Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 2nd September 1932
Coroner’s Appeal To Miners
Hickleton Case
Miner Killed By Big Fall
An appeal to mineworkers to take more safety measures in their work was made by the Coroner, Mr. W. H. Carlile, at a Thurnscoe inquest on Monday.
He referred chiefly to the common practice of drawing timber from waste or goaf by hand; an offence against the Mines Act. Many rules and regulations are ignored by miners because of their natural customs and disdain of danger. Work should be done where possible in the safest manner. Research work and inspections are made for their musty, and it is of little use unless they adhere to the rules. I know it is very easy for us to sit here and say what should be done, but it is our duty to attempt to impress upon miners to work in the safest manner.
The inquest was on Arthur Monks (35), miner, 79, Probert Avenue, Goldthorpe, who was killed by a fall of roof in Hickleton Main on Friday. The coroner was assisted by a Jury and there were also present Mr., P. L. Collinson (H.M. Inspector), Mr. M. Le Brun (manager) and Mr. W. M. Starkey (Y.M.A). Beatrice Monks (widow) said her husband worked at Hickleton Main almost all his working life.
“A Careful Man.”
Isaac Parker, miner, 45, Tudor Street. Thurnscoe, said he worked with Monks on Friday morning in 205 stall. They were drawing timber.
We had drawn off a bar with a Sylvester and had so worked that there was only a prop left, and that was very loose. Monks told me to go back and till a tub. I had just got back and started filling when I heard a crash from the direction where the prop was. When we pulled the bar out, the prop came over at a sharp angle. It was nearly touching the floor. We could not put a Sylvester on it because it would not stand the weight of the chain. Monks thought that, and he was a very careful man.
There was no timber on one side where Monks was working. After the crash witness and other men shouted ‘Are you right?’ and rushed to the spot. There had been a big fall and they could not see Monks. He was completely buried and the roof was still falling when they got there. With further assistance Monks’s body was recovered several hours later.
There were about 30 of us working from about 8-30 a.m. to 1-30 p.m. to get him out. After the fall the only thing we ever heard of him was when he shouted “I’m behind this clog. Look sharp! We never heard anything else.
Morrell Walton, miner, 8, Windsor Square, Thurnscoe. who was working near Monks, also described the accident. He saw Monks’s lamp “seem to flicker for a bit.” then there was “a terrific crash.” They ran to the place and Monks called out as stated. A few minutes afterwards they heard him groaning, then another fall occurred and buried him further.
I have worked 26 years with him at the coal face and I have never seen a better man for keeping himself safe.
Faster Than It Looked.
Answering Mr. Collinson, he agreed that it appeared the prop was more fast than Monks thought, and that while he was trying to get it out by hand the fall occurred.
Mr. Collinson: And it is the rule that all props in waste and gold must be pulled out by a safety device? —Yes.
The coroner: You’ll remember that in future? —Yes.
Mr. Le Brun: Having regard to the fact that the chock was only one foot from this prop, do you call the roof supported? —Yes.
Mr. Collinson: But you did not use this? — But I helped to set this prop.
Mr. Starkey: By the angle of the prop, Monks would stand under the chock to pull out the prop.
Wilfred Ellis. deputy, 25, Deightonby St. Thurnscoe, said he examined the place at 4-25 a.m. on Friday. It was then in good condition. There was always a certain amount of danger in working in waste. Questioned about the practice of pulling out loose props by hand he said it was wrong to do so. Under the circumstances, however, with Monks standing underneath a chock, it would appear safe to pull the prop out by hand.
Answering a series of questions by the coroner and Mr. Starkey, witness admitted it was a general practice with the men to pull out props by hand, though he condemned it and it was against the rules. In his opinion it was the cause of the accident.
Dr. J. L. McColm, Thurnscoe, said he examined Monks in the pit at 2.4.5 p.m. Ile was dead and the only external injury was a slight cut on the right side. The cause of death was asphyxiation.
The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death with no blame attached to Monks.” Expressing sympathy with the relatives, Mr. Le Brun thanked Mr. Collinson for his assistance in getting out Monks’s body.