Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 26 July 1941
Rode On Tubs
Hickleton Haulage Hand Fatally Injured
After criticising a 58 years old Thurnscoe miner, who admitted that he had told John Thomas Arnold (16), of 92, Dane Street, Thurnscoe, a haulage hand employed at Hickleton Main Colliery, to ride on some tubs, the Doncaster District Coroner (Mr. W. H. Cathie) recorded a verdict of ” Accidental Death on the lad, who received fatal injuries while riding, at an inquest at the Montagu Hospital, last Friday.
Mr. H. Storey, H.M. Inspector for Mines was present; the Hickleton Main Colliery Company was represented by Mr. J. Deardon, and the Yorkshire Mineworkers’ Association by Mr. W. M. Starkey.
Light that Failed
Fred Chantry, of 29. Saxon Street, Thurnscoe, road layer, employed at Hickleton Colliery, said on July 2nd there had been some disarrangement of the haulage due to tubs being off the road and witness helped to get the tubs on again, and then set off, accompanied by Arnold, up the main East plane from 148’s junction.
As they were travelling up witness’s lamp failed him and went out, and he had to travel behind a tub because he could not see.
In reply to the Coroner, witness said the lamps were charged for a shift, but did not always last that long. He said that he got on the coal to ride, and admitted that he knew they were not to do so, and Arnold also got on the coal.
The Coroner: You saw Arnold get on, and then you thought you would get on?
Witness: Yes.
The Coroner: And you are 58! I expect you will tell me this is the first time you have ridden?
Witness: Yes sir.
The Coroner: Do you expect me to believe you?
Witness said that they rode to Carter’s junction and then got off.
The Coroner: You knew Arnold was on the tubs all the time?
Witness: Yes sir.
The Coroner then asked Chantry why he had stated to the police that he could not see Arnold and did not know whether he walked or rode.
On getting off the tubs he saw Arnold lying face downwards with his legs in the tubs. Witness said to Arnold, “Come on let’s go,” and he made no reply. Witness suspected something was wrong, and with assistance, removed Arnold from the tub and into a refuge hole.
The Coroner: You know this is one of the most serious offences you can commit in a pit?
Witness: Yes, I know now.
The Coroner: You knew before.
You are not only a danger to yourself, you are a danger to everybody else.
Witness: I realise that now.
Wilfred Asquith, of Holme Farm Cottage, Thurnscoe, overman on the shift in question, said he saw Arnold removed from the pit and then interview and the corporals on the plane. He got no satisfaction, but a corporal named Hayes said, “We might as well tell the truth. He was on the coal.”
In reply to H.M. Inspector for Mines, witness said they did not use the travelling road because it would have been risky without a lamp. He was told by Mr. Reardon that later witnesses would say that Arnold’s lamp was very good.
The Coroner then said that this boy had lost his life and could not tell, and therefore there was more onus on Chantry’s conscience.
“I am going to ask again,” he said, “was there not some conversation between you and Arnold before you got on the tubs?”
Witness: There was no conversation at all.
The Coroner: Now you have dropped yourself in for perjury have you not? What conversation was there?
Witness: I said to him, “It is very difficult to travel up as we are, and if we make a false move we go among those empties, therefore we had better ride.”
The Coroner: What do you think of yourself? You are a self-confessed liar now. You were trying to protect yourself because this boy is not hear to speak.
Witness: Yes sir.
Mr Starkey: This absolves this lad from the statement you have already made, that he got on the tubs first?
Witness: Yes.
The Coroner then said he had no power to deal with Chantry, but expressed the hope that someone else would take action.
In reply to H.M. Inspector Chantry said he had no idea where Arnold sustained his injuries.
Why Corporal did not Tell
Stanley Russell, of 71, Stuart Street, Thurnscoe, corporal between East plane “swilley” and 148’s junction said he saw a run of tubs go past with Arnold riding between first and second tubs, and Chantry riding between the third and fourth. Arnold’s light was good, but Chantry’s was nearly out.
Witness said “How do ” to Chantry who replied “How do.” He said that he had seen one or two others riding, and after being criticised by the Coroner for not taking action to get them off the tubs. he said,
“It is rather awkward for a boy of my age to go up and tell men get off the tubs. They would just ignore me ”
The Coroner pointed out that witness could report the offenders and added that although the duty was unpleasant it was part of witness’s job.
After witness had admitted that he had ridden on tubs, the Coroner said, “This boy’s death opens up a wide field of imagination as to what goes on in the pits. This is a clear case, and sometimes you can get no evidence of tub-riding, but when you get a case like this it makes you wonder what is actually going on.”
Russell said he did not know where Arnold was injured but said there were some low girders about 20 or 30 yards away from his working place.
Witness said it was part of a corporal’s duties to report men for that riding on tubs, and added never gave an official chance of catching them, because if an official went down the face a warning went down in front of him.
Witness said that lamps were charged to last about 16 hours, but added that if a man’s light did fail he could either secure another, or have a man sent from the pit bottom to meet him.
Grave Injuries
Dr Abraham Greenberg, house surgeon at the Montagu Hospital said Arnold was admitted on July 2nd and was found to be suffering from a fracture-dislocation of the spine, and a fracture of the skull.
He was operated upon and it was found that the spinal cord was damaged, and the lad died on July 16th. The doctor said the injuries suggested that the lad had been struck on the back and the head by something, and admitted to Mr. Starkey that it might easily have been caused by the girders as he was getting on top of the coal to ride.
Three other corporals , Horace Lambert, of 13, Stuart Street. Thurnscoe; Bertie Hayes, of 33, Taylor Street, Thurnscoe; and Arnold Blessed, of 21, Marion Road, , Harlington, were called by the Coroner, who emphasised the importance of their reporting anyone riding on tubs.
The Coroner said here was a clear breach of the regulations. One committing had worked in the pit the offence was a man of 58, who had worked in the pit for many years and who had apparently encouraged this boy to ride.
“He certainly came to-day and told a pack of lies,” the Coroner said, ” and after good deal of examination and appeals to his conscience he decided to tell the truth. I suppose in future this will be a reminder to him of what does happen when committing an offence of this sort. It is seldom there is such a clear case of riding.”
He expressed the hope that this would be a warning to all mineworkers and added.
“Of course this boy has lost his life unnecessarily and this man is somewhat responsible for it. I have no power to deal with him, and although there is no question of him having committed manslaughter, at the same time I hope someone else is going to take the opportunity of dealing with him.”
Mr. Deardon, after expressing sympathy with the mother, said he was sorry to hear Blessed and the other men saying that they could not ” tell ” of men riding, and added that he hoped the corporals would get together and kill this feeling.
Mr. W. M. Starkey also expressed sympathy on behalf of the Y.M.A. and said he hoped this case would show the men the heavy responsibility they had in looking after the pit boys.