South Yorkshire Times, April 28st 1939.
“No fault to find” says coroner.
The Doncaster district coroner, Mr. W. H. Carlile, sitting with a jury, at Mexborough Montagu Hospital on Monday, investigated the death of James Clifford Quigley (34), pit corporal, of 128, Furlong Road, Bolton, who died at the hospital on Monday after sustaining injuries at Barnburgh Main colliery. Mr J. Gawthorpe, H.M. Inspector of mines; Mr G. C. Payne; general manager of the colliery; and Mr. W. A. Williams, Yorkshire Mineworkers Association representative, were also present.
Went to work with brother.
Robert Andrew Quigley, 128, Furlong Road, Bolton, said that on Monday he left him with his preferred to go to Barnburgh Main colliery. He saw him at the Montagu hospital later the same day.
James Thomas Wilson, of 13, Lindale Gardens, Goldthorpe, a conveyor haulage hand, at the colliery, said he was working on Monday in the A 1st North district and Quigley was a Corporal in charge. About 10-30 a.m. he had lowered five full tubs away from the loader to another man lower down the level, and quigley was then shovelling coal out of the spill. Just as he looked up he heard a “bank” and Quigley seemed to spin around, and he fell with his head at witnesses feet between the full and empty road.
He saw Quigley was badly injured, and he appeared to have been struck on the head by the iron framework used for keeping tubs on the road. It had been displaced for about 18 inches by some full tubs which had run away and collided with some empty tubs to dislodge the frame. Five tubs were passed through the loader for filling, and they were controlled by a Jack catch. The tubs had to pass through a frame over the loader and after the collision the framework was damaged and pushed forward. The pushing forward of the framework had caused Quigley to get the full force of the blow. Witness stated that the safety of the men working there depended on the efficiency of the Jack catch.
Not hit by tub.
Mr Goldthorpe asked the witness whether it was possible that it up which had been derailed had struck quickly and he replied that there was no possibility of that happening.
Another haulage hand, Leonard Osborne, of 22, Sandymount, Wath, said he was working with Jack Tindall on the first North conveyor, and his job was to bring empty tubs in and coal out. Five journeys had been made before the accident and the Jack-catch had been used on these journeys. 10:30 AM he came in front of the 30 full tubs and drop the eighth top in the drop catch. He unlinked seven tubs at the front and stood for a while waiting for them to go forward. When he turned round the other 20 were going back of the catch. He went after them and saw them collide with their empties, and Tindall told him someone was hurt. He had never had any previous trouble with the catch, and he examined it after the accident. It seemed that the wood underneath which supported the iron tongue, which helped tubs had been pushed forward a little allowing the tubs to go back. He had cleaned the catch out once previously during that shift and it was quite an order. The Catch had been there about a month and it was new when fitted. An iron plate fixed to support the wood had been moved.
When questioned he stated that there was only the usual weight in the catch and he had not interfered with it in any way.
The coroner asked witness if the catch had shown any signs of giving way, remarking, “the safety of many men may depend on the Jack catch being in order.”
No signs of giving way.
Osborne replied that it had shown no signs of giving way. Replying to another question, witness said there would only be to tub axles holding back 20 or 30 tubs brought up each shift.
Mr. G. C. Payne asked witness if a bent axle and the heavyweight would cause it to go over the catch and witness said that tops had been standing for about two minutes before starting to move.
Jack Tindall, of 27, Lindale Gardens, a haulage hand, said he was working with Osborne and they coupled onto the run and when they got to the top of the level he in coupled three tubs and then signal the engine driver to pull the best of the call forward. He watched the other coal go up to the catch and saw the top settled there. He then put the point over for the empty side. As he had got halfway pass the tops they started to go backwards. He tried to get in front of them to put the catch back over again. But could not get past. He saw them collide with the empties, and went down to the loader when he saw Quigley.