1879 Havannah Haydock Richard Evans and Co.
Certificated manager Henry Potter.
01-01-1873 to 31-12 1878 there had been 8 deaths in the pit and there were 9 in 1879. 1882 James Baines manager. Deaths 1872 to 1881 12. 1882 2 Total 14.
15th. August 1868.
Fatal Accident at Coal Pit.
An inquest was held at the Engine Inn, Parr on the body of James Parr, collier employed at the Havannah colliery. He was standing at the pit eye waiting for the ascent for the cage and when it approached he stepped back too far and fell down the shaft into the dib hole, The jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental Drowning’. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
16-09-1892.
Havannah Fatality. Whitter got everybody’s sympathy. (St Helens Lantern)
11th. April 1874.
James Pye aged 40 years, a proptaker was killed by a fall of the roof while drawing chocks. (Mines Inspectors Report)
2nd. October. 1874
FAREWELL.
On Friday the workers of the colliery said farewell to the late manager of the colliery, Mr. James Newton. Mr. Arthur Span gave a short speech and presented Mr. Newton with a fine picture of Winwick Church there were further speeches and songs from some others. (St Helens Lantern)
5th. February 1875. George Webster aged 33 years, a dataller was killed by fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
10th. April 1875.
Frightful Colliery Accident.
In an accident at the Havannah colliery, one man was killed instantly and other men were injured very seriously. The three men were being wound up and instead of stopping at the pit mouth, it was wound into the headgear. The three saw the danger and one, John Francis leapt from the cage and fell down the shaft. The other two men Edward Kay and Abraham Morris were injured. Kay sustained a fracture to his thigh, a broken arm and severe cuts to his face and was taken to the Cottage Hospital. The other man Morris, also had his thigh fractured and was taken to his house. In early reports, it was stated that both men were progressing satisfactorily. Kay had to have his leg amputated and died soon after. The winder was struck by a piece of iron as he looked and saw that the indicator was wrong and the cage was going up into the headgear very fast before he could stop the engine. He was completely buried as the headgear came through the roof of the engine house and demolished part of the gable end of the building. The engine house was equipped with a patent indicator that worked with the cage and a weight that rang a bell to indicate when the winder should shut down the engine. In this case, the bell had not worked as the wire had broken. At the inquest, John Francis aged 28 years and Edward Kay aged 25 years. Henry Potter the manager of the colliery was alerted of the accident by a pit brow girl, Sarah Bradbury and when he went he found that the headgear was down and entangled with the cage. David Mercer, the browman and Thomas Atkinson, the hooker-on both gave their accounts of the accident. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
15th. February 1875.
Fatal Accident at Havannah Colliery.
The accident occurred on a Friday afternoon when George Webster was killed and another man Robert Evans was seriously injured. It appeared that Webster was working in the No.2 pit when a large stone, about two tons in weight, fell from the roof. Two men David Winn and Thomas Kelly went to help and found that Webster was dead and Evans very seriously injured. The inquest brought in a verdict of ‘accidental death’. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
6th. April 1875.
TWO MEN KILLED AT PARR.
Edward Kay aged 25 years a collier and John Francis aged 30 years, a collier were killed in a serious case of overwinding which took place at the colliery. Another man, Abraham Morris sustained a fractured thigh. The inquests were held in the Primrose Vaults in Park Road Parr. John Francis, the father of the deceased said that his son went to work at 5.30 a.m. and the first that he heard of the accident was at 4.30 p.m. when someone told him that his son had been “pulled in”. This was not the first time that this had happened. Three weeks ago his son had told him that he had a horror of going to work. Martha Kay said that her husband left home at 5 a.m. and was brought home in the afternoon complaining that his thigh was broken. She said that he gave no account of the accident except the cage was going up very fast and he jumped out. He had complained about the engineer before now. Henry Low, the certificated manager at the colliery, who lived at the colliery said that he had been informed by a pit brow girl and went to the No.2 downcast shaft to find that the cage was entangled with the headgear. The two injured men were transported home in a cart with plenty of straw and they were obviously badly hurt. Someone said that another had fallen down the shaft. a new cage was rigged and sent down for the men at work. Sixty men were brought out of the pit and the last came up with the body of Francis. David Mercer, the browman, was at his post and Thomas Atherton the hooker-on said that the signals were given as usual and the cage went up. He saw the empty cage come down faster than usual and heard a noise and found it broken at the bottom. He afterwards found the body of Francis at the pit bottom. Sarah Bradley worked on the pit brow to put in the catches and as the cage came up it went past her and she put her hands over her eyes. Henry Potter (sen.) said that the method of working the indicator was an old one and Henry Potter (Jnr), the engineman said that a piece of iron came through the roof and struck his arm. He saw that the cage had gone too far and reversed the engine. The engine itself was an old locomotive, ‘The Sultan’ and the pit was 340 yards deep. Mr. Hall, the Inspector, said that the indicator was not satisfactory. The inquest was adjourned and resumed on Wednesday when Edward Smith said that eleven weeks ago the cage containing John Daniel, James Pye, James Critchley and the deceased Francis was taken up and not down. The jury took twenty minutes and found that the engineman was guilty of negligence and that the management was guilty of not maintaining the indicator. A charge of manslaughter was preferred against the engineman and he was released on bail of £50 and committed to the next assizes. The Inspector commented in his report;- “Various inventions have been brought before the public with a view to the prevention of this kind of accident but they all deal with the accident after it had happened. The most desirable arrangement would perhaps be some automatic gearing in connection with the winding engine to prevent the cage being wound beyond a certain point.” (St. Helens Standard) (Mines Inspectors Report)
26th. February 1876.
George Atherton aged 37 years, a dataller was killed at the colliery by fall of roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1st. November 1876.
James Topping aged 30 years, a bankrider, was scalded and suffocated to death by a sudden burst of a steam pipe. (Mines Inspectors Report)
13th. August 1877.
Fatal Colliery Accident at St. Helens.
At an inquest at the Engine Inn, Havannah, Parr on the body of Richard Williams aged 20 years who was killed at the Havannah colliery, it was heard that he was working with three other men in removing a quantity of rubbish which had fallen from the roof. All had been cleared about 2 p.m. when three stones fell from the roof one of them weighing about a hundredweight struck him on the back of the head killing him on the spot. His body was removed home at Mount Pleasant, Havannah. The jury recorded a verdict of ‘accidental death’. (Prescot Reporter)
12th. July 1878.
Robert Lancaster aged 43 years, a collier was crushed to death against the coal face with his own tub when going downhill into his working place. (Mines Inspectors Report)
24th. July 1880.
Colliery Fatality at St. Helens
John Orrell aged 29 years at Messrs Evans Collieries at Parr went to work in the no.2 Pit. he was proceeding with a number of coal waggons to the top of the ‘crow’, sitting on top of the first waggon. John Talland, a night fireman noticed a delay and went to investigate. He found the deceased with his head jammed between the roof and the waggon. He was released but found to be dead. A verdict of accidental death was returned at the inquest. (Prescot Reporter)
6th. July 1880.
John Orrell aged 23 years, a gangrider was killed when he was caught against the roof as he was riding up the brow. (Mines Inspectors Report)
16th. December 1880.
James Smith aged 14 years a drawer was killed when a piece of stone slipped off the pack and knocked off a prop from under the top coal which fell on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1th. March 1881.
Thomas Potter aged 23 years, a fireman and Joseph Woodward aged 27 years, a dataller was killed by a sudden fall of the roof in a drawing road while blowing up the floor. (Mines Inspectors Report)
7th. June 1884.
Coals Got Cheaply.
At the Police Court, Richard Basnett of Parr was charged with stealing sixty pounds of coal from Hanvannah colliery. Constable Barker was on duty at the colliery and he noticed some lads taking coal from a wagon in the sidings. They were loading the coal into bags with a shovel and the prisoner was going towards his own house with the coal when he was apprehended. When challenged he was told that others took the coal as well as the prisoner. He was fined 10/- with costs. (Prescot Reporter)
27th. August 1885.
John Ruscoe aged 50 years, a metalman was renewing timber and was setting some middle props under some bars that threatened to fall when a heavy fall occurred killing him. He was an experienced man and was supplied with all the required materials. (Mines Inspectors Report)
17th. May 1886.
Richard Foster aged 17 years, a drawer was sent to clear some dirt in a balance brow and was lowering a tub without attaching a rope when it overpowered him and he was crushed against a prop and killed. (Mines Inspectors Report)
4th. August 1886.
John Wynne aged 17 years, a drawer jumped into a gang going up the engine plane to ride out to the shaft which was against the rules and he was crushed against the roof at a low point in the road and was killed. (Mines Inspectors Report)
18th. May 1887.
Neglect of Collier
Thomas Duffy appeared at the St. Helens Police Court. He was employed By Evans and Company at Havannah Colliery and was charged with a breach of the colliery regulations namely by working in the mine without setting sufficient props. The case was proved and the Bench inflicted a fine of 10/- and 6/6d. costs or fourteen days. (Prescot Reporter)
1st. October 1887.
Breach of the Coal Mining Act.
At St. Helens Police Court a man named Thomas Law of Chancery Lane, Parr, a collier at Havannah colliery was charged with a breach of the Act. On the 13th a fireman named Irving was doing his rounds when he found the man in his place had not set a sufficient number of sprags to prevent the coal from falling. He had set only one and there should have been six. He was fined 20/- plus costs. (Prescot Reporter)
5th. November 1887.
Negligent Collier at St. Helens.
At the Police Court, William Pedley of Haydock was charged with neglecting to set props at Havannah colliery. It was heard that he set five or six tons f coal without any support. He had been spoken to on several occasions and he was fined 20/- with costs. (Prescot Reporter)
2nd. December 1887.
Joseph Hancock aged 24 years, a shunter was killed when some waggons were being shunted into the colliery from the mainline and he was putting down the brake when the waggon he was on was pushed forward and he was crushed. (Mines Inspectors Report)
10th. March 1888.
Important Mining Prosecutions at St. Helens.
Several men who worked at Richard Evans Havannah No.2 pit brought prosecutions against the company for damages for breach of contract. William Forshaw, Patrick Wynn, James Lawrence, Henry Cross, William Hughes, James Marsh, Peter Prior, William Foster and William Cross brought an action under the Workman’s Act of 1875. On the 22nd March, there was an ordinary balance pulley at the top of the brow with a box attached to it filled with material. This had been working satisfactorily for some time. On the 22nd January, the coal boxes were taken to the bottom of the brow by ponies and the officials thought the balance would replace the ponies. The machinery was tried and it did work but the men said that it delayed them in their work and then the box was put on to help them. The following morning the men came to work and it was reported to the manager, Mr. Andrews that some of the men would not work unless there was a balancer to assist. Andrews went to the place and met Prior and Close coming out. They said they would not work without a balancer and he allowed them to go up the pit. The court was told that the matter had been settled with the men and the case was withdrawn. (Prescot Reporter)
2nd. June 1888.
Action against Richard Evans and Co.
At St. Helens Police Court before Mr. Bishop, Richard Evans and Company were summoned by James and Robert Bradbury for wages alleged to be due and the recovery of some tools alleged to have been detained by the Company. For three days the men had worked under contract at Havannah colliery and claimed 6/10d. for their tools which were a wedge and drill. It was said in court that the case had been settled and the Company had agreed to the men’s demands. (St. Helens Reporter)
15th. March 1889.
Collier Failing to Protect Himself.
At the St. Helens Petty Sessions before Alderman Harrison, John Greenall of Parr and William Francis of Moss bank were charged under the Mines Act for not setting sprags. Greenall pleaded guilty and Francis was not present. Mr. Swift of Richard Evans and Co. said they worked at No.1 Havannah pit and on Monday 24th. the underlooker told them to set timber and later found they had not done so and there might have been a fall. They were found guilty and fined 10/- with costs of 6/6d.
1st. August 1890.
Singular Death of a Collier. At the inquest on Daniel Green, collier aged 48 years who lived in Hardshaw Street it was heard that he was working and had died from injuries received the Friday before. He was attended by the assistant to Doctor Heywood who stated that death was due to consumption accelerated by inflammation of the leg caused by the accident. Charlotte Williams, the sister of the deceased said he was taken to hospital on the 11th of May as he had a piece of stone between his knee and his trousers and the wound had gathered. The Doctor thought that this condition had accelerated his death. It was stated that the man was a member of the Miners’ Association. The Corner said that it was s an unsatisfactory case and the cause of death could not be stated exactly. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death.
29th. November 1901.
Haydock Colliery Fatality.
Mr. Brighouse held an inquest at the Waggon and Horses Hotel into the death of William Turner, a daywageman, who died in the Cottage Hospital form injuries received by a runaway box in the Rushy Park Mine at the colliery. Mr. John Robinson, traffic manager of the colliery, and Mr. Stevenson, certified manager were present for the Company. Jane Turner said that the deceased was her husband and they lived at 17, Station Road, Haydock. She saw him in the hospital and he was conscious but he did not say how the accident happened. May Sanders, a nurse at the hospital, said that he was admitted soon after 9 a.m. on the morning of the accident suffering from a broken leg and injuries to a shoulder he died at 8.20 a.m.. The deceased was treated by Drs. T.E. Hayward and Henderson. A full box of dirt was being moved in the east side of the mine and the men took the bar off to balance it down but the box got off the rails and the deceased went in front of it to free it. There were two scotches were in at the time but it carried him up the brow. The dip at this point was 1 in 5.5. Turner had been warned not to do this and it was a breach of Special Rule 51. This point was made at the inquest by Mr. Hall. The evidence of James Hazelden, the balancer at the mine, and Benjamin Ainscough, the fireman tended to show that the deceased broke the rules. Mr. Glover, the miners’ agent, tried to show that it was the custom to do this in the mine but the Coroner said this inquiry was no place to decide a compensation case. A verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ was returned by the jury. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
10th. December 1887.
Shunting Fatality at St. Helens.
At the inquest into the death of Joseph Hancock aged 25 years, shunter at Havannah colliery was crushed between the wagons. The representative of the London and North Western Railway. Robert Hunt, a brakesman and James Eddleston, the engine driver said that nine empty wagons had been brought up from Clockface and put in the siding and twenty-six wagons were drawn out of the Brook sidings. The decease appears to have got between the wagons and was crushed in a shocking manner so that his brains were scattered and death must have been instantaneous. A verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ was recorded. (Prescot Reporter)
17th. November 1905.
ACCIDENT AT HAVANNAH COLLIERY.
Two young St. Helens men had a terrifying experience when Thomas Shaw aged 20 of Newton Road, Parr and Joseph Molyneaux aged 30, of 50, Parr Stocks Road were making a roadway higher by lowering the surface when suddenly the roof caved in. Molyneaux was buried and held fast by the head. His left eye was injured and he was extensively bruised from head to foot. Shaw escaped being buried but was stuck on the head. Both were taken to the Cottage Hospital at Haydock. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
15th. December 1905.
COAL STEALING.
At St. Helens Court, before Mr. H. Mitchell, Robert Holcroft, a collier of Newton Common was charged with stealing coal valued at 4èd. The constable said that there had been a series of extensive robberies. Mr. Thomas Dodd a surface man said that he saw the prisoner picking coal from a heap he fetched P.C. Hall. The constable met the prisoner on the coal on his back and asked what he had there and took him into custody. The man became violent and the prisoners’ son was throwing stones at the constable and incited his father to give the constable ‘some clog’. P.C. Hall said that in the struggle he said, ‘I am as good as you.’ The manager of the colliery said that recently many of the waggons had been short of coal. It was not safe for the people to get the coal as there was shunting going on and they had to cross the sidings. The prisoner worked at another Evans colliery and could get a load for 5/6d. every six weeks. Holcroft had a wife and six children and he had left them without fire or anything. His wages would be 15/-. The Chairman said that he considered it a very serious offence with the assaulting of the Officer. He considered his circumstances and the least they could do was to fine him £1-1s, a guinea or 21 days in jail. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
20th. September 1907.
MINING CRISIS AT HANANNAH COLLIERY.
There was a crisis at Havannah and Southport collieries because a few men would not join the Union and the men at the pit had balloted for a strike at the pit. The vote was taken last week with 1094 in favour and 28 against stopping work. There were threats for the men to join and large numbers did so. The 143 out of 1300 who did not and 7 men had said they would not join. It is hoped to force these 7 into the union. The increase into the Miners’ Federation of Great Britain from Messrs. Evans Collieries in August last was 976 and at present is 3607. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
24th. June 1910.
HAYDOCK MINERS COMPENSATION CASE.
In a case heard at St. Helens Court, a collier at Havannah colliery claimed 17/- a week. He was preparing to drill a hole for a shot to get down some top coal and he stepped on a piece of coal and slipped on account of the ground being damp and he injured his arm and was totally incapacitated. The accident happened on the 2nd of June. Dr. Thompson gave evidence that there was no connection with the ulcers and the accident. The judge was not satisfied that he was suffering from the effects of the accident and ruled that there would be an award with costs on ‘Scale B’. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
1911.
The Parr No.1 colliery
A non-fatal explosion of gas occurred at the colliery a fireman named John Evans was inspecting an upbrow with a safety lamp when he ignited some gas that injured him. The accident occurred at 1.15 a.m. The lamp left the chain at 2.45 the previous afternoon under the charge of another fireman named Samuel Jones who left it in the pit for Evan’s use when the latter descended for work at 8.30 p.m. The lamp was a Meusler type and fitted with a chimney and bonnet and a single copper gauze. After the explosion, the gauze was found to be loose in the bonnet and an examination revealed that the flange of the gauze was turned outward at the bottom and was worn in places. The last person who examined the lamp by taking it to pieces was Jones in the afternoon and according to him, it had been alight. The lamp was faulty and since the accident, the diameter of the flange had been increased and steel gauzes substituted for copper ones. With regard to Jones handing the lamp over without first having it sent to the lamp office, such practice is prohibited by the Mines Act which stipulates that; ‘a lamp should not be used until it has been inspected by an appointed person and found to be in good order.’ (Mines Inspectors Report)
23rd. May 1913.
CHARGE AGAINST COLLIERY COMPANY.
The magistrates at St. Helens heard a case against Evans & Company of a breach of the Explosives Act. The manger, Mr. Watkinson was summoned in respect of his alleged breach of the Coal Mines Explosive Regulations Act. The Act was first read and the charges were that on the 1st. May at the Havannah pit they had 55 pounds weight of explosives in excess of the quantity allowed. The Explosives Inspector stated that at 12.20 on that day he had visited the colliery to a place where the defendants were authorised to keep 60 pounds of explosive and found 115 pounds. The manager was asked how he accounted for this and the manager said that a man had hurt his wrist and could not wheel the barrow and he had carried the powder up in small quantities ready for when the men came at two. The Inspector afterwards saw the fireman and the quantities were in excess to the amount allowed. The case was adjourned until 13th June. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
1925.
Parr. Unusual fatality at the colliery when an underground pumpman lost his life.
The accident occurred in the underground pump room between No.1 and No.3 shaft in the Yard Coal level at the bottom of the No.3 shaft there was an old furnace shaft filled up with debris. At the time of the accident, this shaft was filled up to fifteen yards below to the Yard Coal level. About twelve months previously a fan was erected and the furnace was dispensed with. The steam exhaust from the steam pump was allowed to pass up the old furnace shaft and when the fan stated a partition was built between the old shaft and the pump room to prevent air short-circuiting. The deceased who was on the day shift when to work aardvark 6 a.m. and about an hour later a portion of the old shaft caused by the concussion of the pressure blew out the partition and the exhaust steam in the shaft was drawn back and suffocated the pumper. Several further falls took place and the shaft was eventually filled with difficulty owing to ground giving way at the surface. The man was unable to get clear of the exhaust. (Mines Inspectors Report)
25th. May 1914.
Thomas O’Neill aged 55 years, a dataller, was in the roadway when a large stone fell. It had been propped and they were putting in timber when it fell. The fireman had been and he thought it was safe. It was probably due to water. (Mines Inspectors Report)
23rd. April 1914.
John Hayes, a shotlighter, fired a shot in the Wigan Nine Feet seam and did not retire far enough. A piece of flying stone severed the carotid artery and he bled to death. (Mines Inspectors Report)
3rd. March 1916.
HAYDOCK COLLIERY FATALITY.
Mr. Brighouse held the inquest at the Waggon and Horses on the death of John Baines of Clipsley Lane, Haydock who died in the Cottage Hospital on Wednesday after receiving injuries to his back in April last year. James Baines gave evidence saying that John was his brother and 42 years of age and worked with him at the Parr No.1 colliery where he worked with him as a drawer. On Thursday 22nd April 1915, they went down to work together on No.5 brow at 5.30 a.m. They both saw the fireman’s mark and commenced work he got the coal while he filled it and got it away. They had put a bar close to the coalface and he went on getting coal. About noon the deceased tried to get the coal down wit a bar but it would not move. He asked his brother to give him some help and he did so with a hammer and tried again to lever the coal without success and then he commenced ‘hoeing’. Suddenly a stone fell from the roof and caught him on the back of the neck. He shouted to him that his back was broken and he was conveyed to the Hospital with assistance. Nurse Jacques said that he came to the hospital suffering from a fractured back and was under the care of Dr. Jackson. George Molyneaux a colliery fireman said he examined the place and found everything in wording order. Mr Norcross the undermanager also made an examination and Mr. Siddall the Inspector had examined the place and it was his opinion that it was a n extraordinary accident as the place was very well timbered. The jury brought in a verdict of ‘Accidental Death.’ (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
9th. January 1923.
William Middlehurst aged 15 years, an assistant dataller, was working at noon on the 6th. hour of the shift he and a mate were setting props and bars to replace broken ones. He found that the prop was slack and hammered a wedge into the foot of it. While he was doing so a stone fell two feet six inches by two feet eleven inches and caught him on the head. (Mines Inspectors Report)
12th. June 1923.
William Harrison aged 70 years, a stone dataller, was working at 11 a.m. in the 5th. hour of the shift he was sweeping up and dusting the roadway when he was killed by a runaway. An empty set was being lowered down a 1 in 4 and the first tub became uncoupled. It ran 120 yards and caught him near a refuge hole. It is thought that he did not hear it as he was a little deaf and if he had stayed where he was he would have been all right. (Mines Inspectors Report)
25th. June 1923.
Robert Heyes aged 60 years, a dataller was killed at 8. 45 a.m. in the first hour of the shift as he was walking down an empty road where it passed a haulage crossover. Two tubs were coming down and he did not hear them as he was a little deaf. He was run over by the tubs. (Mines Inspectors Report)
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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