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My original reason for
looking for your Silverwood website was that I was looking for some details of
an accident there. My wife’s great grandfather Thomas Harris (1867-1913) and his
son Rowland (1895-1913) were killed together in an accident at Silverwood. I
have today (Saturday) received, from Brenda’s Aunt the full story including
copies of their death certificates and a copy of the account of the accident and
inquest from the Rotherham Advertiser. Unfortunately the copy is in pretty poor
condition and if I scanned it and emailed it to you it would be difficult to
read. I have therefore transcribed the article word for word.
The story tells of one of the many sad events at Silverwood.
Geoff Illsley
THREE MEN KILLED BY FALL OF ROOF
FULL INQUEST STORY
SOME QUESTIONS ON METHODS OF
TIMBERING
A heavy fall of roof occurred at the
Silverwood Pit on Thursday morning, three workmen being killed instantaneously.
Their names are:-
Thomas Harris (42), contractor, Dalton Brook, married
Roland Harris (18), pony driver, Dalton Brook, single
Peter Oakes (41), stoneman, 14 Dalton Lane, married
The Harrises, who stand in the
relationship of father and son were together with Oakes and a stoneman named
Thomas Bagley of 36 Dalton Lane, engaged in “dinting” operations near the
stables in the Hooton district of the mine at the time of the accident, shortly
before eight o’clock. The three men were buried by a heavy fall, which came
without warning.
Bagley, very
fortunately, was some distance away, having gone for a tub. He heard the crash,
and returning found his workmates covered with a large stone estimated to weigh
between ten and twelve tons. Help was summoned, and the men were quickly
extricated. They were found to be dead, and the bodies removed to the surface
and conveyed to their respective homes. The disaster created a profound
impression in the Dalton district and general sympathy was expressed with the
relatives of the deceased. After the accident work in the mine ceased for the
day.
THE INQUEST
The inquest was held
yesterday afternoon in the Grapes Inn, Dalton Brook, by the District Coroner, Mr
J Kenyon Parker. There were present Mr H A Abbott, HM Inspector of Mines; Mr W H
Ball manager at Silverwood; Mr Herbert Smith, president Yorkshire Miners’
Association; Mr J Hoslin treasurer; and Mr Harry Green, official of local
branch, who represented the relatives of the deceased.
Elizabeth Ann Harris
said her husband, who worked as contractor at the Silverwood Pit, went to work
on Thursday morning together with their son Roland, who worked as a pony driver
for his father. They were brought home dead about twelve o’clock the same day.
Sarah Oakes gave similar evidence in
respect to her husband, Peter Oakes.
Thomas Bagley,
stoneman, was next called. He said he had worked at the Silverwood Colliery for
about twelve months. He had twelve years experience of pit work. The man in
charge on Thursday morning was Thomas Harris, and they were proceeding with
some work on the underground stables, which place they reached at about
6:45. The deputy came about half an hour later.
As near as he could say, the fall occurred at about
twenty minutes to eight, stone from the roof burying the three men. Thomas
Harris was got out at 8:30 and Roland Harris a quarter of an hour later.
Oakes being extricated about nine o’clock. The weight of the stone which
fell would be from ten to twelve tons, and the three men would be killed
instantly. Witness had gone away to fetch a dirt box, leaving the place
about 13 minutes before the fall occurred. After they started work Tom
Harris examined the roof with his pick and it sounded all right, and
afterwards it was again examined by two deputies, who came at different
times. The place had not been on weight that morning and there had been no
bumps, neither had there been any shots fired. No timber had been drawn
while he was there.
Explaining what was meant by “dinting” the work they
had been employed at during the morning he said it was getting the floor up.
They had 18 inches of coal and 24 inches of “muck” to get up. He did
not think it would loosen the timber, as it was not near the props. He could
not account for the fall, and though he looked at the place after the
accident, could not give an opinion. The place was properly timbered. The
deputies made no complaints and did not give any orders. The road was of
rock, and he considered it better than bi*d.
Replying to the
Inspector, he said the “dinting” was not done near the timber but in the stall.
Up to the time of the accident not much “dinting” had been done, and he did not
think a quarter of a tub had been got out. Harris was a careful and experienced
man.
Questioned by Mr
Smith, witness said under the circumstances he would not expect the deputy to
order a prop to be set on the coal.
Phillip William
Hutton, of Silverwood Cottages, said he had been a deputy at Silverwood Colliery
for four years and his total pit experience extended over fifty years. He was in
the pit when the fall occurred, and immediately went to the place. He saw Roland
Harris and Oakes got out. Witness was at the place shortly before seven o’clock
and tried the roof with his stick. It sounded hard. He found the timber all
right and there was no necessity for any more to insert. Speaking of the cause
of the fall, he said there was slip going up the centre of the stall which was
not perceptible before the accident. He could not see that there was any other
cause.
Examined by the
Inspector, he said he did not speak to the men about setting temporary supports
, nor did he think it was necessary. There was timber in the place. He told the
men to get the dirt from behind the wood, and the work would last them all day.
Answering the
manager, witness said the “dinting” would come close enough to one of the props
as to cause undermining. The roof looked perfectly plain before the fall,
without any sign of slip.
Questioned by Mr Smith, he said that
as soon as they began to disturb the coal it would be likely to undermine the
props. Asked if he did not think it his duty to order temporary supports to be
set before anybody interfered with the coal, he said there was no doubt that he
would have done so but before he came back again it would take men all their
time to get the dirt away from behind the wood.
Lawrence Wadsworth, horsekeeper, Bramley Park, said he was at the top end of the stable when he
heard the fall. He could not see what the men were doing before the accident.
Mr William Henry
Ball, certificated manager at Silverwood Colliery, said he went down the mine
after the accident and made an inspection of the place. The slip in the roof was
the chief cause of the fall. He thought the timber was affected by the getting
of the coal. He did not think the slip would be visible before the accident.
In answer to the
Inspector, he said he was aware that the roof was false bedded and rather apt to
come away. In the light of this accident he preferred and intended to use bars
in substitution for the “lids”.
Mr Smith sought to
obtain an expression of opinion from the Inspector, remarking that they wanted
to do their best to avoid such accidents. The Inspector said he
would take the matter up with Mr Ball with a view to the adoption of safer
methods if such were possible.
The jury returned a
verdict of “Accidental death”.
********
The death certificates date the accident as 25 September 1913 at Silverwood
Colliery Dalton. The cause of death for both Thomas and Rowland was
“Accidentally killed (fractured of skull and other injuries) by a fall of roof
in Silverwood Colliery in the Township of Dalton“.
© 1913 Rotherham Advertiser Article
transcribed by Geoff Illsley 2008
Formatted on this page by John Doxey 2008 |
1900 - 1994