Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 24 November 1917

Corporal’s Terrible Death.

Mr. Frank Allen held an inquest at Goldthorpe, yesterday, on Harry Kilner (24). pit corporal, 81, Main Street, Goldthorpe. who met with a shocking death in the Barnburgh Colliery on Thursday afternoon.

Samuel Fletcher (15), Doncaster Road. Mexborough said he drove a small compressed-air engine in the Barnburgh Colliery, and Thursday afternoon they got into difficulties with a run of tubs which this engine was operating. Several tubs came off the road, and after ineffectual attempts to put them right. Kilner, who was in authority over witness, took over the engine from him.

Witness went towards the tubs with them, and as he did so the rope suddenly kinked, and a. large loop was thrown from the drum over Kilner he was standing at the engine. It tightened round his neck, drew him up to the drum, and pulled his head off.

There was no slack rope before Kilner went the engine, and was possible that the kinking was caused by suddenly reversing the engine to get snatch at the tubs.

Robert James Hedley, a deputy, of Dlive Terrace. Goldthorpe confirmed this evidence, and remarked that Kilner was very keen on his work, and was always anxious to get on with it. V

A verdict of Accidental death was returned.