Fatal Accident No 30

Nottingham Guardian Tuesday 19-08-1919

Nottingham Miner Killed - Fall of 100 Tons at Gedling Pit

While working at the Gedling Pit on Friday Robert Freeman, 39, of 346, Vernon Road, Old Basford, was buried under a fall of roof and killed. The inquest was held at Carlton, yesterday when the proceedings were watched by Mr E H Frazer (H.M. Inspector of Mines) Dr G S O’Rorke (for the Colliery Company) Mr C Bunfield (Nottinghamshire Miners Association) and the colliery agent manager Mr Henry Knight. David Cooksey, stallman of Carlton, said he was working in company with the deceased, and shortly before nine o clock witness and another man, went with some tubs, leaving deceased and another man in the working. He heard a bump, and the deceased call out. He immediately ran back and found Freeman buried up to the head, but before they could do anything they heard another noise. Deceased said to him “It’s no use now, look after yourself” he ran back and the second fall of one hundred to one hundred and fifty tons came down, completely burying deceased. Witness had examined the roof twice during his shift and it appeared sound, the working was timbered all along. A recue party at once got to work but owing to the width of the stall only one man could get at the debris at a time, and the body was not recovered until twelve thirty pm. Thomas Quail, deputy of Gretton Road, Mapperley characterised the efforts of the rescue works as splendid. The Coroner recorded a verdict of “Accidental death”.

Fatal Accident No 31

Journal and Express Tuesday 23-09-1919

A Miners Fall - Fatal Consequences of an Accident in Gedling Pit

An inquest was held by the Nottingham City Coroner, (Mr G L Rothera) at the Nottingham General Hospital yesterday evening on the body of Thomas William Arnold, 41, living at 48, Waterford Street, Basford, who died at the institution on Friday last. Lucy Arnold, the widow, stated that on 18th August her husband returned from work at the Gedling Colliery as usual, but he was sick and complained of having hurt his head at work. He was medically attended to until Wednesday last when he was removed to the hospital. Albert Wright, a stallman at Gedling stated that on 18th August Arnold was engaged in “Ringering” coal down by means of a crow bar. The bar slipped and the man fell with his head against the coal face, sickness followed and he was immediately brought to the surface. The man remarking “I think I have shifted something in my head”, the fall caused no cut or mark of any kind. Dr. Hill who attended Arnold the day following the accident stated that he found him suffering the effects of Brain troubles. He found no trace of injury to the head, and after two days Arnold rapidly improved for about three weeks. After this a recurrence of the previous symptoms was noted and his removal to the hospital was recommended. Dr. Latimer stated he conducted a post mortem examination and found a Haemorrhage below the surface of the Brain which was newly formed, and had superseded a similar haemorrhage in the process of absorption. The Doctor agreed that the chances were equal, the haemorrhage causing the fall or the fall causing the haemorrhage. Further examinations extending to the heart were made, and the opinion given by the witness was that death was due to the cerebral injury caused by the blow. The jury found that Arnold died as a result of the accident in the pit. Mr R A Young represented the Digby Colliery Company and Mr C Bunfield the Nottinghamshire Miners Association Mr E Frazer N.M. Inspector of Mines and Mr H Knight Agent manager of Gedling Pit also attended.

Fatal Accident No 32

Nottingham Journal and Express Friday 14-11-1919

Switchboard Perils - Boy Electrocuted at Gedling Colliery

The strange manner in which Cyril Hardy, 16, of Chapel Lane, Lambley, met his death at Gedling Colliery was the subject of an inquest held by the Nottinghamshire County Coroner (Mr H Bradwell) at Lambley yesterday. The father of the deceased lad stated that his son was the screen attendant’s lad, and he had been employed at the colliery for three years. Albert Kirk, of Lambley a screen boy at Gedling Colliery said Hardy’s work included manipulating the electric switches which governed the motors. Witness saw him at “snap time” on Tuesday morning last bending down with his hand on the switches. Thinking he was ill, Kirk went to him and touched him, and immediately felt a tingling sensation in his hand, Hardy then fell over. According to Thomas Hammond, of Mapperley, screen attendant at the Colliery, nobody had ever complained about the switches. When he examined them on the morning in question they were quite in order, and the earthing-wire was properly switched under the switchboard. The electrician at Gedling Colliery Thomas E Green, deposed that he examined this particular switch on Sunday last and found it as it should be, as also was the earth-wire. Witness saw the switch soon after the accident and discovered it had been partially torn from the board, apparently by the deceased. Witness believed that Hardy had used too much force in pulling the switch to the “off” position and in doing so had disconnected the earth-wire. At that instant there might have been a flash which momentarily made the switch box alive. The duration of the flash would be less than one tenth of a second. Dr Torrance, of Carlton, said that in his opinion death was due to an electric shock. In returning a verdict of “Accidental death” the Coroner Mr Bradwell intimated that he was satisfied that the management had done everything they could to obviate the accident. Mr W E T Hartley H.M. Inspector of Mines .Mr J Bird for the Digby Colliery Company and Mr C Bunfield Nottinghamshire Miners Association were in attendance and expressed much regret that the accident had happened.

Fatal Accident No 33

South Nottinghamshire Echo Wednesday 20-03-1920

The circumstances attending the tragic death of Henry Morris, aged 62 , a miner of Spring Terrace, Nottingham Road, Daybrook were inquired into at Carlton by the County Coroner (Mr. H. Bradwell.) on Friday last. It appears the deceased was on the railway crossing near Gedling Pit, and a train was about twenty yards away. Morris hesitated as to which direction to move. The first truck knocked him down, the remaining trucks going over him, cutting the poor fellow in half. A verdict of “Accidently Killed” was returned, the coroner expressing sympathy with the relatives.

Fatal Accident No 34

Journal and Express Thursday 23-09-1920

Run Over in Pit - Carlton Miners Unfortunate Death

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned by a Nottingham jury at an inquest, held yesterday by the City Coroner (Mr C L Rothera) on Joseph Holmes, 51, coal hewer of Westdale Lane, Carlton, who met his death in a very unfortunate manner at Gedling Colliery. George Chaplin, miner of Armthorpe Grove, Vernon Avenue, Basford, said that he and Holmes with other men were walking to the pit bottom last Monday. They proceeded along the main haulage road in single file between two pairs of tub rails, when it was noticed that a string of empty tubs was approaching. To avoid them they all moved to the rail which would be bearing full vehicles. All of them managed to get back to their previous position except Holmes, who tripped over a rail and fell between the lines, a full tub and part of another passing over him before the rope could be stopped. If Holmes had not had the misfortune to fall he would have been perfectly safe. Dr. Booth of the Nottingham General Hospital said that Holmes was admitted to the institution suffering from severe internal injuries which were the cause of his death.

Fatal Accident No 35

Journal and Express Saturday 12-03-1921

Pit Tragedy - Three Ton Fall Kills Carlton Miner

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned at the inquest on John Donnell, 45, a stallman of Birch Avenue, Carlton, who sustained injuries while working at Gedling Pit on Monday, and died at the Nottingham General Hospital on Wednesday. Charles Simpson, of Burford Street, Arnold, who worked in the same stall as Donnell, said they were removing dirt from above the coal seam when about three tons of coal and dirt came down. Hearing a rumbling sound both stepped back, but the falling matter knocked out a prop, which struck Donnell and pinned him against the pack. The medical evidence showed that Donnell was suffering from injuries to his chest and fractured ribs, and that death was due to shock.

Fatal Accident No 36

South Nottinghamshire Echo Saturday 30-07-1921

Netherfield Miner Killed.

Major Bradwell conducted an enquiry at the Railway Hotel, Netherfield on Thursday afternoon, concerning the death of Wilfred Hammond, a miner aged 23, whose home is in Curzon Street, Netherfield. The evidence showed that the deceased was employed at the Gedling Colliery, and on Thursday was pulling coal from the face when a lump weighing about one hundredweight fell down. This struck a prop and knocked deceased down, when help arrived and Hammond was pulled up it was found that life was extinct, owing to his neck being broken. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

Fatal Accident No 37

South Nottinghamshire Echo Saturday 16-12-1922

An inquest was conducted at Bulwell last Saturday to investigate the circumstances leading to the death of Benjamin Povey aged 50, miner of 32, Ravensworth Road, Bulwell. William Henry Povey, son of the deceased who lives in Newmarket Road, Bulwell, said he was working at Gedling Colliery on November 29, and his attention was attracted by the cry of “Oh” from his father. The latter said he had twisted himself with a “ringer” there was a swelling under his arm which appeared to be very painful. He was taken home by train and medically attended. Death took place on December 6th. Dr. Wood gave a certificate that Povey had died as a result of injuries to the chest. The Coroner returned a verdict according to the medical testimony. Adding that the injury was caused while getting coal in the pit.

Fatal Accident No 38

Nottingham Guardian Thursday 25-01-1923

Miners Fractured Spine - Fatal Accident in Gedling Pit

The death of Edward Coffey, 47, of 63, Norland Road, St Ann’s Well Road, Nottingham was inquired into yesterday at the Nottingham General Hospital by the City Coroner Mr C L Rothera and a jury. Deceased was employed at the Gedling Colliery and after being injured was removed to hospital, he told his wife he had had a nasty knock but he thought he would soon get better. James Dooley, of Kimberley said that on Thursday he was working near the deceased when he heard a crash. He ran to see what was the matter, and found that a quantity of facing had fallen and Coffey was covered from his feet to his chest. Witness thought that the deceased was “holing” at the time of the accident. Charles Albert Burgin, a deputy said he was through the stall shortly before the accident and it was then in a proper condition, one sprag had been set. An examination after the fall seemed to indicate that there had been a sudden burst which had knocked out the sprag and a face prop. Dr Matthias, said, when admitted to the hospital the deceased was suffering from a fractured spine. He died on Sunday consequent upon the injury. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned and sympathy was expressed to the relatives.

NB. This was the second fatality Mr Burgin had to deal with he was to become accident victim No 60

Fatal Accident No 39

Nottingham Journal Monday 05-03-1923

Pit Cage Tragedy - No One Blamed At Lambley Inquest

In recording a verdict of “Accidental death” at an inquest held at Lambley, on Saturday, on John Upton, 69, of Main Street, Lambley, who was killed at Gedling Colliery on Thursday, the County Coroner (Mr H Bradwell) said that he was quite satisfied that Upton’s death was due to an accident, and no one was to blame. Upton was a shoeing smith and had worked at Gedling pit for about 22 years. Harold Ward, a horse man at the pit said he left work with the deceased, witness had stepped on the bottom deck of the pit cage it being a Double Decker, and Upton who was following put one foot on the cage floor, when it began to raise. Upton slipped and was hanging over the edge, witness made a grab for his coat, but Upton fell to the bottom. Witness stated the there an onsetter on each deck who was responsible for loading and closing of the gates on his respective deck. George Handley, of Plains Road, Mapperley, said he was an onsetter at Gedling Pit and in charge of the upper deck of the cage in question. The custom was for the onsetter on the lower deck to signal to him by means of a pull bell when his deck was loaded, and the gate closed, and he (witness) had to signal to the winder when his own deck was ready. On the day in question he distinctly heard the signal from below and consequently gave the signal in turn. The onsetter on the bottom deck Thomas Watson stated that there were about seven men in the cage when Upton was getting in and there was one other man behind Upton. He (witness) was standing holding the gate open when the cage suddenly began to rise. He did not give any signal. Upton was carried up some twenty to thirty yards when he fell off to the pit bottom. The Coroner said there had been a misunderstanding and recorded a verdict as above. A representative of the Colliery Company stated he had been asked by the Company and manager of the pit to express their sympathy with the relatives of the deceased. Upton he continued had been connected with the pit since its commencement, he was a splendid workman and highly respected by all.