He was quite sure that the mistake was at the top and not the bottom. T. Langley, of Mapperley said he was on the top deck at the time of the accident, and he did not see Hough giving a signal for the cage to go up. It moved off without the signal, he was two yards from Hough. The coroner said that if the jury were not able to come to a decision he would adjourn the case. There had been a great deal of contradiction in the evidence given. But the latter had been given in a straightforward way. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death” adding that they were unable to fix the blame on anyone.

Fatal Accident No 11

Nottingham Guardian Tuesday 27-06-1911

Crushed By Tubs

Bulwell Miners Death

The inquest on the body of Walter Brookes, aged 18, of 4, Roman Yard, Quarry Road, Bulwell who died at his home on Wednesday, was held by Mr C J Rothera the City Coroner at Hyson Green yesterday. Mr G Y Tickle H.M Inspector of Mines was present at the inquest and Mr W Tate appeared for the Gedling Colliery Company, and Mr Carter for the Nottinghamshire Miners Association. Enoch Ellis Brookes, a miner, brother, said the deceased was a knocker off at Gedling Pit. On 13th February 1908 he was engaged in knocking clips off tubs at the pit. The tubs were on an endless rope, and deceased told witness that he got caught by one tub and breasted into the next, being crushed on the right side of his back and chest. He went home himself and was taken to the Doctor who attended him for fifteen weeks. In August 1909 he commenced work again but following November had to give up and never went to work again. He went under treatment at the hospital where he remained, for several weeks. On 20th March 1910 he went to the sanatorium at Mansfield but returned in April and had remained at home ever since. Steven Whitbread, 17, Worth Street, Carlton, a miner at the Gedling Pit, said he knew Brookes when he was at the pit, his occupation being to knock the clips on the tubs off an endless rope. About 13th February 1908 witness was down the pit ,the boy was knocking the clips off but instead off hitting one of them, he missed it and was breasted between two tubs. The rope had stopped and on witness going down to see what was the matter he was told that the deceased had caught between two rubs. When witness reached him Brookes was sitting down, but after a short time got up and went to the pit bottom. Dr Batram; said he had attended the deceased at various times since the accident in 1908. The boy was brought to the surgery at that time. He was in great pain, complaining of his right side and back. He examined him but found no fractured ribs, and then sent him to bed; His own explanation of the pain was that he had been jammed between two wagons. He was kept in bed for some time but did not seem to get any better, and later signs of Tubercular disease appeared, and he was taken to the General Hospital as an outpatient. Witness attended him until his death. The right lung was almost entirely affected with Tuberculosis, and he died from Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Witness was of the opinion that the onset of the disease was directly attributable to the injury. A Verdict of “Death from Tuberculosis attributable to the injury received which was accidental” was recorded.