Mexborough and Swinton Times May 17, 1929

Heroes All.

Rescue Efforts at Wombwell Main

Buried by Fall.

‘A desperate but futile effort on the part of a number of miners to rescue a buried comrade was described at the inquest at Wombwell on Saturday on Harry Taylor (40), 2, Hall Street, Wombwell, who was killed at Wombwell Main Colliery on Friday. Employed as an underground repairer, Taylor was buried by between twenty and thirty tons of roof. Nearly four hours elapsed before it was possible to recover the body.

There were present at the inquest Mr. D. Cookson (manager), Mr. H. J. Humphreys (11.M. Inspector of Mines), and Mr. J. W. Mellor, representing the Wombwell Main Branch of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association.

Evidence of identification was given by a brother, Arthur Stanley Taylor, of 68, Wath Road, Wombwell.

Steel Arches.

Benjamin. J. Copley, repairer, of 1, Barnsley Road, Wombwell, said he was working along with Taylor in the North Dip of the Parkgate seam at Wombwell Main. They commenced work at 10.30 p.m., having been detailed for repair work where a fall had taken place. As a precaution they set props under four girders that had previously been fixed. About 3 o’clock Taylor was filling a corf with stone when there was a heavy fall and Taylor was buried. Four hours elapsed before he was released.

In reply to the Coroner, witness said the fall brought out two girders. It was not exactly at the same spot as the fall had taken place previously. The fall consisted of about thirty tubs of stone. After being buried, Taylor made no sound, and witness formed the opinion that he had been killed.

The Coroner : Had you taken any timber out ?

Witness : We had taken the leg out but we had not taken the bar out completely.

Witness added that there would be three girders in a distance of about four feet. That was the usual distance. Witness explained that they had attended to a place where one fall had occurred and then went to attend to another place. They wanted to get it finished before the coal turning took place.

Mr. Humphrys : Are you satisfied that the first place was made safe?

Witness: Yes, I thought it was safe under the circumstances.

Mr. Humphrys: Did you set “struts” between the girders?

Witness.: Three of the girders were strut-

Mr. Humphrys: Have you seen any setting of steel arches ?—No, sir.

Do you think a steel arch would have been more successful here?

Witness: I should say not.

If a steel arch had been set it would not have swung out?

Witness: I cannot say, sir. I have not had sufficient experience of steel arches.

The Coroner: You thought the place was safe?—Yes, sir. I might have been filling the tub instead of him when the fall took place.

Mr. J. W. Mellor : Do you think it really was a suitable place for a steel arch; knowing the district?

Witness: I should say it was not suitable. The floor is too loose.

Mr. Mellor: Did you inspect the place previous to filling the corf ?

Yes, we examined the roof and came to the conclusion it was quite safe. Witness added that the fall was composed of small shale or bind. He thought the fall was due to a “break” at the manhole

If you had the circumstances to meet again would you employ the same methods? Yes. This is a case in which a manhole was a disadvantage.

In further reply to Mr. Mellor, witness said he considered it was a pure accident. It could not he foreseen and could not have been prevented.

The foreman (Mr. L. Eastwood) : Had the deputy examined the roof ?—Witness : Yes, he passed it as all right. Witness added that the bar was being taken out at the deputy’s instructions. The idea of taking out the bar was to raise the roof.

A juryman expressed the opinion that the removal of one bar had caused the others to “werl” out.

No Warning.

Joseph Allen, repairer, of 7, Greenland, Blacker Hill, said he joined Copley and Taylor at 2 a.m. and together they commenced to take a bar out. Witness filled the first corf and Taylor was filling the second when the fall came.

The Coroner: Had you any warning of the fall?

Witness: Nothing whatever. Everything was quiet.

In reply to Mr Mellor witness said that when they pull the prop that they used a “Silvester.” Every possible precaution was taken.

Gallant Efforts.

Walter Wormald, the deputy, Pickup Crescent, Wombwell, said when they reached Taylor he was kneeling face downwards, with his hand over his mouth. He seemed to have been suffocated. With regard to the condition of the place, witness said he gave Taylor instructions how to proceed with the work. He did not know of any steps that could be taken to prevent such occurrences. He did not think steel arching would be practicable under the circumstances. In reply to Mr. Mellor, witness said in his opinion the real cause of the fall was sudden side pressure from the back of the manhole. This could not be foreseen.

In reply to a juryman, witness said Taylor was buried three and a half hours before they were able to reach him.

The juryman : Don’t you think that was a long time?

Witness: As fast as we could get the dirt away it fell again from the sides. There were fourteen on the job altogether, but the place was so cramped that only three could work at a time. All we could do was to throw back the dirt to one another. ‘ We nearly reached him once, but more dirt came.

Mr. J. W. Mellor : If you had wanted fifty men you could have had them.

Witness : Yes. If we had had five thousand it would not have made’ any difference.

“Heroes All.”

Returning a verdict of death by misadventure (accidental death) the Coroner said he wished something could be done to prevent such accidents. He added, “There is no doubt these men did all they could to reach Taylor at the earliest possible moment. Had they got him out within five minutes it would probably have been useless.

Expressing sympathy with the’ relatives, Mr. D. Cookson said Taylor was very, competent and a good man at his work. With regard to the rescue efforts, Mr. Cookson said he considered the men did well to reach Taylor so quickly. In his presence, the men worked “like horses.”

Mr. Mellor referred to Taylor as a very capable workman. They were all sorry for the family. Commenting on the efforts to release Taylor, Mr. Mellor said, “What is said about miners is not always of a complimentary character, but it will be agreed that on occasions like these they are heroes all. The men put every ounce of energy into their efforts.”