Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 13 May 1892

Alarming Accident at the Manvers Main Colliery

Two Men Killed And Two Injured.

Fortunately it is seldom that a sensation is caused like the one that was experienced last Monday morning, a Mexborough. It was then freely reported that several men had got killed in the Manvers Main mine by a tremendous fall of roof — over a hundred tons was the rumour — and that many hours would elapse ere all the holies were recovered ; even the names of prominent lodge officials were mentioned as being amongst the dead. It no uncommon thing in this district for occurrences soon to become amazingly magnified and it was so in the present instance.

The facts were that not more than thirty tons of debris had fallen, that the deaths were two and that two others were injured. Of course this was quite bad enough and was sufficient to cause some consternation even in the mine, where accidents according to the natural order of things are by no means uncommon. As soon the alarm was raised plenty of willing helpers proceeded to the fatal spot, amongst the number being Mr. Thomson, the manager, Mr Ward, the interviewer, and other officials. It is said that a miner was proceeding over the fallen mass to his work, not knowing of what had happened shortly before, when he was startled by hearing cries proceeding from underneath and he promptly assisted in endeavouring to recover the entombed men.

Barber, of Wood Street, Mexborough, was the first to be seen. His head it appears was only visible when the rescue party arrived and there was a horrible fear lest he had been decapitated. It was a great relief when it was ascertained that he had been only buried up to the neck and that he was indeed not injured so much as might have been expected.

He was promptly removed to the Mexborough Infirmary and is there progressing favourably.

Robert Charlton was next got out. He was only slightly hurt and could walk for some distance, though he then complained of pain and was driven home in a conveyance. Later on, however, he was so much better that he was able to resume work and no one would imagine when he was giving his evidence at the inquests at Wombwell and Mexborough that he had been in so terrible a predicament. He admitted that his life was spared by the falling of one of the bars over him, thus sheltering him.

The poor fellow Johnson, of Wombwell, lay dead near to him. He was formerly a resident in Mexborough and sold the Times often on the day of publication. He leaves a widow and several children at Wombwell.

The other dead body was that of James Wood, a young man aged sixty years, who lodged in Orchard-street, Mexborough, and who formerly belonged to Sheffield. He had been in the mine about a twelve months. Much sympathy was expressed in this case also, the young fellow having lost his mother and the whereabouts of his father were not known for a time.

The bodies were taken to Wombwell and Mexborough respectively pending the inquests, and Mr. Wardell, H.M. Inspector, subsequently visited the scene of the disaster. When the day shift men were proceeding to work on Monday morning, about six o’clock, they heard of the fatality and consequently returned home, there being no work done that day at either the No 1 or No. 2 pits.