Sheffield Independent – Tuesday 08 May 1928

Bars Or Props?

Which Are Safer In Coal Mines?

At an inquest at Bolton-on-Dearne, yesterday, concerning the death of John William Limb (57), miner, 13, Angel street, Bolton, who was killed by roof fall in Manvers Main Colliery, a deputy, Authonv Bateman Parkin, 35, Dolclifte road. Mexborough said the fall occurred through an invisible slip. No defect could detected in the roof before the accident.

Mr. R, E. Hall (H.M. Inspector of Mines): Had you been able foresee the accident, would you have set bar?

Witness: I can’t say.

Would it have been of any avail ?

Walter- Palin, 34. Burnham road, Wath said if he had seen the slip he would have had the roof pulled down-

Mr. Hall : are finding accidents of this kind in all parts of the district, and we are trying to get men to use bars instead of ordinary props.

Witness said for ordinary purposes props were sufficient.

Mr. Hall: We find that accidents not happen near bad roofs, because precautions are always taken where a roof known to bad.W hat we are after is, that in all gateways there shall transfer bars instead of props.

The jury returned a verdict of Accidental death.” Mr. Price, manager of the colliery, said that Limb had worked in the pit for forty years.