Mexborough and Swinton Times June 24, 1927
Killed by Tubs
Accident at Wath Main
West Melton man’s fate
“I think it is clearly understood Alice accident happen,” said Mr Frank Allen, at an inquest at the Montagu hospital, Mexborough on Wednesday.
“The man was taking tubs away from a run and forgot to replace the lockers, a mistake for which he paid with his life. It seems to be a regular practice for men to do this, yet there is a great risk attached to it.”
The inquest was on Abraham Whaling (35) trammer, 42 Princess Street, West Melton, was fatally injured at the Wath Main Colliery on Tuesday morning.
Beatrice Whaling (widow) gave evidence of identification, and said her husband left home for work on Monday night. She heard of the accident early on Tuesday morning. Her husband had worked in the colliery since leaving school.
William Meggitt, rope hand, 21 Church St, Mexborough, said that when he was going to his work on Monday night, he saw Whaling take a tub into number 46 stall in number 1 district. He was 10 yards below the stall when deceased brought down for tubs with a locker on the back wheel. They came down steadily. There were altogether about 60 tubs at the top of the plane. Deceased stooped to uncouple the first in order to get it round the turn into the stall, when the other for tubs came down and ran into the four at the opening of the stall.
The tubs were knocked off the rails and witness thought that either the third or fourth tub run over whaling. The runaway tubs were stopped by one catching the side of the stall. The gradient of the place was one in 20, and it took one locker at to hold eight tubs.
In answer to the Coroner winners agree that it was not safe for the men to take the tubs, unless the rope hands were there. He (witness) found several lockers in the run after the accident. The injured man was got out within five minutes and taken to the Montagu hospital.
In answer to Inspector Scott, witness said he did not think anyone had interfered with the lockers.
Arthur McCourt, rope and 57, aims Lane at Bolton said he was 40 yards below Meggitt when the accident happened. Meggitt shouted to him, and he assisted in getting Whaling out. In his opinion, it was safe for the trammers to fetch tubs into their stalls, and it was customary for them to do so.
Sister Harvey said deceased was admitted at 1.5 a.m. on Tuesday suffered from deep lacerated wounds in both grinds, and shop. He died about 4 a.m.
The jury returned a verdict of “accidental death.”