South Yorkshire Times, September 9th 1944
Runaway Tubs
Goldthorpe Man Dies Month After Accident
The theory was advanced at a Mexborough inquest on Friday, that the twisting of a haulage rope, when it was stopped suddenly, caused a clip to unfasten allowing seven full tubs to run away in Hickleton Main Colliery on July 31st, and trap William Spibey (36), haulage corporal of 26, Railway View, Goldthorpe. Spibey died in the Montagu Hospital on Wednesday, August 29th. A verdict of “Accidental Death” was recorded by the Doncaster District Coroner, (Mr. W. H. Carlile).
Joseph Rimmington, overman, 89, Chapel Lane, Thurnscoe, said that he was at 272’s junction about 10.30 in the morning. Wilson had just clipped a run of coal on the rope to go up to 277’s plane to 272’s district. Wilson went down to knock this run off onto the jack catch, at the same time informing Spibey of what he was he was going to do. Spibey was on 272’s full kip, knocking another run of coal off. He proceeded with this run of coal round 272’s junction.
A set of empty tubs then came from 277’s plane. Spibey was in the act of putting a clip on this run of coal when someone stopped the rope. Immediately the preceding run came back and must have caught Spibey unawares while he was putting the next run on the rope. The run ran on to a jack catch which was about nine yards from the junction. The first two tubs were thrown off the road but they ran into the run of coal on the turn and pinned Spibey between the full and empty tubs.
Clip Still On Rope
There were seven tubs on the full run. Witness’s examination following the accident revealed that the clip, which held the run, was still on the rope about 20 to 24 yards from the point where the accident occurred. That and the draw bar of the tub were in good working order. “I came to the conclusion that the rope stopped dead and the twist of the rope brought the pig-tail of the clip out of the D-link of the tub.”
There was only one method of putting in the clip, from the right-hand side. It was the first time he had ever known one jump out, though he had heard of it. The jack catch had thrown the two leading tubs off the rails but he thought the force of the run had moved the catch from its proper position. The two sleepers, to which the catch was fastened, had been split. The gradient was 1 in 24 in the direction of the junction. Extra jack catches had been put in since the inquest.
The coroner said that it seemed that if the jack catch was forced out of position, that the distance between the catches was too great.
James Thomas Wilson, haulage hand of 29, The Glen, Bolton, said that he had worked that system for six months and had never before known any of the tubs run back.
Dr. G. P. Glynn, casualty officer at the Montagu Hospital said that Spibey was suffering from shock when he was admitted on July 31st. A suspected fracture of the pelvis was confirmed and it was discovered he had a ruptured bladder. He was taken immediately to the operating theatre where the bladder was sewn. He developed complications and died on August 29th from uremia due to a rupture of the bladder and a fractured pelvis.