Rotherham Main Colliery

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Ainsworth, T., 15 Nov 1890, (accident: 07 Nov 1890), aged 42, Undermanager, Struck on head. Died 15th Nov

Allott, John, 24 Feb 1909, aged 53, Collier, Fall of roof. The deceased with others was building a pack and it is conjectured that he accidentally knocked out a prop and this allowed a very large stone to fall. The roof was shot shaken and contained treacherous partings. It should have been pulled down

Askew, George, 08 Sep 1913, aged 21, Trammer, Deceased was building a pack with some ripping when he was killed by a fall of roof. The place was not sufficiently timbered

Bailey, Denis, 09 Mar 1911, aged 54, Dayman, He was assisting a driver to bring a full tub out of a stall and was slightly crushed about the chest. Pneumonia supervened, and he died

Bailey, J., 07 Dec 1891, aged 35, Sinker, Hit by truck

Bailey, J., 08 Apr 1903, aged 39, Collier, Fall of roof in a working place. Cause — a slip

Bates, Walter, 13 Feb 1911, aged 36, Collier, He was engaged in coal getting when a large stone 9 feet long by 4 feet wide and 17 inches thick fell from a "pot-hole" striking him on the head and fracturing his skull. The stone fell between the props which were set within the specified distance, but a bar should have been set under the "pot-hole"

Bell, Percy, 04 Apr 1919, aged 25, Filler, Assisting to set boring tackle at ripping lip when there was a bump and a large stone fell and pinned him to ground

Bird, Cecil, 29 Sep 1910, (accident: 21 Sep 1910), aged 25, Collier, Whilst filling a tub near the coal face a piece of clod fell and knocked out a prop. The prop hit deceased on the chest and knocked him down. He died on the 29 September

Bradley, F., 23 Sep 1896, aged 30, Collier, Fall of roof

Brailsford, J., 12 Apr 1910, aged 26, Trammer, He was helping to remove a fall of roof when a piece of stone fell from the roof on to his back. Timber should have been used to protect the men who were removing the fall

Briggs, Tom, 10 Jun 1912, aged 33, Collier, Deceased strained himself whilst pushing a full tub of dirt. He died the same day

Carney, Henry, 15 Jun 1913, aged 42, Labourer, He was walking along a range of pipes, 36 inches in diameter, when he tripped or slipped and fell 23 feet to the ground

Cooper, Albert Thomas, 15 Sep 1904, aged 35, Collier, A fall of roof occurred which displaced a prop and killed him

Crane, J., 25 Nov 1900, aged 29, Labourer, Was descending in cage, with five other men. to repair the conductors, when he stumbled and fell out to bottom of shaft

Dack, G., 07 Jul 1891, aged 38, Sinker, Stay broke to which was suspended one of the chains of the scaffold causing it to tilt when the men fell off [More information ...]

Davenport, John, 26 Feb 1905, (accident: 25 Feb 1905), aged 45, Corn-grinder, He, contrary to rules, got over a fence to oil machinery when it was in motion and was caught and so severely injured that he died the following day

Deakin, Clifford E., 26 Dec 1913, aged 30, Shunter, Deceased was on night duty, and while some wagons were being moved by the locomotive he got underneath, probably while uncoupling, and was fatally crushed. He was using a hand lamp, and the surface lighting was too far away to give any efficient illumination

Dyson, Joshua, 09 Sep 1907, aged 45, Collier, He was bannocking at the face when he apparently liberated the corner of a piece of roof stone or ripping at a slip ; this stone, which measured 5 feet by 3 feet by 2 feet thick, fell upon and killed him. The ripping had been got down father close to the face on the previous shift and there was a canch at the left side as well as the front. He ought to have seen a slip which was running into the face and either supported the stone or got it down and in not doing so he and his mate committed a grave error of judgment

Easthope, Alfred E., 23 Apr 1913, aged 18, Rope Hand, He was run over by three of seven trams which had run away down a steep self-acting incline, owing to the failure of a coupling hook. There was no evidence of unusual strain on the coupling. Two persons stated that they had examined the coupling a few minutes before the accident happened and considered it safe, although it had been running some time and was worn. Proper refuge holes were provided at the bottom of the incline, but deceased had so placed a train of empties that they blocked the entrance to one of them. His body was found under the tubs opposite to the next outbye refuge hole

Edwards, George, 22 Sep 1908, aged 21, Electrician, He was walking up an endless rope haulage road when he was caught by a runaway empty tub which had become liberated from the hauling rope owing to a defective link of a lashing chain breaking. The chain was made of iron 5/16 in. diameter but the weld had not been a good one. Refuge holes are provided within the distances required by the Coal Mines Act, but the travelling way is between the rail roads, and the deceased had evidently become confused — he would not be able to tell whether the runaway tub was an empty or full one — and did not get into a refuge hole

Edwards, J., 10 May 1912, aged 55, Collier, Deceased was drawing back timber when he was buried by a fall of roof, 7 feet by 2 feet by 6 inches. Whether he was using a dog and chain or a hammer was not determined

Edwards, J. W., 27 Jul 1903, aged 17, Hurrier, Was loading a tub close to the coal face when several pieces burst off the face, one struck him and injured him so severely that he died the same day. Cause — a sudden weight or bump

Ellis, John, 22 May 1912, (accident: 11 May 1912), aged 59, Dataller, He and another man were ripping and packing a wide roadway driven in the solid coal, and while in the act of packing, a fall 4 feet 6 inches long, 3 feet wide, and 3 inches thick fell across his shoulders, fracturing his spine. He died 11 days later. The other man's right leg was fractured

Evans, Joseph, 21 Jul 1910, 7.30 p.m., aged 54, Collier, The three men were working in a long-wall face. Joseph Evans was setting a prop when a large stone fell from a cavity in the goaf, knocked out a prop and smashed a safety lamp. The fall brought down fire-damp from the cavity and a sharp explosion resulted. All the men were so severely burnt that they subsequently died [More information ...]

Evans, Reginald, 21 Jul 1910, 7.30 p.m., aged 24, Filler, The three men were working in a long-wall face. Joseph Evans was setting a prop when a large stone fell from a cavity in the goaf, knocked out a prop and smashed a safety lamp. The fall brought down fire-damp from the cavity and a sharp explosion resulted. All the men were so severely burnt that they subsequently died [More information ...]

Evans, William, 06 Apr 1909, aged 48, Collier, Fall of side. Evans was engaged repacking, when a piece of rock from the side fell on to him

Firth, David, 17 May 1919, aged 40, Collier, He was withdrawing a prop from goaf without using safety apparatus when it gave way and large piece of rock fell on him

Fletcher, Albert, 21 Jul 1910, 7.30 p.m., aged 24, Filler, The three men were working in a long-wall face. Joseph Evans was setting a prop when a large stone fell from a cavity in the goaf, knocked out a prop and smashed a safety lamp. The fall brought down fire-damp from the cavity and a sharp explosion resulted. All the men were so severely burnt that they subsequently died [More information ...]

Godfrey, John, 16 Jun 1910, aged 21, Rope Hand, His leg became entangled in the lashing chain used for fastening the tubs to the endless rope. He was pushed in front of the tubs and one ran over him with fatal results

Grady, J., 04 Jul 1903, aged 27, Labourer, Was working at the front of a patent coke oven and stood on a pipe to let the travelling ram pass instead of coming down. There was room for him to stand in safety, but he probably slipped as the ram was passing and was crushed between it and a vertical gas pipe

Greenaway, G., 07 Jul 1891, aged 38, Sinker, Stay broke to which was suspended one of the chains of the scaffold causing it to tilt when the men fell off [More information ...]

Gwynnel, Philip, 13 Aug 1924, 11 a.m., 5th hour of shift, aged 64, Dataller, He was assisting to withdraw timber and was attempting to withdraw a wood chock, having loosened a wedge on one corner, when a piece of stone fell from the roof and caught him. The stone fell from between the chock and a temporary prop which had just been set. Two slips leaning to each other were exposed by the fall

Harper, A. E., 14 Nov 1910, aged 18, Rope Lad, He was riding in an empty tub on an endless rope haulage road and was crushed between the girders of an overcast and the end of the tub

Hawksworth, Joseph, 12 Jun 1907, (accident: 06 Jun 1907), aged 27, Screen Chargeman, An angle iron stay was placed between a girder and another carrying the pedestals of a chain driven wheel on which there was some vibration. He was felling at the end of this stay, in order to ascertain whether the bolts were tight while the machinery was in motion. He was standing on the top of a fence rail and his coat was caught by a revolving shaft and he was carried round it and so severely injured that he died on the 12th inst. He should have stopped the machinery before attempting to do what he did

Higgins, John, 27 Mar 1904, aged 42, Labourer, He was assisting other men to tighten the scraper chain of the small coal conveyor, and while doing so was caught by the scrapers and drawn between the wheel and the chain. There was plenty of room, and the machinery was well fenced

Hopkinson, Jim, 10 Nov 1914, aged 18, Motor Attendant, He was working in the washer when a fuse burst and some of the metal fell into a bucket of benzol which had been used for cleaning. There was no explosion but only slow combustion, and deceased was trying to get the bucket out of the building when the flames spread and enveloped him

Hughes, William, 07 Nov 1912, aged 15, Engine Driver, He was in charge of a small auxiliary hauling engine drawing tubs from the coal face. The starting valve was so placed that if there was slack tail rope he had to reach over the rope to get at the valve. He was doing this and started his engine too rapidly, and the tail rope, when it drew taut suddenly, struck him under the chin and broke his neck

Jones, Thomas, 27 Feb 1905, aged 55, Collier, He had just pulled down some clod and was in the act of throwing it on to a partly built pack, when a fall of roof, caused by sudden weighting, took place and killed him

Kelham, J., 26 Jun 1901, aged 15, Driver, Found dead under full tubs. Appeared to have been riding on the shafts

Lambert, William, 24 Feb 1912, (accident: 01 Apr 1911), aged 20, Rope hand, He was walking along the road when he caught his head against a girder, which caused him to fall and an empty run of tubs ran over him. He died on 24th February, 1912

Lidgett, P., 19 Mar 1897, aged 47, Collier, Fall of roof

Lidster, John, 18 Dec 1924, 10 a.m., 5th hour of shift, aged 15, Pony Driver, He was sent by a deputy from one drift to another along a haulage road for a distance of some 250 yards, to prepare some clay pellets for stemming. He completed the work and was apparently returning to fetch his snap as an empty set of tubs was being drawn towards him. The engine driver suddenly felt the rope tighten and stopped the set. The boy was found near the front end of the set. The rope had fouled a sleeper and it is surmised he was attempting to liberate it when a sleeper or a rail, raised suddenly by the rope, struck him

Maloney, T., 22 Dec 1900, aged 59, Labourer, Was crossing the sidings when locomotive was pushing waggons up. They ran over him

Maylier, S., 21 Dec 1900, aged 19, Incline boy, Knocked down by tub on inclined plane

McClements, Thomas Henry, 23 Oct 1908, aged 15, Pony Driver, He was driving between the working face and a pass-bye 300 yards away. His usual load was five tubs. The gradient was a slight one — about ¼ inch per yard except for a distance of 12 yards where it increased to about 2¼ ins. per yard in favour of the full load. Where the heavy gradient was two lockers were used with five full tubs. The road was, generally speaking, a good one, but the height of the bars supporting the roof from the floor varied, and at the place of the accident there was a low bar at the bottom of the heavier gradient. He was taking a set of four tubs, and when walking in front of the pony appears to have caught his head against the low bar and fallen, and before he could get up the pony and three of the tubs ran over him and killed him

Mitchell, James, 12 Apr 1905, aged 24, Dayman, When attempting to pull down a slab of rook 2 inches thick, a piece 15 ft. by 10 ft. suddenly fell upon his head and shoulders and killed him

Mobbs, Thomas Davis, 17 Nov 1912, aged 39, Stoneman, He had been timbering some heavy ground in front of some arching on main level and was standing on a scaffold 5 feet high, when the timbering above collapsed, and he was buried under three tons of soft ground that fell from the sides, and was suffocated

Moody, Frederick, 16 Sep 1919, aged 23, Dataller, Assiting rippers as they were setting a stretcher and was standing on a tub to do this. He was handling covering tmber when there was a sudden fall reeling out 6 bars and killing him

Moor, W., 01 Apr 1903, (accident: 31 Mar 1903), aged 22, Filler, Died 1st April. Was wedging coal from the face when a large flake suddenly burst off and fatally injured him. Cause — a sudden weight

Needham, J., 05 Aug 1891, aged 19, Pumpman, Fell down shaft

Newland, John H., 19 Apr 1915, aged 58, Collier, Withdrawing prop in waste without a safety appliance. Body found beyond supported roof

Poundall, Neri, 29 Dec 1898, aged 25, Collier, Fall of roof measuring 19 feet in length,4 feet wide, 18 inches thick

Roberts, Robert, 05 May 1909, aged 15, Pony Driver, He was found dead between the side and the first tub of a train he was taking along a level with a pony. It is probable that he had stumbled when passing in front of the train

Roebuck, B., 24 Jun 1898, aged 52, Dataller, Crushed by corves on engine plane

Roebuck, James, 17 Jan 1907, (accident: 06 Nov 1906), aged 61, Collier, When shovelling coal into a tub on November 6th, 1906, he hit his hand against the coal face and bruised it. Blood poisoning set in from which he died

Ross, Frederick, 12 Dec 1910, aged 38, Ripper, Killed by a heavy fall of roof in a haulage road at a place where rock was being blasted to make room for tension gear. The fall was probably due to the roof being shot-shaken and to the large area being left unsupported [More information ...]

Ross, Wilfred, 12 Dec 1910, aged 15, Assistant, Killed by a heavy fall of roof in a haulage road at a place where rock was being blasted to make room for tension gear. The fall was probably due to the roof being shot-shaken and to the large area being left unsupported [More information ...]

Rowley, George, 09 Jul 1912, (accident: 17 May 1912), aged 45, Collier, He slipped down with his elbow on a rail. Blood poisoning set in and he died on the 9th July

Sampy, J., 07 Jul 1891, aged 34, Sinker, Stay broke to which was suspended one of the chains of the scaffold causing it to tilt when the men fell off [More information ...]

Sharp, George William, 21 Jul 1908, aged 25, Corporal, The deceased was putting a "drag" on the last full tub of a set of two, which a driver was taking out, at about 400 yards from the coal face, when a full of stone suddenly took place from the roof and caught him, and he was so seriously injured that he died the same afternoon. A seam 250 yards below was being worked, and a longwall face was approaching the place of the accident. This, no doubt, was the cause of the fatality

Skidmore, John Charles, 16 Jun 1905, aged 27, Trammer, He was filling coal in front of the gateway when a large fall, displacing three props, occurred and killed him. A slip, which could not be seen before the fall took place, caused the accident

Stanley, E., 02 Mar 1899, (accident: 03 Feb 1899), aged 32, Collier, Fall of roof. Died 2nd March

Steel, Erasmus, 25 Nov 1913, aged 33, Fan Engineman, Deceased was found caught between the rope pulley on the fan shaft and a brick pillar carrying one of the shaft bearings. He seems to have stopped the fan by reason of ropes mounting in the drive, and then to have fallen from, or been drawn from, the pillar mentioned

Thornton, R., 26 Jan 1892, (accident: 25 Aug 1891), aged 28, Sinker, Trunk struck him in shaft. Died 26th Jan 1892

Tinker, Ashley, 13 May 1905, aged 16, Pony-driver, When lifting a tub on to rails he strained himself internally

Wadsworth, Thomas, 15 Dec 1913, aged 28, Collier, In shovelling loose coal from a floor weakened by water he underpinned a prop. The prop gave way at the foot and a stone weighing 3 cwts. fell on Wadsworth, injuring him so severely that he died the same night. There was no breach of the timbering rules

Walton, George, 30 Sep 1914, aged 33, Stallman, The filler, in bringing a full tub of coal out of the stall to the gate-end, knocked out a prop which allowed a little stone to fall from the roof. He called to deceased to come and remove the stone and whilst he was doing so a further fall of about a ton of stone occurred and killed him

Wickson, H., 26 Mar 1901, aged 29, Shunter, Run over by wagons during shunting operations at night

Wilkinson, Walter, 31 May 1911, aged 14, Horse Driver, Deceased was in charge of a horse pulling a full tub from the gate-end. He appeared to have been standing between the horse and the tub, and when the horse suddenly moved the tub threw deceased into a prop by the side of the road and fatally crushed him. The collier had left the gate-end and gone back to his work. It was the duty of the collier to see the boy start safely from the gate-end, but he went back to his working place instead of waiting

Wilson, J., 19 Jan 1894, aged 16, Stoker, Crushed by waggon

Young, Adam, 16 May 1905, aged 36, Shot-firer, When charging a vertical hole in the roof of a road with three cartridges of kynite by means of a wooden rammer the charge exploded killing him and causing injuries to another man. The detonator probably got displaced, and in pressing the charge to the top of the hole it came in contact with the side of the hole and was thus exploded