DEATH OF WILLIAM HART 1898
(Ilkeston Pioneer 4th Nov 1898 p7)
A STANLEY COLLIERY FATALITY
On Monday afternoon last at the Bateman Arms, Stanley Common, before Mr F Leech, Derby, an inquest was held on the body of William Hart, who was killed at the Stanley Pit, belonging to the Mapperley Colliery Co Ltd, on the previous Saturday morning. Mr H B Hewitt, her Majesty's Inspector of Mines, was present; as was also Mr Spencer (agent for the Mapperley Colliery Co), and Mr Frank Tatham (manager of the Stanley Pit). Mr F Cattle watched the case on behalf of the Colliery Co. Mr Joseph Birkin was foreman of the jury.
Enoch Hart, miner, Stanley Common, identified the body as that of his son William, who was 15 years of age and a pony driver in the employ of the Mapperley Colliery Co Ltd. He was a strong, healthy boy, and had never said anything about the work being too hard for him, nor had he said anything to the effect that the work was dangerous. Deceased had never complained that the roof was not safe. Witness heard on the previous Saturday morning, about 11 o'clock, that deceased had met with an accident, but did not see him alive, he being dead when he was brought home.
John Webster, deputy at Stanley Colliery, spoke to knowing deceased, who was a pony driver at the pit. Deceased only started working in that part of the pit on Saturday last. Witness had seen the lad twice before the occurence took place, and asked him how he was going on. He replied "all right." Deceased was in the habit of riding the same animal, and had brought it with him from the other side of the pit, where he had previously been working. About a quarter to ten witness was going down the main road when he saw the tram standing with the pony attached to it. Witness shouted "William, my duck" and then heard a groan. When witness first saw the tram standing, he did not think anything amiss, as the lad might leave the pony for the purpose of seeing which stall was ready. He saw deceased lying on the left side of the metals, in front of the tram. Witness also noticed that a piece of stuff had fallen from the roof, but the lad was not underneath it. Deceased had a lamp with him, but the light was out. Witness asked him what had occurred, but he only replied "Oh dear, Jack." Deceased was then conscious, and knew what he was talking about. - By Mr Hewitt : One large lump of bind had fallen from the roof, along with a few little pieces. They were lying in the tram line. Witness after looking about came to the conclusion that deceased had been caught by the "bind" and knocked out of the way. Deceased had evidently been struck, as his head was injured. Deceased must have passed along the road seven or eight times that morning. It was usual only to place bars in that area when the roof was unsafe. There was plenty of available bars if they had been considered necessary. If he had seen any necessity for additional support being put to the roof on the Saturday morning, he would have put things right. He had every appliance to hand for putting things right. Since the accident the roof had fallen still further, thus showing the roof was bad. He tested the roof about a quarter to eight on Saturday morning, as he passed through. There was a bar up eleven feet away from where the fall occurred. This was rather a longer distance than usual, but there were plenty of other places in the pit where there was eleven feet of roof without bars or timber. He examined the roof by tapping it with his stick. If it had been bad it would have given a peculiar sound, which he would have at once recognised.
John Elliott, miner at Stanley Pit, deposed that he knew deceased well. On Saturday morning witness had a meal in the mine. He sat down and ate the meal just underneath where the accident took place. He was there about a quarter of an hour, but did not notice any signs of the roof breaking. and when he left the place he considered it perfectly safe. Witness had not the least idea anything was about to fall. - By Mr Tatham : Witness had never set a bar since he had been in that place. The roof appeared to be perfectly safe without setting bars. - By the Coroner : Witness had never known the roof to fall before, although it was not barred.
Frank Tatham, manager at Stanley Pit, in answer to a question from Mr Hewitt as to why the road was taken between the solid and the "gob" side, deposed that about 18 months ago, before he went to the pit, the pumps failed, and as a consequence the deep workings got filled with water. The witness then described, by means of a diagram, the construction of the road, and pointed out that in this case the making of such a road was unavoidable. - By the Coroner : As far as I know, there was nothing took place on Friday last, and as far as I could see it stood exactly as it had done during the last three months.
Arthur Dandy, physician and surgeon, practising at Smalley, deposed that shortly before eleven o'clock on the morning of the 26th inst., he was sent for. He found deceased dead, lying on the sofa in his father's house. He appeared to have been dead about 20 minutes. There were no marks on any part of the body, but there was a scalp wound in the region of the skull, perpendicular in direction, and three inches in length. At the commencement of the wound was a depressed fracture of the skull. In his opinion, the cause of death was hemorrhage on the surface of the brain.
The Coroner, in summing up, said in his opinion it was an accident which none could foresee. Undoubtedly, to some extent the roof could not have been so safe as had been imagined, as, since the occurrence, a further section had fallen in. There seemed to him to be no blame to be attached to anyone. Every reasonable care had been taken, according to the evidence, to ensure safety. This appeared to be one of those unfortunate cases which could not practically be provided against.
A verdict of "Accidentally killed" was reached, the jury adding a rider to the effect that they did not consider anyone was in any way to blame.
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