Nottinghamshire Guardian Friday 02 April 1886
On Thursday an inquest was held by the District Coroner, Mr. D. Whittingham, at the Portland Arms Inn, Hucknall under Huthwaite, upon the body of Thomas Turner, aged forty four. The deceased was engaged as banksman at the New Hucknall colliery on Tuesday, and was stoker of four boilers which were a short distance apart. He obtained the slack with which to feed the fire-holes from a wagon which was shunted down and fixed where it was required. The line upon which the slack wagon stood was also used for shunting empty wagons, two generally being sent down at one time. The slack wagon was fixed by the brake, and it was stated that when deceased wished to move it a short distance from one boiler to another he did so by using a bar. On the empty wagons being shunted down it was the duty of the shunter to accompany them and with a brake stick stop them within a few yards of the slack wagon. It was, however shown that this was not always done, and two witnesses stated occasionally the shunter Charles Turner, had allowed the empty wagons to go down some distance by themselves at a slow pace and strike the slack wagon which was I consequence driven short distance . On Tuesday morning about eight o’ clock deceased was at work. A slack wagon had been sent down but not fixed. According to the statement of Turner two empty trucks were shunted down towards it. He went with them a short distance, and when within about twenty four yards of the slack wagon he left them and went back. He did not see deceased and heard no one about. The empty wagons were going at a slow pace, but it was subsequently discovered that the slack wagon had been driven on about forty yards, to have caused which the empties to have come into contact with the other wagons much greater force than the shunter represented. Shortly afterwards deceased was found lying quite dead under one of the empty wagons, which it is surmised struck him when moving the slack truck a short distance, as the prop he used for such purpose was found lying near him. The Coroner in reviewing the evidence remarked that it did not appear to him that the present arrangements for shunting were practicable. After what had transpired, however he had no doubt that: Mr. Watson, the manager of the colliery, would devise some means whereby the stoker might carry on his work a little more independently of the shunting operations, which must necessary be numerous. He was afraid that wagons had been allowed to go down by themselves more frequently than the evidence showed, and though there was negligence on the part of Turner, it was not such that the jury could deal with. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death” and recommended that in future stronger regulations should be enforced for carrying on the shunting operations, or some other method of shunting than that in use should, if practicable, be adopted. Mr. Watson, who was present, said the representations of the jury would receive attention. Mr. Stokes, assistant Inspector of Mines, was also in attendance.
He obtained assistance and the bind was removed from the deceased, who was quite dead. About seventeen feet of bind had fallen, there being a slip in the roof. He was about twelve yards from the deceased at the time of the occurrence. But earlier in the morning they had both worked in this particular place, and it then appeared safe, there was plenty of timber. By Mr. Stokes: The deceased was working by the light of a candle. The face timber was usually set four feet apart. He was not aware that there was a distance of seventeen feet four inches of the face un-propped. It would be deceased’s side of the stall, and deceased was responsible for the timber being set. Tuesday was the making up day at the colliery. And it was their intention to get as much coal as possible so as to increase their earnings. By Mr. Keefe: The deputy came through the place about a quarter of an hour before the accident and spoke to the deceased, but witness did not hear what passed between them. Harry Clarke, loader, said he saw deceased about five minutes before the accident at the gate end, and he went away to get some more coal. He next heard that the deceased had been buried under a fall, and he was dead when they got him out. William Flint, living at Fulwood, deputy, at the pit, stated that he went to that particular stall the previous morning and made an examination of it. It appeared safe and was well timbered and packed. This was about three quarters of an hour before the accident occurred, he spoke to the deceased. By Mr. Stokes: His first examination was between three and five o’ clock, there was no road for a tub where the bind fell. The roof was a bad one and it was necessary that extra precautions should be taken. There was plenty of timber for use. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.
Nottinghamshire Guardian - Friday 29 April 1887
An inquest was held by the District Coroner (Mr. D. Whittingham) on Wednesday at the Blue Bell Inn, Sutton in Ashfield, upon the body of William Wilson, aged nineteen years, who had died from injuries received whilst at work at the New Hucknall pit. Mr. Stokes, Chief Inspector of Mines, was present, and Mr. Watson (the manager of the pit) represented the Colliery Company. It appeared that on the18th instant, the deceased was engaged in despatching loaded trucks along the tram to the sale wharf on the Hucknall Road. A train of sixteen had been started, and had gone about twenty five yards when a young man named Clarke, employed in similar work, noticing that fifteen had commenced to run back, called to the deceased to get out of the way. Deceased however was behind twelve empty trucks, and the full ones, running into these, knocked his head against the roof in the place where he was standing. He sustained severe injuries, and died at his home on Monday last. The accident was caused by the breaking of the coupling, and, in returning a verdict of “Accidental death” the jury suggested that as the drag connected to the trucks had failed in this instance, the manger’s attention should be called tom it with a view, if possible of a more effectual method being adopted. Mr Watson said the matter should be carefully considered.
Sheffield Independent - Monday 07 May 1888
A shocking accident occurred at the New Hucknall Colliery, near Sutton in Ashfield, on Saturday, whereby a lad named Luther Hutchinson, aged sixteen, of Reform Street, Sutton in Ashfield, lost his life. The coal is drawn from the dips at the pit in question by an iron rope passing round a pulley. Sixteen empty tubs descend on one line of rails as the same number of full ones are pulled up. Hutchinson had worked in the pit for a very short time, and was engaged on Saturday in connection with this apparatus. Either with a view to guide the rope, or because it did not appear to be acting properly, he took hold of it with his hand, and was immediately drawn to the pulley, and carried round several times before the engine could be stopped. As the iron rope would also pass tightly round his body it was terribly injured, but death must have been instantaneous.
Nottingham Daily Guardian - Saturday 09 October 1890
An inquest was held at the Nags Head Inn, Sutton in Ashfield, by the Deputy District Coroner upon the body of William Brassington, who met with his death whilst at work in the New Hucknall Colliery, the previous day. Mr. Stokes, Inspector of Mines, Mr. W.E. Keefe represented the widow. Mr. Watson. Manager of the pit, and Mr. Bailey, Nott’s Miners Agent were present. Sarah Ann Brassington living at Idlewells, Sutton in Ashfield, stated that the deceased was her husband, he was thirty five years of age, and was employed at New Hucknall Colliery, they did not live together, and deceased lived with his cousin. Witness last saw him alive a fortnight ago, about eleven o’ clock the previous night the deceased was brought to her house dead. She believed he had worked at the New Hucknall pit about fifteen years, and was known by the name of Ottowell. Joseph Noon, living at Sutton Forest Side, said he worked with deceased in the same stall at New Hucknall Colliery. They went down about seven o’ clock the previous morning and proceeded to get coal out. About half past eight o’ clock deceased had put a wedge under some coal, and had filled the tub with some coal, which he brought to the gate end. He then said he would take out the wedge to get down some more coal. He afterwards heard deceased hammering, and a crash followed. Witness called out to deceased, and getting no answer went to the place, and found there had been a fall, and deceased was buried. All his body with the exception of his left arm and hand was covered. deceased, who was quite dead. About seventeen feet of bind had fallen, there being a slip in the roof. He was about twelve yards from the deceased at the time of the occurrence. But earlier in the morning they had both worked in this particular place, and it then appeared safe, there was plenty of timber. By Mr. Stokes: The deceased was working by the light of a candle. The face timber was usually set four feet apart. He was not aware that there was a distance of seventeen feet four inches of the face un-propped. It would be deceased’s side of the stall, and deceased was responsible for the timber being set. Tuesday was the making up day at the colliery. And it was their intention to get as much coal as possible so as to increase their earnings. By Mr. Keefe: The deputy came through the place about a quarter of an hour before the accident and spoke to the deceased, but witness did not hear what passed between them. Harry Clarke, loader, said he saw deceased about five minutes before the accident at the gate end, and he went away to get some more coal. He next heard that the deceased had been buried under a fall, and he was dead when they got him out. William Flint, living at Fulwood, deputy, at the pit, stated that he went to that particular stall the previous morning and made an examination of it. It appeared safe and was well timbered and packed. This was about three quarters of an hour before the accident occurred, he spoke to the deceased. By Mr. Stokes: His first examination was between three and five o’ clock, there was no road for a tub where the bind fell. The roof was a bad one and it was necessary that extra precautions should be taken. There was plenty of timber for use. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.
Nottingham Daily Guardian - Saturday 09 October 1890
An inquest was held at Hucknall Huthwaite, by the district Coroner (Mr. D. Whittingham) upon the body of George Mansell, who met with his death whilst at work in the New Hucknall Pit. M. Stokes, Inspector of Mines, Mr Watson, manager of the pit, Mr. Green, represented the relatives of the deceased, and Mr. Bailey Nott’s Miners agent were present. Edwin Mansell, living at Hucknall Huthwaite, stated that the deceased who was his father was a collier, employed at the New Hucknall pit. He was killed there on Wednesday night. Witness worked at the same pit, and deceased was engaged to look after the timbering on the main roads, having been at this work for two years. He only went down at night, and was well experienced in the work. By Mr. Stokes: It was in consequence of some bars being broken that deceased was sent to put some new ones in. Edward Baker stated that he lived at Mansfield, and had worked a short time as a labourer on the roads in the New Hucknall pit with deceased. He had no experience in a pit before. Witness was in the pit about six o’ clock, and was employed with deceased in removing the covering of the roof in a roadway. Deceased told witness to stand back, and the roof fell in and covered deceased. He had taken some of the timber down, when several yards of the roof fell. Deceased had put up two extra props to protect himself. The fall occurred very suddenly, and the first of the extra props was removed by it. Deceased was doing the work carefully. By Mr. Stokes: As soon as the fall occurred he sent a boy who was with them for assistance, and he tried to clear the stuff himself until help came. Deceased who was got out in about twenty minutes after the arrival of assistance, life being quite extinct. He thought Deceased was killed instantly. There was plenty of spare timber about. Walter Dunn, deputy at the pit, stated that on the evening in question he noticed at the point where deceased was killed, that there were two broken bars. He made a note for the chargeman, “one set of men to timber No. 43 junction”, witness was present when deceased was got out and he appeared to have been suffocated. Mr. Watson observed that a medical man examined deceased as soon as he was extricated and was of the same opinion. There being no serious injury mark on the body the jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.
Nottingham Daily Guardian - Saturday 03 February 1893
Yesterday afternoon the District Coroner held an inquest at the Local Board offices, Sutton in Ashfield, touching the death of Henry Riley, forty eight, who was killed by a fall of coal at the New Hucknall Colliery, on Thursday. Mr. Hepplewhite, assistant Inspector of Mines, was present; Mr. S. Watson represented the Company, Councillor Bailey, the Miners Agent, and Mr. J.A.H. Green, the relatives of the deceased. The evidence of the deceased’s son, who is a loader of the stall, was that the coal had fallen when some sprags had been removed. About two tons of coal fell on deceased. There was no reason to suppose that knocking the sprags out and no explanation could be given for the fall. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.
Sheffield Independent - Friday 23 March 1893
Yesterday Mr. Whittingham held an inquest at the New Inn, Mansfield, on the body of Edward Blood, thirty one years of age, who died on Tuesday evening of injuries received the same day at the New Hucknall Colliery, near Mansfield. Deceased who had been employed at the colliery for thirteen or fourteen years, left a wife and five children. The deceased was head deputy, and on Tuesday morning was injured by the cage settling down upon him. The deceased on being brought to the surface told the undermanager that he was badly crushed and thought he should die. He was removed to the hospital, where he died the same night, after receiving every attention. From the evidence of John Smith, it appeared that a pony ran away when near the bottom of the shaft, and fell down when about five feet from the cage. He and two men named Vardy and Berry assisted the deceased to get the pony up, when it turned again and followed the deceased and Vardy on the back side of the cage. The deceased attempted to return by way of the sump when the empty cage settled down on him and crushed him. The pony ran away from its driver thirty or forty yards before it got to the cage. There were two tubs in front of those the pony was drawing, and it knocked one off the road by running against it. Charles Henry Vardy, contractor, said when they had got the pony up it ran into them on the way back. He was knocked down by the pony and stunned, and he did not know how deceased got under the cage. Dr Graham Godfrey, house surgeon to the hospital, said deceased was admitted about half past twelve o’ clock on Tuesday morning last. He was suffering from haemorrhage of the lung, caused by seven fractured ribs, two of which had penetrated the lung. He was conscious, and said he was dying, after which he asked for something to ease the pain, and then he could die easily. He saw the deceased four times before his death, which took place about nine o’ clock the same night. The deceased in his opinion died from exhaustion produced by the injuries he had received. The jury returned a verdict, “That the deceased died from injuries accidentally received”.
Nottingham Daily Guardian - Monday 06 June 1895
At the Workpeople’s Inn, Hucknall Huthwaite, on Saturday, Mr. D. Whittingham, held an inquest on body of Thomas Marshall, fifty, who died from injuries received in the New Hucknall pit. Mr. Hepplewhite, and Mr. S. Pearson, (manager at the colliery) were present. Alice Brown sister to the deceased gave evidence of identification, and said that when the deceased was brought home injured, he complained of pains in the head, but did not attach blame to anyone. William Addlington said the deceased was just preparing to leave his stall on Thursday, when a fall occurred and struck him on the head knocking him down. No shots were fired for a fortnight, neither had there been any trouble in the stall. The deceased had unsuccessfully attempted to dislodge in the earlier part of the day the piece of roof which fell. Corroborative evidence was given by Simeon Allsop, another collier. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.
An enquiry was held yesterday at the White Lion Inn, Hucknall Huthwaite, by the deputy coroner, Mr E, Williamson, attending the death of Jerimiah Sanders, aged twenty two years, who was killed whilst at work in the New Hucknall Colliery, on Wednesday morning, There were present, Mr. W. H. Hepplewhite, Mines inspector, Mr. S Watson, manager, Mr. C. F. E. Smith on behalf of the Colliery Company, and Mr. J. J. Binns, on behalf of the Midland Colliery owners Indemnity Association. Samuel Sanders, brother of the deceased gave evidence of identification. Thomas Hartley Chapman, a stallman at the New Hucknall Colliery, said the deceased was his butty and was killed by a fall of roof on Wednesday whilst at work in the stall. That was at 9-30, he went from witness in order to draw a prop from the “waste”, but witness could not say exactly what he was doing when the fall of roof occurred. Three or four tons of bind fell from the roof. When witness heard the fall he turned round and asked if he was alright, but received no answer. The bind fell on the deceased’s face, head, and neck, and forced him in a doubled up position. Deceased was extricated about five minutes later, but did not speak, though he appeared to breathe. He did not notice that deceased had any tools with him at the time he went to take out the prop, but he ought to have a ringer and a chain. Witness handed him the ringer and chain just previous to taking out the prop. The chain was partly buried and witness found the ringer about a yard away. The deputy had not examined the stall whilst there were there, but witness saw him examine it in the morning when he said it was all right. Witness could not say whether he had examined the particular part of the roof which fell. The nearest prop to the one that fell would be two feet away. The object of taking the props away was to fill up the “waste gobs.” By Mr. Hepplewhite: Deceased had drawn no other props out of the waste that morning. The ringer was close to the deceased after the fall, and witness saw a pick close to the deceased after the accident. He heard no sound as if the deceased was knocking the prop with a hammer. He could not say whether the position of the ringer and chain was such that it could have been used at the moment of the accident. Witness did not know that a hammer had been found close to the deceased. By Mr. C. F. E. Smith: Two or three minutes would elapse between the deceased leaving him and the moment of the fall. He saw the deceased pick up the ringer and the chain, Considering the fact that the ringer and chain where five feet away from where the body was found, he could not say whether this would have been consistent with the deceased having used it. By the coroner: had the deceased been using a hammer witness would have heard it. Samuel Wright, loader was near deceased at the time the fall occurred, he could not say what deceased was doing at the time of the fall. He did not see him take any tools into the “waste”. Had the deceased used a hammer he would have heard it. The coroner at this juncture, intimated that he did not think it was any use dealing with points that could not be questioned. The question seemed to him as to resolve itself as to whether the deceased was using a hammer or ringer and chain at the time of the accident, an opinion the mines inspector and Mr. Smith, concurred. Mr Simeon Watson, manager of the colliery, was the sworn. He was able to speak of the correctness of the plan produced. He examined the place of the accident the same evening, and subsequently accompanied Mr Hepplewhite to the spot. Witness found a hammer in the position shown on the plan. It was under the roof that fell. The ringer was about five feet from the fall, and six feet from the nearest point of the body. By Mr. By Mr. Hepplewhite: The position of the body and hammer was consistent with the assumption that deceased used the hammer at the time of the accident. The chain was six feet from the nearest point of the body. Assuming the deceased did so it would be against the rules of the colliery. The line of the slip in the roof was not perceptible before the fall. The line of the slip in the roof was not perceptible before the fall. The Coroner, in reviewing the evidence, said the question for the jury to consider was whether the deceased was killed through any fault of his own, or whether he complied with the regulations prescribed by the special colliery rules. Hammer, or by using the ringer and chain. The deceased might have doing the latter, and in that case it seemed to him obvious that he got the prop out by means of the complying with colliery rules, but if the hammer was used that would be a different thing. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased was “Accidently killed in the New Hucknall colliery”. But they could not find sufficient evidence to say he was using a hammer to withdraw the prop, in contravention of special rules, but they inclined to the opinion that he intended to use the ringer and chain.
Nottingham Evening News Saturday 24 December 1898
An enquiry was held yesterday at the White Lion Inn, Hucknall Huthwaite, by the deputy coroner, Mr E, Williamson, attending the death of Jerimiah Sanders, aged twenty two years, who was killed whilst at work in the New Hucknall Colliery, on Wednesday morning, There were present, Mr. W. H. Hepplewhite, Mines inspector, Mr. S Watson, manager, Mr. C. F. E. Smith on behalf of the Colliery Company, and Mr. J. J. Binns, on behalf of the Midland Colliery owners Indemnity Association. Samuel Sanders, brother of the deceased gave evidence of identification. Thomas Hartley Chapman, a stallman at the New Hucknall Colliery, said the deceased was his butty and was killed by a fall of roof on Wednesday whilst at work in the stall. That was at 9-30, he went from witness in order to draw a prop from the “waste”, but witness could not say exactly what he was doing when the fall of roof occurred. Three or four tons of bind fell from the roof. When witness heard the fall he turned round and asked if he was alright, but received no answer. The bind fell on the deceased’s face, head, and neck, and forced him in a doubled up position. Deceased was extricated about five minutes later, but did not speak, though he appeared to breathe. He did not notice that deceased had any tools with him at the time he went to take out the prop, but he ought to have a ringer and a chain. Witness handed him the ringer and chain just previous to taking out the prop. The chain was partly buried and witness found the ringer about a yard away. The deputy had not examined the stall whilst there were there, but witness saw him examine it in the morning when he said it was all right.
Witness could not say whether he had examined the particular part of the roof which fell. The nearest prop to the one that fell would be two feet away. The object of taking the props away was to fill up the “waste gobs.” By Mr. Hepplewhite: Deceased had drawn no other props out of the waste that morning. The ringer was close to the deceased after the fall, and witness saw a pick close to the deceased after the accident. He heard no sound as if the deceased was knocking the prop with a hammer. He could not say whether the position of the ringer and chain was such that it could have been used at the moment of the accident. Witness did not know that a hammer had been found close to the deceased. By Mr. C. F. E. Smith: Two or three minutes would elapse between the deceased leaving him and the moment of the fall. He saw the deceased pick up the ringer and the chain, Considering the fact that the ringer and chain where five feet away from where the body was found, he could not say whether this would have been consistent with the deceased having used it. By the coroner: had the deceased been using a hammer witness would have heard it. Samuel Wright, loader was near deceased at the time the fall occurred, he could not say what deceased was doing at the time of the fall. He did not see him take any tools into the “waste”. Had the deceased used a hammer he would have heard it. The coroner at this juncture, intimated that he did not think it was any use dealing with points that could not be questioned. The question seemed to him as to resolve itself as to whether the deceased was using a hammer or ringer and chain at the time of the accident, an opinion the mines inspector and Mr. Smith, concurred. Mr Simeon Watson, manager of the colliery, was the sworn. He was able to speak of the correctness of the plan produced. He examined the place of the accident the same evening, and subsequently accompanied Mr Hepplewhite to the spot. Witness found a hammer in the position shown on the plan. It was under the roof that fell. The ringer was about five feet from the fall, and six feet from the nearest point of the body. By Mr. By Mr. Hepplewhite: The position of the body and hammer was consistent with the assumption that deceased used the hammer at the time of the accident. The chain was six feet from the nearest point of the body. Assuming the deceased did so it would be against the rules of the colliery. The line of the slip in the roof was not perceptible before the fall.
Nottinghamshire Guardian - Saturday 15 December 1900
Mr. D. Whittington (the Nottingham District Coroner) held an inquest on Tuesday at the New Inn, West Gate, Mansfield, on the body of Morris George Trigg, thirty five years of age, of Hucknall Huthwaite, who died in the Mansfield Hospital on Sunday. Deceased sustained serious injuries whilst working at the New Hucknall Colliery on November 20th. Mr. John Ensor, under manager, and Mr. C.F. Elliot-Smith, represented the company, and Mr. Anderson (from the office of Green and Williams) the relatives. Mr. A. Stewart, (Nott’s Miners Association) and Mr. A. H. Stokes, Inspector of Mines, were also present. John Henry Cant, deputy at the New Hucknall pit stated that the deceased was injured about 2 a.m. on November 20th, in a part of the pit known as “Sixty’s level, No. 1. Dip”. That was a main road 8ft, 6in. wide and 6ft.6in, high. There were two tram lines down it. Deceased had worked on the road for about seven or eight years. Witness happened to be present when the accident happened. Deceased was getting a “leg-hole” out to set a girder. Two “sprags” had been fixed onto another girder to hold the roof. The pack flew out, and knocking away the “sprags” caused two trams of roof to fall. Witness called out “Are you alright?” but received no answer. A boy named Albert Cope was helping the deceased. He had plenty of material at hand. The work upon which the deceased was engaged was a special repair, which was necessary owing to the rock bulging. Witness tried the place and it appeared to be sound. Witness could not see how the accident could have been prevented. In reply to Mr. Stokes inquiry as to why two props were not set from the floor to the roof, he stated that he had no props long enough and he thought the roof was safe enough without. Witness was helping the deceased to get up the girder, and he intended to stay with him until the job was finished. The pack was started by getting out the hole for the girder. Mr. M.W. Oldham, surgeon of Mansfield, stated that the deceased was admitted into the Hospital on November 20th. He was suffering from a fracture of the skull, and also abrasions on the chest and shoulder. A few days after admission to the hospital he had an attack of Pleurisy. Death had resulted from exhaustion, consequent upon his injuries. The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”
