Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 04 November 1887

The Fatal Accident at Wombwell Main Colliery.

The body of the unfortunate man, John Millington, miner, of Jump, near Wombwell, who was buried by a fall of stone about noon on Thursday last, was not recovered till half past nine o’clock on Friday morning. Many tens of stone and rubbish bad to be removed before the body was reached.

Mr. Gray, the manager, the underviewer, Messrs. Hawksworth and Taylor, along with the deputies and a large staff of workmen who were employed, are to be congratulated for the manner in which they worked to get the deceased out, several of them having narrow escapes, on account of the continual fall of the debris. A large number of persons assembled at the pit head to see the body brought out of the mine.

The remains of the deceased were interred Iin the Wombwell cemetery on Sunday afternoon, when a large concourse of people attended to witness the ceremony, which was conducted by the Rev. A. E. Flaxman rector. In addition to the members of deceased’s family, his remains were followed by the manager, underviewers, deputies, and a large number of workmen from the colliery. Deceased was highly respected .

The inquest was held on Monday, before Mr. Dossey Wightman, coroner, at the Red Lion Inn, Jump.

Mr. F. R. Wardell, Government inspector of mines, was present during the inquiry.

John Dennis, deceased’s trammer, said he was near deceased when the accident happened. Deceased was taking a sprag out. The deputy, Mr. Charlesworth, had ben that morning about two or three hours before, and had left instructions that they were take the wood away after they had got the coal. They had taken about eight pieces out when the accident happened. Mr. Gray, the certified manager, visited the place, and stayed about a quarter of an hour and told the deceased to be careful. After Mr. Gray had been gene about five minutes witness drew the attention of deceased to the fact that the place was “weighting.” and deceased said he could hear it, but went on drawing sprags till it came down and covered him.

Mr. Wm. Gray, certificated manager, said the place was quite still and not weighting when he was there. He gave deceased orders to draw the wood, and saw that he set a prop before doing so. When deceased heard it weighting he ought to have come out. Witness went to the place as soon as he heard of the accident, and stayed till nine o’clock the next morning, when deceased was got but. He appeared to have been suffocated.

The Coroner said it was an oversight of judgment the part of the deceased, and a verdict of ” Accidental death” was returned.