|
Digby Colliery
Inquest Reports From Newspapers -
Re Digby Colliery Fatal Accidents
Nottingham Evening Post - Friday 28 September 1906
The Coroners inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Thomas Bradley Dale, a young miner, of 6, Trueman Street, Kimberley, which took place under shocking circumstances at the Digby Colliery on Wednesday, was held By Mr. C. L. Rothera, at the General Hospital this afternoon. These were present. Mr. E .R. Hewitt, Inspector of Mines, for the Derbyshire district, and Mr. H. Wardle, Manager of the colliery. The first witness was Thomas Dale, father of the deceased man who resides at the same address. He said that his son, who had only been working in the mine a short time, received serious injuries on Wednesday last after being caught by an electrical cutter. Deceased told witness he was not sure how the accident happened but he thought he slipped. Francis Robert Jackson, of Jubilee Cottages, Kimberley, said that on Wednesday morning he was working at the same stall as the deceased, being in charge of an electric coal cutter, weighing upwards of four tons, which was in use in the stall. The cutter worked on sliding rails called skids and was used to hole out under a bank of coal, the actual excavation being by means of a six foot long bar having a number of short teeth. The bar revolved at the end of the cutter and cut into the coal. Deceased’s duty was to clear away the dirt from the excavation made by the machine while it was in motion. On the morning of the accident a fresh set of teeth or cutters had been put into the revolving bar, and the whole machine moved up to the coal face. Witness stood at the front end of the machine, which in this case had to be jacked up before it could be started. The passage in which it was to work was about a yard in height and four feet in width, and before starting the machine witness asked deceased if everyone was clear. Receiving a reply in the affirmative, he touched his switch and started the engine. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death” and said they thought some device should be employed by means of a switch, the cutting bar should be stationary while the machine was being moved along. Mr Wardle now said that he had issued orders in the effect that cutting machines in which teeth had been fixed should be moved along, not by means of the engine, but by manual labour and leverages, so that the difficulty of the revolving cutting pole was entirely obviated for the future.
Derby Daily Telegraph - Monday 24 January 1910
The inquest was held at the Nottingham General Hospital on Saturday afternoon in connection with the death of Ernest Ryder, thirty six, miner, of 30, Stratford Street, Cotmanhay, Ilkeston, who was fatally injured on Thursday at Digby Colliery, The evidence showed that Ryder and a man named Stimpson were engaged in charging holes. They were using rippito an explosive on bobbins, which were exploded by means of an electric battery. The bobbins were served out empty and deceased filled them up. The rippito was a yellow paste and very easily rammed home. Deceased filled one bobbin and placed it in the bore-hole and then, as Stimpson turned away to get a second, there was a violent explosion which blew out all the lights and threw Stimpson some yards away. Stimpson crawled on his hands and knees until he found Ryder, who was terribly injured about the face and body. Rippito it was stated had only been used in the mine the previous day for the first time. Previously bobbite had been the explosive. Deceased had a reputation of being an experienced and careful man, and the only theory that could be advanced as to the accident was that he was ramming one of the cartridges home when it got askew in the bore, and he perhaps used a little extra pressure. Rippito was subject to change in atmospheric conditions, mainly temperature. Since the accident the manager had discontinued the use of copper rammers, although there was nothing in the Act prohibiting them. After the accident Ryder was conveyed to the Nottingham General Hospital, where he died an hour after admission. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.
Nottingham Evening Post - Saturday 12 November 1910
A man named Walter Lilley of the Alley, Kimberley, aged forty, recieved severe injuries to his back whilst at work at the Digby Colliery, Giltbrook, this morning. He was working in the pit when a fall of roof occurred, and the injuries being of such a severe nature, he was removed to the Nottingham Geneneral Hospital, where he was detained. Death took place on 29th November 1911.
Nottingham Evening Post - Tuesday 27 January 1914
The adjourned inquest upon the body of Charles William Walker, a colliery banksman, of Eastwood Road Kimberley, who was electrocuted at the Digby Colliery, was continued at the offices of the colliery to-day. There were present at the inquiry. Mr. R. Nelson, representing the Home Office, Mr. C.F. E, Smith, who appeared for the Colliery Company: Mr. Burgess, of London, for the Derbyshire and Notts Power Company: and Mr. Fraser, Inspector of Mines for the district. George Dawson, the assistant electrician at the pit, deposed to having found the deceased standing with his hand on the wire. He took him to the office and tried artificial respiration, without effect. Witness did not come to any conclusion as to how the accident occurred. The jury returned a verdict of “ Accidental death”.
Nottingham Evening Post - Monday 19 February 1917
While at work in No 6 gate in the Digby Colliery last Thursday, William Walters, fifty two, a miner, of 25, Regent Street, Kimberley, was almost instantly killed by a fall of stone. At the inquest held a Kimberley to-day a verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.
Nottingham Evening Post - Monday 02 July 1917
The circumstances which led to the death of William Mitchell, aged fifty nine, a miner, of Newthorpe, who met with an accident at Newthorpe Colliery on June 14th , and died in the Nottingham General Hospital on Saturday, was the subject of an inquiry by the City Coroner, at the hospital this afternoon. Mr. E.H. Fraser, Inspector of Mines, attended, and the Digby Colliery Company were represented by Mr. C. F. Smith of Mansfield, and Mr. J. White, manager. Deceased who began his working life as a pit boy, had been engaged in the mine ever since was gobbing dirt on the main road of the colliery in the early hours of the morning while some twenty yards away three men were flitting an electrically driven coal cutter {minus a wheel which was off at the time} between three and four tons, that is to say they were changing the machine from the top to the bottom seam. The process was a mechanical, one, and in its course Mitchell who had left his post was trapped. The deputy, John W Ferney, of Awsworth, said that the machine was moving away from the point at which deceased was working, and he had no business on the road at that part. It transpired that the chain by which the machine was being lowered had broken. It had been in use every other day for about a year, was examined every other day before it was used, and had been passed as apparently safe on the day of the accident. In answer to Mr. Smith, Ferney said that the road was clear when the flitting commenced and if the deceased had remained at his post he would not have been injured. The colliery manager said the weight on the chain at any given point did not exceed four hundredweight, and the jury expressed the opinion that the chain was quite strong enough for which it was used. Death was stated to be due to pneumonia following injury to the chest. A verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned.
Nottingham Guardian - Saturday 15 December 1917
A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned yesterday at an inquest held at Arnold by Mr D. Whittingham, on the body of John William Green, aged thirty five mine, at the Digby Colliery. The deceased was working with the electric coal undercutting machine on Wednesday when a fall of roof occurred, and he was killed instantly. The accident was witnessed by Alex Nelson, who suggested that it occurred owing to Green not having sufficient time to set an additional bar before the fall took place.
Nottingham Evening Post - Wednesday 19 June 1918
Mr. E. Williams, held an inquest to-day into the death of George Henry Cooper, 19, Trueman Street, Kimberley, a loader at Digby Colliery who was killed on Monday by a fall of roof. The evidence of the stallman William Green, of Maws Lane, Kimberley. was to the effect that deceased was engaged in building a pack in the bank, witness and another loader being at work a few yards away. They heard nothing of the fall which must have occurred while they were pushing out the loaded tub on to the main road. On the deputy coming into the stall, the deceased was found under a huge stone, which weighed over a ton. He was dead. Witness had frequently examined the roof that morning and it appeared safe. The fall, he believed was due to a nasty slip, the stone having broken the bars supporting the roof. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.
The Scotsman Monday - 24 March 1924
The circumstances of the pathetic accident in which a young miner was killed in one of the pits of the Digby Colliery company was investigated by the Notts District Coroner on Saturday, the victim Being John William Fox twenty four, who was buried beneath an immense stone, from the roof, whilst working by the side of his father, who was powerless to help him. Fox, when dug out, was found to be terribly mutilated with his neck broken. A piece of stone estimated to weigh ten tons had descended upon him. A verdict of “Accidental death “was returned.
Nottingham Evening Post - Saturday 22 March 1924
The District Coroner Mr. H. Bradwell, conducted an inquest at the Digby Colliery yesterday, on the body of John William Fox, twenty four, of 3, Rosebury Street, Old Basford, who was killed whilst working in the pit on Thursday morning. John Henry Fox, father of the deceased, a colliery deputy, said he examined the spot where the accident happened at one fifteen on the morning of the accident and was satisfied that the roof was safe to allow working. Sidney Lee, of 67, Prince Street, driver of the coal cutting machine, said Fox was engaged cleaning dirt from behind the machine. The machine had reached a point where the roof was held by props and bars. They had cut under the first bar and Fox set a prop, he turned round to pick up a hammer when the stone fell and broke at the props. Fox was caught by the stone which weighed between eight and ten tons, and sustained a broken back. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned, and Mr, Smith on behalf of the deputies Association, and Mr. Gill. for the colliery company expressed sympathy to the widow and relatives.
Nottingham Evening Post - Saturday 02 August 1924
A verdict that Frederick Lebeter, aged 41, miner of 4, Swingate, Kimberley, died from injuries sustained through accidently being burnt by coal gas ignited by a naked light used in contravention of the regulations was returned by the Notts Deputy Coroner Mr. E. Williams, yesterday. The inquiry was held at the Digby Colliery offices, Kimberley, Lebeter having died the previous day, after being found badly burnt about the body on Monday. Job Sedgwick, a deputy, stated that the stall in which Lebeter began work was safe and free from gas, though there was a slight trace of gas in a heading about 100 yards away. Later in the morning, on hearing there had been an accident, he went to the spot and found a strong smell of burning. The gas in the heading that day was due to a fall at the slipside, and witness fenced the place off, and told the incoming deputy. Sedgwick said he was also present when the under-manager found matches in deceased's waistcoat pocket, which was a breach of regulations. Wilfred Clifford, Stanton-road, Ilkeston, a stone-worker in the pit, said he was just about to commence work three hundred yards from the stall, where Lebeter was employed, when he felt a sudden inrush of air. Feeling that something was wrong, witness called to a deputy, and went in that direction and found deceased lying burnt near the junction road. He put his coat round the man and they brought him to the main road, where he was taken charge of by the deputy. Cyril Hunt, of Awsworth, the deputy referred to said Lebeter, when spoken to could give no explanation of how the accident happened. In company with the under-manager they made an examination of the stall, and behind the brattice hurdle sheeting they found one to two per cent of gas, whilst lying on the floor on the opposite side of the sheeting were the candle and safety lamp. Close by deceased's waistcoat was found, with half a dozen matches in one of the pockets and a partially smoked cigarette. Witness added that two days previously Lebeter had been working in a stall where he was entitled to use a candle and matches, but naked lights were prohibited there. Witness advanced the opinion that Lebeter was in the act of commencing work, and the candles ignited the coal gas produced by some weight or a slip. Dr. S. R. Northwood, who first attended Lebeter at the pit lamp house, found him suffering from shock, and extensive burns to the neck, back, head and face. Deceased could give no account of what took place, and died from shock and exhaustion.
Nottingham Evening Post - Friday 10 October 1924
An inquest was held at noon to-day at the Digby Colliery Offices, Giltbrook, on John Naylor twenty six, a married man, of 3, Jubilee Street, Kimberley, who met his death on Tuesday night while working a coal cutting machine in Digby Colliery. Sidney Lee, of Cotmanhay, spoke to entering the pit with deceased and upon arriving at their destination he examined the workings and all appeared to be in order. Witness commenced oiling the machine, and deceased was attending to the haulage, when suddenly there was a small coal burst, followed instantly by a heavy fall of roof which completely buried Naylor. Samuel George, a deputy, said he was in the pit bottom at 11:30 p.m. and receiving notification of the fall secured further help and proceeded to the scene of the accident. He found deceased completely buried, and though they worked without cessation it was three hours before the body was extricated, life being extinct. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned by the Coroner, Mr. H. Bradwell
Nottingham Evening Post - Wednesday 27 January 1926
An accident at Digby Colliery which had fatal consequences was inquired into by the Nottingham City Coroner an a jury at the Nottingham General Hospital last evening. The deceased was George William Taylor, forty two, of 22, Gauntley Street, Hyson Green, who was caught by a fall of roof on Thursday morning last week, and who died at the hospital on Saturday, death according to the medical evidence being due to meningitis arising from injuries to the head. A deputy at the colliery John Henry Fox of 60 Queen Street, Old Basford, said he inspected the stall in which Taylor was working about one a.m. on Thursday and was satisfied everything was in good order. About three thirty he was in the main heading to the stall when he heard a shout and found Taylor underneath a stone between eight and nine feet long and about four feet wide. It had obviously fallen from the roof and brought two broken bars with it, the witness thought that there must have been a lot of pressure behind the stone, otherwise the bar would have held it. There was a coal cutting machine working some twenty yards from where deceased was engaged. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.
Nottingham Evening News - Wednesday 21 March 1928
The resumed inquest on the victims of the Digby Colliery explosion of January 5th was held yesterday by Lieut. Col. H Bradwell, County Coroner at the Jubilee Wesleyan School, Kimberley. The victims of the explosion were James Briggs, twenty eight, single, of 1, Crown Street Awsworth, and George Dawes, fifty four, married, of 64, Main Street, Awsworth. The inquest was adjourned in the first place in order that Urban Dawes, brother of one of the victims, who was injured and now recovered, could be called to give evidence. When the accident occurred the men were at the coal face with a coal cutter. Urban Dawes, in evidence, said he went down the pit at about eight o’ clock with the two deceased. Answering the Coroner, Dawes said he did not take a safety lamp with him. The Coroner: Why? Because they would not issue them.
How long have you been a coal cutter? Ten years. Do you know that when working with a coal cutter you should; according to the regulations have a flame lamp? Yes. Do you know why? Yes to see if there is any gas. Have you ever had a flame lamp with you when working the coal cutter? No; because the man in charge of the lamp cabin would no tissue them out to us, and we could not buy them. When was the last time you asked for on? George asked for one, but it was refused. You have been working the coal cutter then for several months without a flame lamp? None of them used to take them. You realise the danger now of not having one? Yes. Was there a search of either of you three men that night? No. Had you that night any matches or cigarettes on you? No. Had any of the others any on them. No. How do you know? I do know. What kind of cigarettes do you smoke? No reply. What kind were you smoking that night before you went down? I don’t know. Do you smoke a cigarette called Gallagher’s? Park Drive? No. Do you know that brand of cigarette and have you ever smoked them? I don’t know them and have never smoked them. Continuing his evidence, Dawes said he was seven yards away when the explosion occurred. His brother had sent him to the switch box, and he switched on about nine thirty. The explosion occurred sometime between nine thirty and ten o’clock. He was sure it occurred after he had switched on. In answer to Mr. J. A. Felton, Divisional Mines Inspector, Dawes, said he did not remember the deputy telling him that he had inspected the place and found it all right. There was nothing to lead him {witness} to think that anything was wrong. Mr Felton then produced a match that he said he found at the side of the cutter, and asked witness how it got there. Dawes said he did not know. Mr Felton: Was the match struck before the explosion? There was no match struck at all. Have you ever been searched before going down the pit? Yes, pretty regularly but not on the night of the accident. Dawes was then questioned by Mr. W. Shakespeare, who appeared for the colliery company. He asked Dawes what kind of cigarettes he had in his possession. Woodbines was the reply and witness produced a packet from his jacket. Mr. Shakespeare said that he was prepared to call evidence that there were twenty or thirty safety lamps in the lamp cabin, and asked Dawes to name the man who had refused to let him have one. Dawes replied he did not know the man’s name. Further questioned about the explosion witness said his brother was burned about the arms, neck, and face. Mr Shakespeare: And particularly round the mouth? Witness made no reply. A juror I don’t think this witness is in a fit state to give evidence. His memory seems to be very bad. The Coroner: That is not for you to say. The witness has been out of hospital a month, and since then I have had enquiries made periodically, and I did not fix the date of this inquest until the doctor told me this witness was quite fit. James Clarke, of 13, Victoria Street, Kimberley, a deputy at the colliery, said he was on duty when the accident happened he made an inspection at five thirty p.m. and saw the coal cutting machine. Everything at that time was normal. He had a flame lamp with him which he obtained from the lamp cabin. He made another inspection at eight thirty, when everything still appeared normal except for a small fall. That fall, however was nothing unusual. He did not notice whether the three men had safety lamps with them, but as an official he had never known coal cutting done without a flame safety lamp before. Asked by Mr. Felton, if he could account for there being such an accumulation of gas, as to cause an explosion an hour after his examination at eight thirty. Witness replied I am sorry I cannot, it absolutely beats me. He added that the ventilation was quite in order. After Jabez Meakin, of 30, Little lane, Kimberley, a colliery deputy, had given evidence that the ventilation was satisfactory, Elam Smithurst, of 443, Nottingham Road, Giltbrook, a lampman, said he was responsible for issuing safety lamps. Each man had his own lamp with a number and there were a considerable number in stock. He did not give any of the three men concerned in the accident a flame safety lamp because they did not ask for one. Edward Stoke Fawcett, the manager said there were plenty of flame lamps for the men, and one hundred and fifty in the storeroom which had not been used. He stated that a whole cigarette, two cigarette ends, three spent matches and three unused matches were found near to the place the men had worked. Evidence was also given by John William Wright, of Kimberley, the head electrician, who said he had examined the cutter after the accident and could find no evidence of sparking. George Banton, underground electrician, said it was impossible for the machine to have caused the accident. The Coroner, summing up said he regarded the matter as a very serious one from a public point of view. The explosion could not have happened unless there had been some ignition and it was a question whether it was caused by a spark from the machine or a match. There was no evidence that a match was struck, or that the matches found in the pit belonged to the deceased men, but it revealed that it had been the habit of some men to go down the mine with cigarettes and matches in their possession. The three men were not searched. They should have been and someone was seriously at fault. It should be made properly clear that men in the mine must not break the regulations. The jury returned a verdict that the men were killed by the explosion, but they were unable to come to any conclusion as to how the explosion occurred. Each shift should be compelled to take flame lamps with them when they went down. The Coroner. That is compulsory by Act of Parliament.
|
