South Yorkshire Times, January 27th, 1933

Undue Risk

Timbering Precautions Neglected At Houghton

Fatal Sequel

“I saw him coming down the drift on a stretcher. He moaned ,and died before he got to the pit bottom. He had a fractured spine.”

The last phase of an underground tragedy at Houghton Colliery was thus described by as ambulance man at an inquest at Darfield on Wednesday. The subject of the inquest was William Archibald Booth (49), of 6, Station Road, Wombwell, who was killed by a fall of roof in the Melton Field seam at Houghton Main on Monday morning.

At the inquest it was stated that whereas the timbering rules specified that bars should not be more than five feet apart at the coal face there was an unsupported space of ten feet at the point where the fall occurred.

“We can all be wise after the event,” said the Coroner (Mr. C. J. Haworth), “but it is regrettable that the timbering was not done. I hope these precautions will be taken in future.”

There were present at the inquest, Mr. J. Taylor (manager), Mr. J. D. Tilley (under-manager), Mr. T. Green (H.M. Inspector of Mines), and Mr. T. W. Illsley (representing the Yorkshire Miners’ Association).

The widow gave evidence of identification.

Thomas Gaskill, Snape Hill, Darfield said he was working with Booth in No. 2 South district of the Melton Field seam. They commenced work at 6-30, and the fall occurred about 10 o’clock. They were jointly responsible for the timbering of the place. Two bars had been set and the fall came between the second bar and the buttock, where there was a space of what he judged to be about four feet.

The Coroner: It is suggested that the space was ten feet. We are trying to find that out.

Witness said they had not noticed any slips in the roof. He was working about a yard away from Booth when the roof fell in.

The Coroner: What is the rule about timbering?—It has not to exceed four feet in distance. We had to clear the place before another bar could be put up.

In reply to Mr. Green witness said they were preparing for another bar, one working at the buttock and the other on the floor.

Mr. Green: Could you not have set a safety prop until you could get a bar in?—Yes.

Do you think that would have kept it up? —I cannot tell, it might have knocked out the prop.

Mr. Illsley: Don’t you think it was more than four feet from the place where the coal was standing to where you had set a bar?—That is all I can picture it to be.

Nothing but that stone had fallen so far as you remember?—That is all.

Is it usual to go that distance without setting temporary timber?—No.

Do you usually set a safety prop?—Yes.

In this case you did not?—No.

Further replying to’ Mr. Illsley, witness said he remembered putting in a round “nog” about eighteen inches from the face to fill up a cavity.      This would indicate to a practical pitman that there was a slip. The slip ran out where the “nog” was, and the top looked sound after that. They did not notice a slip in the place a here the fall occurred.

Robert Davis, 5, Tunstall Cross, Wombwell, said he was working about twenty yards away when Gaskill shouted. Going into the place he found Booth lying on his side buried from his knees downward by a fall of roof. Having moved a large stone he spoke to Booth, who drew his legs out himself. Booth said, “It is my body.” They carried him away on a stretcher and he died in the pit. The fall of stone had revealed what seemed to be a “pot-hole.” He could not say whether any timber came down with the stone.

Insufficient Timbering.

Mr. John Taylor (the manager) said that on hearing of the accident he went down the pit and saw Booth on the stretcher about ten minutes later.             He proceeded to the working place and found that bind weighing between fifteen cwt. and a ton had fallen from the roof. The seam was about 4ft. 2in. thick and no ripping had been done in this place. The fall had apparently come from a slip.

The Coroner: What was the distance from the last face bar to the buttock end?—About ten feet.

Witness added that he looked particularly for timber under the bar but found none. The distance from the face to the second row of bars was about 4ft. 6in.

The Coroner: Then the fall has taken place in an unsupported area of 10ft. by.4ft. 6in.?—Yes. but that is not the exact size of the fall. The fall would be something; like half that.

What is the timbering distance in the pit? —Five feet.

Witness explained that the timbering rules would have permitted an unsupported space of 5ft. by 6ft. The fall had occurred between two slips which might not have been visible before the fall occurred.

In reply to Mr. Green, witness said that be visited the place it had been cleared of coal. A bar should have been set as the coal was taken up. The thickness of the “bottom” varied from two to six inches, according to how the coal cutter had worked. He thought the slips had a bearing on the fall.

Prop Might Have Saved Life.

GaskiII having been recalled, the Coroner ‘pointed out to him the inconsistency of the statements with regard to the distance of the timbering, and also the Inspector’s remarks about the question of setting a safety prop.

Joseph Beaumont, the deputy, 40, Edward St, Wombwell, said when he went through the place about 8 AM, Booth and Gaskill were clean up the call in the face. No slips were then visible. As they filled the call they did not September. Visiting the place after the accident he found that two bars have been set since his previous inspection.

Mr Green: Do you think if there had been a bar set at this place as the bottom was taken up, it would have prevented the fall? – Yes

Witness said there was plenty of timber props as well as bars, along the face and in the gates. The timber that had been set over the conveyor track was quite sound and safe.

Mr Illsley referred to a shot hole in the face, and witness agreed there was a possibility of the shop having chatted and disintegrated the roof, though he did not think that that had happened in this case. In reply to the Coroner, Beaumont said they had to guard against hidden slips.

Neglected Precaution.

Summing up, the Coroner said that according to the plan produced there was a distance of 10 feet between the last face bar to the buttock end. Whether or not the fall would have occurred if another prop or bar had been set they could not exactly say, but it was to be regretted that the precaution was not taken. It was clear to anyone with a technical manner even though no slips was visible there might be a slip present. Although a roof looked good that was no reason why precautions should not be taken.

In reply to a juror, the deputy said Booth was a careful and capable man.

The Coroner: In all walks of life things go wrong when you don’t expect them to.

A verdict of “Death by Misadventure” was returned.

Sympathy for the widows and relatives was expressed by the manager, Mr T.W.Isley and Mr T. Lancaster on behalf of the jury.

Booth had been employed at Houghton Main for 30 years.