Mexborough & Swinton Times — September 3, 1904

Inquests at Mexboro’

Miner Run Over by Coal Tubs

On Saturday, at the Mexboro’ Montagu Cottage Hospital, Mr. Doney Wightman, Coroner for the district, held a trio of inquiries respecting the deaths of John Ellis, engineman, Denaby, and Charlotte Annie Naylor and Alice May, children, of Bolton and Mexboro’ respectively, all three of whom died in the hospital from the effects of injuries received.

The first taken was that of the miner Ellis.

Mr. Biggs was chosen foreman of the jury, and at the first inquiry there were present Mr. Pickering, H.M. Inspector of Mines, and Mr. C. Bury, under-manager at Denaby.

Caroline Ellis, wife of deceased, said he was 41 years of age and employed as an engine man at Denaby Main Colliery, where he had filled the last position for about eight years. He was a healthy man, and was injured on August 18th, being conveyed to the Mexboro’ Montagu Hospital at once. Witness afterwards saw him in that institution, but he did not tell her how he got injured. He never blamed anybody and died in hospital on the 25th. He was insured in the Prudential Co.

John Collins, corporal at the Denaby pit, said he worked with deceased, who was a pump man in the pit. Witness saw him on August 18th before he was injured. The time was 7-15 p.m., and they were on the Montagu plane. Deceased was examining a tap, about 15 yards off when witness first saw him.

Witness left him to go farther down the plane, and when he returned, two minutes later, the rope was going. It was a double road, full tubs travelling one way, and the empty ones the other. Deceased was standing on the empty turn, with his back to the oncoming empty tubs.

When witness shouted to warn him, he turned right round, reversing his back to the coming full tubs, with the result that the latter caught him. Unfortunately, he stepped in the danger, instead of out of it. There was a manhole within a yard of the spot where the accident occurred.

After deceased had stepped out of the empty into the full road, witness shouted twice to warn him. As soon as he fell, witness pulled the signal, and the engineman stopped within the length of two tubs. His leg was badly smashed.

A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

The Dangers of Fire

A death from burning was that of Alice May.

Elizabeth May, wife of Robert May, miner, Wath Road, Swinton, said she was mother of deceased, who was five years old last birthday. She was a healthy child. On Thursday morning, about half-past nine, witness went out of the house, leaving her four children behind. The eldest, Lily, was 14 years of age, and there were also Florence (11), George Henry (9), and deceased, who was the youngest of the lot.

Witness left Lily to look after the others, and also asked the next-door neighbour to keep an eye on them. About 20 minutes to eleven, witness was called, and on returning home found deceased had been taken away to the Montagu Hospital, where she died on the morning of the following day.

Witness asked deceased in the hospital how it happened, and she said her frock caught fire near the bottom bar. At the time of the accident Lily had gone on an errand for a neighbour, and the other children went into the yard, leaving deceased alone in the house.

Lily had put a towel up to draw the fire.

The Coroner characterised this action as a dangerous state of things.

Witness said when she left the children she told Lily not to light the fire, but to get the kettle boiled at the next door.

Verdict as before, “Accidental death.”

The next concerned the death of Charlotte Annie Naylor, the five-year-old daughter of Joseph Naylor, labourer, of Bolton-on-Dearne.

William Naylor, labourer, of Goldthorpe, said he was grandfather of deceased child, who had been staying with him for about a month. On Wednesday morning, about 7-15, witness was in bed downstairs. The child usually slept upstairs by herself, and the first intimation witness had that anything was… [article continues beyond the supplied image].

Charlotte Annie Naylor

The next concerned the death of Charlotte Annie Naylor, the five-year-old daughter of Joseph Naylor, labourer, of Bolton-on-Dearne.

William Naylor, labourer, of Goldthorpe, said he was grandfather of deceased child, who had been staying with him for about a month. On Wednesday morning, about 7-15, witness was in bed downstairs. The child usually slept upstairs by herself, and the first intimation witness had that anything was amiss was the sound of screaming. He saw deceased standing on the hearth with her night clothing on fire.

Witness jumped out of bed and smothered the fire out with bedclothes. He fetched a doctor there and then. There was some burnt paper ash on the hearth. It was not there when he went to sleep, and she had evidently got the paper from the sofa and lighted it. Witness had been told by deceased’s father that he had had to caution her several times.

She was taken to the Mexboro’ Montagu Cottage Hospital, and died there the same day.

“Accidental death” was again the verdict.

The funeral of deceased took place in the Bolton Wesleyan Chapel burial-ground on Sunday. Mr. Kirk (local preacher) read the last rites, and the chief mourners assembled at the graveside were: Mr. J. Naylor (father), Mrs. North (aunt), Mr. W. Naylor (grandfather), Mrs. A. Slater (grandmother), Mrs. Bradbury (aunt), Mr. W. Naylor (uncle), Mrs. Martin (aunt), Mr. S. North (uncle), Mrs. Dean (aunt), Mr. T. Bradbury (uncle), Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, Mrs. C. Watson, Miss B. Slater, and numerous other sympathising friends.

The coffin was borne to the grave by Misses Merrington, Cave, Mawson, Taylor, Cree, and Williamson. A number of beautiful wreaths were laid on the grave from: Mrs. North, “With deepest love,” and a cross, “With deepest love,” Mrs. Bradbury; Mr. and Mrs. Naylor, cross; Miss B. Taylor, “In affectionate remembrance”; Mrs. Watson, Mr. Barker, Mrs. Dean, and Mrs. Slater, bouquets.

The coffin, which was of pitch-pine, with massive brass mountings, had been supplied by Mr. Horne, Bolton, and the breastplate bore the inscription: “Charlotte Annie Naylor, died August 23rd, 1904, aged 4 years.” (The parents of deceased desire to thank all those who have expressed sympathy with them in their sad bereavement.)