Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 07 June 1941

Haulage Hand Killed

Trapped by Head at Wombwell

At the inquest at Wombwell on Monday on Fred Bunting (18), haulage hand, son of Thomas Bunting, miner, Loxley Avenue. Wombwell, who was killed at Wombwell Main Colliery on Friday, it was stated that he was trapped by the head between two sets of full tubs, and died almost immediately.

The inquest was conducted by the District Coroner (Mr. C. J. Haworth), and there were present Mr. F. H. Baker (Inspector of Mines), Mr. J. L. Hay (manager), and Mr. J. W. Mellor. J.P. (secretary of Wombwell branch of the Y.M.A.).

Thomas Bennett (21), haulage hand, 2. Goodyear Crescent. Wombwell, said the accident occurred at the end of the morning shift, about 1.30 p.m. in the East Dips District of the Parkgate Seam. Witness had helped Bunting to pull two sets of tubs together so that Bunting could couple them with a “clip.’  and seeing the tubs move again he stopped the rope. Witness then found that a third set of full tubs had come up and “breasted “into the others. Bunting was trapped by the head.

Asked by the Coroner how it was that the third set came up, witness said that one of the two sets was stiff or otherwise they would have been got away.

In reply to the Inspector witness said the sets of full tubs came up at about sixty yards intervals. The noise made by the “jack catches ” should have enabled Bunting to hear the third set coming.

In reply to Mr. Hay, witness, who was wearing a Yorkshire Mines Safety Badge, said he would not have attempted to couple the tub; as Bunting did. He would have worked with one hand from underneath and would have kept his head out. Bunting probably used both hands for speed. Bunting had been on the job for two days and had done similar work before. The real cause of the trouble was the second set of tubs being stiff.

Mr. Hay said Bunting could either have stopped the rope or not attempted to couple the tubs. He could also have kept his head out.

Clywd Jones, haulage hand. I8, Woodhall View, Blacker Hill, agreed that the noise of the jackcatches gave warning, and Deputy Charles Count said the system had been in operation thirty years to his knowledge.

In reply to Mr. Mellor, the Inspector said the management had taken steps with a view to avoiding similar accidents. The gradient had been altered so that the tubs would run themselves.

A verdict of “Death by Misadventure” was returned.