South Yorkshire Times  January 20, 1933

Head Trapped

Fatal Accident At Houghton Main

Darfield Boy’s Death

The death of Edward Andrews (14), haulage hand, of 16, Church View, Darfield, which resulted from an accident at Houghton Main Colliery on January 4th, was investigated by the Deputy Coroner (Mr. S. H. B. Gill) at the Barnsley West Riding Court on Monday. A jury was present.

The father, William Andrews, miner, 16, Church View, Darfield, said his son’s sight and hearing were quite good. The boy went to work with him on the day shift on Wednesday, January 4th He was later informed that his son had been injured.

Dominic Gibbons, haulage hand, 9.2, George Street, Low Valley, said he was working next to Andrews at the time. Witness was pushing empty tubs under a chute and Andrews was lowering them to him. They had been doing the work since 6 o’clock that morning and the accident occurred between 10 o’clock and 10-30. In reply to the Coroner, Gibbons said he could not say how the accident happened. Andrews had pushed an empty tub towards him and then went back for another. On looking round witness saw him crushed between a tub and a girder. His head was fastened by the tub he was bringing down.

Questioned by the Coroner, Gibbons said he did not know the height of the girder.

He added that Andrews was quite efficient at his work, having been at it for several he did not know the height of the girder. He added that Andrews was quite efficient at his work, having been at it for several weeks.

Witness said if he (witness) had been doing the work he would have stood further up the incline as there was more room.

Answering Mr. S. Greene (H.M. Inspector of Mines), Gibbons said it was customary to use lockers for that type of work. He added that Andrews would not have to get in front of a tub to carry out his work.

Witness agreed with Mr. T. W. Illsley (representing the Y.M.A.) that Andrews might have been crushed while removing a piece of stone from the rail.

William Crawford, colliery deputy, 22 John Street, Great Houghton, said he was in charge of the number one south district of the Melton Field scam. He was called to the boy about ten minutes past ten, and found ten tubs coupled together in the incline. Andrews had been hit by the front one. Witness said he looked for lockers but could not find any. Andrews should have stopped the tubs ten yards further up the incline and should have lowered them one by one. A locker should have been put in each. Answering the Coroner, witness said the incline was in 1 in 55. He did not think the boy could stop the whole run of tubs without lockers. Witness said he had previously instructed the boy to stand about four yards above the loading point. He offered the theory that the boy had been pulling the tubs in order to start them and had got to the girder before he was aware.

Answering Mr. Greene witness said he did not know whether Andrews had attended safety principle classes or not. The inspectors stated that if boys took advantage of the classes they would learn how to avoid many of the dangers in mines.

George Thompson, pan man, 9, Norman-dale Road, Great Houghton, said he was in charge of the loading but was not responsible for the boys. Witness was called by Gibbons and found Andrews crushed by a tub. There was a train of ten close behind. He did not see any lockers and could not say whether any had been used or not.

Dr. J. T. Chesterman, house surgeon at the Beckett Hospital, said the boy was admitted on Wednesday, January 4th, and was unconscious. He was suffering from a laceration of the right eye. The following morning he developed paralysis of the left side of face and body. An operation was performed later in the day which relieved the paralysis to some extent. The boy never recovered his speech and his condition remained about the same until January 10th. On the 12th Mr. Yates, of Sheffield advised a further operation on the head. Part of the skill was removed to relieve pressure on the brain but there was no improvement and the boy died at 6.40 a.m. on the 13th. The cause of death was hemorrhage and laceration of the brain following the injuries.

In his resume the Coroner said no one knew definitely what Andrews was doing at the time of the accident and so he could not be blamed. In his opinion it was a pure accident.

The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death.’

Mr. E. Taylor (manager of Houghton Main), Mr. T. W. Insley and the foreman of the jury expressed deep sympathy with the relatives.