Mexborough and Swinton Times June 1, 1928

Crushed By Roof.
Wath Trammer’s Fate.
Comrade’s Narrow Escape.

Mr. J. Kenyon Parker held an inquest at Wath on Saturday on Harry Palmer (24), trammer, of 6, Littlemore road, Wath-on-Dearne, who was buried by a fall of roof at the Wath Main mine on the previous Thursday evening.   Evidence of identification was given by Thomas Palmer (father).

Harry Wooding (23), trammer, of 7, Burman Road, Wath, said he had worked the pit ten years. He got to his working place at 71 stall, Barnsley seam,” at about-2-30 p.m. Harry Palmer was working about four yards away. The accident happened between 7 and 7-30, when there was a fall of roof, in which Palmer was buried. The deputy,  Jack Pascall, had visited the place at about 4-30. Witness heard a bump, and then a groan and. a cry, “Get me out, and witness went for help. When he got back the deputy was there, and Palmer was half released. The deputy sent witness to the telephone. The place had been “weighting” about an hour before the fall, but after five minutes all went quiet again.. Besides Palmer Thomas Redgate was caught.

In answer to H.M. Inspector, witness said there was plenty of timber in the place. An examination was made after the ‘weighting,” and no sign of a slip was found.

Thomas Wm. Redgate, miner, of 63, Beech Road, Wath, said he had worked at the coal face 33 years. On the day of the accident he was in charge. The deputy attended between 4-30 and 5. He gave no orders and found no fault. The fall happened between 630 and seven. The place had been quiet all the time, and witness never heard it “move.” There was no “weighting” but witness examined the place after’s 6 o’clock – “that time” – the roof sounded alright. It seemed “extra good” where the trammer was.

The first witness heard was a hump, and he made a dart for safety, but he did not get very far before the roof came down, knocking him to the ground, and burying him. Witness was not badly injured and walked out of the pit. No timber was taken out after the deputy left, but witness set one prop.

Benjamin Stevens, miner of 10, Church Street, Mexborough, said he had worked in pit for 30 years. When the fall occurred he was within six yards of Palmer. The first witness heard was a bump and then a moan. He went to extricate Palmer, sending the other trammer for assistance. He partly recovered Palmer, and then went to get air to Redgate, and before other assistance came another piece of the roof fell and struck witness on the ribs. Witness set prop at the gate end after the deputy left, but no timber was taken out. The place was quiet after the, deputy left except for a few minutes when it “weighted.” it then went perfectly still

John Thomas Paskell, deputy, of 7 Garden street, West Melton, said he had worked in the pit 36 years. On the day of the the incident he visited 71 Stall at about 4.30. It was just “grinding” a bit everything in the place was in good condition, been timber to rule and to the witnesses satisfaction, and he gave no orders. He was in the pit when the fall occurred, and helped to get Palmer out. Palmer was then the line and he died from injuries to the back, arm and thigh, whilst being carried on a stretcher along the travelling road.           The fall was not a big fall, and witness was of the opinion that it was a pure accident.

In summing up the Coroner said that Stevens behaved very pluckily, as probably did others whose names were not before !hem.

The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.”