South Yorkshire Times August 31, 1937
Kilnhurst Pit Cage Crash
Winder’s Admission
Inquest Verdict on Victim
Lever in Wrong Position
“Death was due to an accident caused by over winding. There was an error of judgement by the engine winder.”
This was the jury’s virtue after a short retirement at the resumed inquest on Wednesday at Rotherham, on Joe Sales (54), miner, of 22 Apollo St, Rawmarsh, victim of the cage crashed at Kilnhurst Colliery on July 28, in which 16 other men were injured.
The evidence showed that a safety device known as a slow banker would have automatically prevented the crashing of the cage in which Sales on the other men were descending if a lever controlling the engine had been in the position for winding men and not for winding coal.
The devices brought into operation when the cage goes too fast providing the lever is in the right position.
William Henry Watson, the engine winder, admitted his responsibility.
16 other men were injured in the crash and are progressing favourably, though some have since had limbs amputated.
The coroner (Mr J Kenyon Parker) had with him Mr E Evans, senior inspector of mines.
At the outset the coroner said an enquiry into a winding accident was particularly important, and was a question of concern not only to the colliery company to every man who had to go down the pit.
“No criminal negligence”
“I gather that the question here is a comparatively simple one. There is no searching out of what was the cause of the accident. It seems to be agreed that the cause was the cage been wound too far.
“In my opinion no question of criminal negligence will arise here.”
John Henry Beeman, chief engineer at Kilnhurst colliery, said at 2.45 pm he heard a bump coming from the direction of number 2 pit head gear, and saw the end of the winding road fly into the air and drop on the frame of the head gear.
“I went to the engine house and saw William Henry Watson, the winding man, standing 6 feet behind his chair.
“I asked if he was all right, and he said, ‘Yes, I am quite all right.’ He appeared to be very calm. I asked what had happened and he replied ‘I don’t know’.”
The steam lever was in the “off” position, it was perfectly clear that the cage was over wound. The over winding apparatus had operated and put on the brakes. The ascending cage was safely hung up.
Lever’s Wrong Position
Referring to device known as the slow banker which enables the speed of the cage to be regulated down to 5 feet a second, the witness said there were two positions for this appliance, one for drawing coal another for drawing men.
As men have been drawn on this occasion slow banker should have been in the “men” position.
“It was in the ‘coal’ position,” added witness.
“I called Upson’s attention to this and said, ‘you have not got the slow banker in the “men” position.’ His reply was:’ I know it. I admit it.’”
If the appliance had been in the “men” position the accident would not have happened.
Answering Mr Carr, witness said he had known Hutton for nine years and knew he was very well regarded by the colliery company as a capable workman. No damage was done to the cage.
“Stopped then vibrated”
A description of the ride in the ascending cage was given by John Rix, miner, of 21, Victoria Street, Kilnhurst, who, with 11 others, was riding up on the bottom deck.
The cage travelled normally until it was 20 yards below the usual landing stage. It then seemed to go quicker, past the landing stage and went up to the second landing stage, when it suddenly stopped. It then dropped a yard and then began to shake and vibrate.
“The shaking got worse, and the cage jumped backwards and forwards like a swing,” added witness.
“Eventually it came to a standstill and I opened the gate and with another man jumped out onto the landing stage.”
42 years service
William Henry Hudson (59), 44 Toll Bar Road, Swinton, said he had worked at Kilnhurst colliery for 42 years, through all stages up to winding engineman, been appointed winding engineman in 1924.
On 28th July he was on duty at 2 o’clock, but actually took over at 1.50. He was winding coal up to 2.30 then started winding men.
The accident happened on the third “wind” of men, and up to then witness had noticed nothing wrong.
His mistake
It was his practice to stop winding men on a half throttle and when the cages met in the shaft he shut off steam altogether and completed the wind by using the brakes. For the last 200 yards he usually controlled the cages with the brakes.
He became aware that something was wrong when the control was knocked off. He got up from his chair and going to the end of the engine house, saw the rope was slack.
“I realised then that the ascending cage had gone into the detachment gear.”
Question by the Coroner, witness admitted that he made a mistake in not having the lever at the “men” position.
The accident happened after witness had been on duty 50 minutes. The engine room was “pretty warm.”
John Edward Henshaw, HM Inspector of Mines, said the installation the slow banking device at Kilnhurst Colliery was 3 ½ years in advance of the regulations.