Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday, 30 July 1904

Inquests At Mexboro’

Colliery Accidents At Manvers And Denaby

Two inquests were held at the Montagu Cottage Hospital on Friday afternoon, by the deputy coroner, Mr. J. Kenyon-Parker, touching the deaths of two miners, who had died in the institution from injuries sustained whilst following their respective employment at Denaby and Manvers Main.

The first was held on the body of Archer Hartley, a pony driver, residing in Victoria Road, Mexboro’, who died shortly after his admittance into the hospital on Wednesday from serious injuries received the previous day at the Denaby Main Colliery.

Mr. A. H. Barnard, agent, and Mr. C. Bury, manager, represented the Colliery Company, and Mr. James Mellors, assistant inspector of mines, was also present.

Elizabeth Liversedge, of 73, Victoria Road, Mexboro’, said she was the mother of the deceased, who was 16 years of age, and was employed at Denaby Main Colliery. He was a healthy youth. On Tuesday he went to work about five o’clock in the morning. He was brought to the hospital the same day, he was suffering from fractures of the collar-bone and both thighs, necessitating an operation. He succumbed to his injuries later. Although he was conscious he never mentioned anything about the accident.

George Martin, a boy, aged 13, of 110, Annerley Street, Denaby Main, said he knew the deceased. Witness was a door boy, or trapper, employed in the pit, and on Tuesday he saw the deceased many times. It would be somewhere near 12 o’clock when he was in charge of a pony and a run of full tubs, about twelve or fourteen. He saw him being dragged along under the tubs, just before he got through the door, and witness was trapping. Witness did not see how he got under the tubs.

Charles Jacques, 18, Hallgate, Mexboro’, dataller, said the last witness fetched him to the assistance of the deceased, and he found him under the second tub. He was badly hurt, but was quite conscious, and told him that he was running between the chain, and the tubs ran over him. He was taken to the hospital as quickly as possible, and every assistance given.

The jury returned a verdict of “Accidentally killed.”

The next inquest was upon the body of Septimus Joseph Jarvis (39), a dayman, employed at the Manvers Main Colliery, who was injured on the 13th inst., dying on the 21st inst., in the hospital.

Mr. J. F. Thomson represented the Colliery Company.

Thomas Henry Jarvis, son of the deceased, of 4, Storer Street, Swinton, said his father was employed at the Manvers Main Colliery as a dayman miner. He was a healthy man, and he went to work on Wednesday, the 13th inst., on the “night” shift. He never came home again, being injured on the Wednesday morning in the colliery, and brought to the hospital the same day, and he died the previous day (21st). He was operated upon whilst in the institution. Witness had visited him, and he had told him that the accident was owing to a fall of roof.

William Haigh, 33, Chapel Street, Roman Terrace, Swinton, said they were both employed at the colliery, and witness filled for deceased. The accident happened at 3.30 on the 13th inst., deceased at that time throwing back coal to him to fill the tubs. There was a sudden fall of roof, and a piece of stone of great weight caught deceased on his back. It knocked him down and pinned him to the floor. They got him out, but he was unable to walk.

The place seemed safe enough, the deceased having made an examination of it only five minutes before. They had plenty of timber set, and plenty about. The deputy had also examined the place about 10.45 the previous night. The fall only brought down one prop and a bar.

In answer to the Inspector, witness said that deceased had got coal from under that place previously.

Thomas Lowe, of 5, Burlington Terrace, Doncaster Road, Wath, said he was a deputy employed at the colliery. He knew the place where the accident happened; he examined it about 11 o’clock on the night of the 12th. He saw the stone after it had fallen, but when he examined the place it was covered with coal. He (witness) thought that sufficient timber had been set. The accident could not be foreseen. The deceased was a very careful man. In his opinion a “jump” in the roof caused the fall.

In answer to the Inspector, witness said he did not think he could have foreseen the accident even if he had been present.

The jury returned a verdict that the deceased had been “Accidentally killed.”