Mexborough and Swinton Times October 19, 1928

Kicking Pony.
“Mischief ” Earns His Name.
Driver Killed.
Haulage Roads That ” Creep Narrower.”

A verdict of “Death from shock following injuries received in the Swinton Common pit ” was returned as a verdict at the Carnegie Library, Swinton, on Monday, relative to the death of Frederick Braiseby (18), pony driver, of 1, Wath Wood, Swinton. The jury added a rider that they considered the road ‘where the lad met his death unsafe. It was estimated that the road was only 4ft. 6in in width, and he was leading tubs 3ft. wide.

The Coroner was Dr. A. M. Connell, and there were also, present Mr. J. H. Humphreys, H.M. Inspector, and Mr. W. Barr, the mine manager.

“Mischief.”

Joseph Braiseby, father, said he last saw his bon alive at 5.5 a.m., on Thursday be-. fwe he went to work. He was in good health. His son had told him that he had a hard job because the road ” was before always mucked up and the tubs went off the road.” He bad a pony called Mischief, and his son hiad always said that it would either kill or lame him or some other boy.

Mr. Ifzimphrus: Did you take that seriously?—Well, yes, but I never complained to the management.

Mr. Barr : Did he complain weekly?—Every time he had the pony. He called it a mad horse.

Did it not occur to you to tell the manager?-I never thought of that. There is not a man or boy in that pit who is not frightened of the pony.

Thomas Murray, of 44, Arthur Street, Rawmarsh, said he was the corporal in charge of the ponies Braisebv used. Braiseby had worked with him for four years, and he had never had cause to doubt the character of his work. He had eight drivers and eight ponies, including ” Mischief.”

Coroner : Is there anything peculiar about any of them. Are they either quiet or troublesome?—The majority of them are frisky at times.

Are there any -which stand out in the eight —Well, Mischief, sir. At the, beginning of the week he is more frisky than the others.

Have you thad any complaint from any of the pony-drivers that they were afraid of the pony –Not serious, sir.

At any time has any boy demurred when you told him to take Mischief ?–Only when he is a fresh boy down, the pit.

Ham Braiseby ever objected ?—No, sir. Had he Mischief on the day of the accident? Yes, sir.

Was Mischief frisky that day?—No, sir. He seemed quite all right. I saw nothing to suggest that the pony was frisky. Braiseby had had him two hours before the accident.

Do you consider Mischief a fair and proper pony to be used for this work?—Well, he was a good worker, sir,

Do you consider that the pony lads are running a greater risk with him than with the other ponies?—Well, I do not know of a greater risk.

Which of the eight ponies you have kicked most?— Mischief. Starling kicks at times.

You did not think it sufficiently serious to tell the Management?—No, sir.

Mr. Humphreys : Did you know that the pony had had a- slight mishap that day?— No, sir.

Did you know that it receivedd-a slight injury?—It was not reported .to me.

Life Lost in Scuffle.

Murray said be was called to the scene of the accident and found Braiseby curled up under the front of the first tub. The pony had broken away. It was unhitched from the tubs and its gears had come off.

Mr. Humphreys : How do you think the gears had come off?—By kicking, sir.

Were there any marks on the tubs? — There were three distinct shoe marks on the front of the first tub.

Where did you find Braiseby’s lamp?—At the rear of the second tub, and it was out.

What does the position of the lamp suggest?—That the tubs had moved forward after Braiseby had put this lamp down. The lamp was in good working order.

The boy was found between the pony and the first tub. What would make him go there —Some obstruction in the road. It was quite a proper reason’ for him to go there.

Do you think the pony had dragged him forward?—Yes, sir He must have gone forward two tub lengths and kicked out.

That is how the accident happened?—I think so, sir. He lost his life in the first scuffle very likely.

Suppose this boy got in between the pony and the tubs, is it right to say there was no possible way of escape for him?

Well, at the first place where I think the accident originally happened, there was enough room, but not at the place where he was found.

Is it correct to say that on one side of the tubs there was only 10 inches to spare and 8 inches on the other?—Yes, sir.

Do you not think it desirable that the roads should be wider?—Yes, sir. It would be a great help.

No Escape.

There was no way of escape for this boy if he once fell over?—No, sir.

The Coroner (to Mr. Humphreys): Do you consider this road to be dangerous or not and should we take steps to represent this to the colliery that they have no right to work horses and lads on such a narrow road?

Mr. Humphreys: I think so, sir.

The Coroner: I will see to that.

Mr Boyle: Have you had any direct complaints about this pony? – No sir. They have joked about it, but I would not consider them. Braiseby was not afraid of the pony.

Do you think in the Barnsley seam that we can keep roads wider than this one? – Not at all times.

The Coroner: Why, Mr Barr?

Mr Barker: Because of the compression. It is not practicable.

Doctor S.O. Hatherley said he had made a post-mortem examination. Externally, he found no marks to show that the boy had been kicked, except a broken ankle which might have been done by a kick. The body was bruised, especially the back. The lad suffered from concussion and the cause of death was due to shock following injuries.

John William Lee, of 114, Queen Street, Swinton, a chargeman, also agreed that the road should be wider for persons to pass the tubs.

The Coroner: is it possible, in this case, to make the road wider?—Yes, sir, but it would be difficult to keep a road wide.

Why is it that if you start with a road 10 foot wide, it should now be only 4 feet in width?—lt creeps narrower.

Will it creep still more?—it is quite possible.

In six- months will it be less?

Mr. Barr: It might be less.

Then are you going to risk the lives of the workmen by this?

M r. Barr: I would not go as far as that. We do not risk any lives

Wilfred Roone, miner, of 33, Main Street, Rawmarsh, said Mischief was a vicious              pony. He had known it for three or four years. Braiseby had only worked with him for three days, and he had not heard him complain.

Roads Too Narrow

The Coroner, addressing the jury, said he was not satisfied what caused the death of the boy wonder how he came by his

The Coroner, addressing the jury, said he was not satisfied what caused the death of the boy. He wondered how he came by his death. Why was he found lying there? His lamp was not alight; there was a restive pony, two tub ltngths between the lamp and I where the boy was found. The boy was insensible. There were marks on the tub front from the pony kicking. Had the boy been knocked down and rendered insensible from a blow and died as the doctor said of shock? There was something in the doctor’s evidence which to him was significant. There was a fracture of the ankle and numerous bruises on the body, especially the back. That was where the shock would come from.

There was a narrow road which had crept from 10 feet in width to 4 ½ feet. He wanted to know how long it was going to be allowed to “creep” and still be used. Were they going to wait until other people met their end before it was widened? Those were points which struck him. The pony was known to be restive and the father had emphasised it. Were they to recommend that Mischief be withdrawn’? There was evidence for both sides in that which was before them.