Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Saturday 31 July 1909

Miners’ Dangers

Fatalities in Mexborough District.

Mr J. Kenyon-Parker, the Deputy Coroner, held a couple of inquests yesterday in the Mexborough district on the bodies of miners.

At the Denaby Institute, the jury returned verdict of “Accidental death” in respect to William Froggatt (58), a miner, who died in the Fullerton .Hospital on Thursday from severe internal injuries received the previous day the Denaby pit.

He had been engaged at the colliery 30 years.

Or Wednesday morning, he and his mate, George Pickard, had drawn some timber, and were just proceeding to the coal face in their stall 23, in the Montagu district, Pickard leading the way, when a heavy fall occurred, completely burying Froggatt, and partially catching Pickard. The latter despite the cracking of the roof, stood by the deceased, whom he cleared of the fall, with the exception of his feet.

Replying to Mr E. B. Whalley, H.M. Inspector, witness said the roof had been “weighting” half-an hour before the accident, while 20 minutes after it came the whole place closed in.

The morning deputy, Cyrus Schofield, said that in his opinion the men had committed an error of judgment in drawing the timber.

A similar verdict was returned by jury sitting the Plant Hotel, Roman Terrace, in respect to the death of James Vernon (26) a dataller, of 11, Cawood Street, Mexborough, who was killed the Manvers Main No. 3 pit on Thursday.

On that date he and others were removing debris from a fall which had occurred, following the firing of a shot. A big stone. 1 ½  yards long, in the roof was tried, and appeared to be fast, but on the deceased barring down a smaller one, the larger one, weighing about two tons, fell on to him, breaking his neck.