DEATH OF HENRY BLOOR

(Derby Mercury 18th January 1893 page 5)

A Platelayer Killed At West Hallam

   "On Thursday an inquest was held at the White Hart Inn, West Hallam, before Mr. W. H. Whiston, coroner, touching the death of Henry Bloor, of Stanley.- Superintendent Parrish and Inspector Topham represented the Great Northern Railway Company.- Edwin Chapman said he lived at Stanley, and was a foreman platelayer on the G.N.R. He knew deceased, whose body was the one viewed by the jury at West Hallam Station. Deceased was 45 years of age, and was also a platelayer on the G.N.R. He last saw him on Tuesday night, when he was at home in Stanley, and in good health. Deceased was a watchman at Morley tunnel, and should have commenced work the previous morning at six o'clock. About seven o'clock that morning witness was between West Hallam and Morley tunnel when he heard that deceased had been killed.- By Superintendent Parrish: He had an instruction book, which he produced, and which directed platelayers not to walk on the line, but on the cess or footpath by the side of the line. There was a footpath on each side of the line where deceased was killed.- Frederick Harlock said he lived at Netherfield, and was a G.N. engine-driver. The previous morning he was driving an engine with a breakdown gang from Colwick to Breadsall. He left Colwick at 5.15 a.m. When he had passed West Hallam about a mile and a half he felt the engine pass over something. He at once shut off steam. The train was going about twelve miles an hour, and he stopped as soon as possible. He pulled up in about fifty yards, and on going back he found that deceased had been run over, and was quite dead. The body was lying in the four-foot, with the feet towards Derby. The head was completely severed, and was lying on the embankment side clear of the line. Instructions were given as to removing the body, and he went back to his engine. He saw nothing of anybody on the line before the accident happened.There was plenty of room for deceased to have walked clear of the line. It was about 6.25 when the accident happened. The train was not on the ordinary line, as only a single line was in work. He had one red and one white light in front of the engine, which denoted that he was running on the wrong line.- John Heeley said he was a traffic inspector, and started from Colwick with the breakdown train.They were going to Breadsall to get a tender on the up-line. He was riding on the engine, which carried the two lights spoken of. After the accident he went back to examine the line, and found deceased as stated by the last witness. Deceased had no business in the four-foot. He gave instructions for the removal of the body to West Hallam station.- William Key, permanent-way inspector on the G.N.R., said deceased had been in the employ of the company twelve years, and was a very steady man. On the previous morning deceased would be proceeding to his regular duty as a watchman at Morley cutting. Deceased would have to relieve the man who was on duty during the night. Deceased would not be likely to know of the breakdown train. He had been engaged at the same duty two months this winter.- The Coroner said the accident was very sad and regrettable. The deceased was walking on the up-line, and no doubt expected any trains on that line to have met him. However, the exigencies of the service required a train to follow him, and he was overtaken by that and killed. Unfortunately, the deceased walked on the line instead of on the footpath, and so met with his death. - The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."

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