Mexborough and Swinton Times October 28, 1938

Graphic Story of “Bump”
Miner Sees Mate Killed
Neck Broken by Flying Prop
Havoc Caused By Lump of Coal

Graphic descriptions of an unusually heavy bump in the Park-gate seam of the Denaby Main Colliery which brought down a huge piece of coal and displaced a prop, which, in its turn, crashed ‘down on to the head of a young miner and killed him, were given at the Inquest at Conisborough on Monday , on Jim Stead (27), of 5, Hattersley Road, Bowbroom, Swinton.

Death Almost Instantaneous

The. Coroner (Mr. W. H. Castle), said that Stead was working in No. 237 stall, West 4th, Parkgate seam, last Thursday, with two miners, named Rodger. and Chapman.

Shortly after 5 o’clock .a loud bump was heard and a large piece of coal fell. It displaced a prop and, as Stead turned towards his tub, It struck him at the back of the head, knocking him against the tub, Death ‘was almost instantaneous.

Evidence of identification was given by the widow, Lilian Thurnicroft Stead, who said, that when her husband left home -at 1-10 p.m. Iast Thursday he was in his usual good health.

Struck By Prop.

Wilfred Rodgers, of 36, Bosville Street, Dalton ‘Brook, who was Stead’s mate on the shift, said that by 5 o’clock they, had filled about three tubs each. When fresh tubs came ‘they took them into the right-hand ‘side of the stall. When these were filled they noticed that some other colliers had brought tubs into the stall. Almost immediately there was a severe bump and some coal burst from the face-the place being about 6 feet long and 45 feet deep. Stead, who was working some four feet away from witness, had just been trying to break some coal at the top and when the coal fell it displaced a prop. Stead tried to get away but he was too late, and the prop struck him at the back of the neck. It knocked him forward on to the tub, and he fell down at the side of it. There was no coal on him as he lay there, and the prop was leaning against the tub. Stead was unconscious when picked up and he died almost at once.

Questioned by the Coroner, witness said that the deputy had made an inspection at about 3-50 and had seemed satisfied with-the place. There had been a slight bump at the beginning of the shift but there was then no fall. Witness said he himself had examined the place and it had appeared safe, there being plenty of timber. The tubs in the stall were standing only 18 inch. or 2 feet apart, less than the usual distance, but, although they were directly behind Stead, he did not think they prevented him from avoiding the prop. Witness agreed. however, that it would be safer to work with the tubs further apart.

No Hard Hat.

In reply to Mr, N. Hulley (manager), witness said that if Stead had bad time he could have stepped between the tubs without much difficulty. To do so he would have had to step towards the piece of coal that fell, Stead was not, wearing, a hard hat at the time of the accIdent.

Job Chapman, of 6, Sprotborough Street, Denaby, said he was working about ten yards from Stead. He heard a heavy bump and shouted “Are you all right?” ‘Hearing Rodgers’ reply in went to where Stead had been working and found him lying between the tub road and the tubs. He agreed with the-previous witness that the place scented perfectly safe before the accident. He told Mr. J. Hawley, Mines Inspector, that he did not know there was a little break, or jump-up, in the place where Stead was working.

The deputy. William Hanson, 16, West Street, Conisborough, said that he visited the stall between 3-30 and 3-45 that afternoon and. found everything save, the root was good and properly timbered. He was about 200 yards from 237 stall when the heavy bump occurred, and when he arrived at the scene of the accident Stead seemed dead. Witness made another examination after the accident and could gm nothing out of the ordinary. He formed the opinion that the bump had caused the accident and, with Stead cutting the tops down, the piece of coal was liberated

The piece had broken In two when he saw it; but when whole it would measure 7ft 5ins. by the width of the seam, 4ft 6in.

No Chance.

Witness agreed with Mr. Hawley that be blimp was a sudden one and that Stead would have no chance to get out of the way of the fall.

Dr. James R. Connelly attributed death to dislocation of the spine. He did not think, he said, that had Stead been wearing it hard hat this would have saved him   .

The Coroner said it seemed obvious that the place where the fall occurred seemed perfectly safe before the accident and there was no question of negligence. Bumps occurred fairly frequently in this .seam, but this was a particularly severe one, and Stead had no chance of getting away from the fall which followed.

A verdict of “Accidental Death” was returned, sympathy with the relatives of Steed being expressed by the Foreman of the jury, Mr. Hulley, and Mr J.T.E. Collins, secretary. of the Y.M.A.