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Full Details

Surname
RHODES
Forename
Thomas Edward
Day
02
Month
10
Year
1909
Age
41
Occupation
Chain and Road Inspector
Mine/Quarry Name
Huncoat
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
George Hargreaves & Co.
Location
Huncoat
County
Lancashire
Details of Event
Crushed by endless chain and forks leading to wheel, whilst between the chains, where he ought not to have been. Fred Whittaker of 23 Oswald street, Clayton-le-Moors, ginney tenter at the Pit, stated that he saw the deceased working on Saturday morning. He noticed him at 11.20, when Rhodes was lowering some rails near his (witnesses) ginney. Shortly afterwards he heard a faint shout "Knock stop". He stopped the chain and went to see what was the matter. He found the deceased about three yards from the ginney head fast between the chain and the knocking off rods. The chain was underneath his stomach, Rhodes was not dead then, but he could neither speak nor move. Witness sent for assistance, and Rhodes was released in about a quarter of an hour. He died a few minutes afterwards. The Coroner;--He might have stopped the ginney at any time? Yes, but I fancy he had finished work, and was going to the ginney head when the accident happened. How did he get caught?. That is a question that would puzzle anyone. If the chain had caught his clothing, if would have jerked him in? Yes, but I could not tell whether he was caught or not. Mr. Roscamp; If he was travelling up the middle of the road, he would have to stride over or get underneath the chain to get to the side? Yes. Mr. Whittaker pointed out that the chain was between his legs. The Coroner thought that the suggested explanation was the right one, namely, that in striding over the chain deceased had been caught and carried back. He would have been squeezed until he could not take his breath. P.C. McGregor, said deceased body bore a bruise from under the stomach right to the left shoulder, apparently having been caused by the chain. From that he arrived at the conclusion that the deceased was caught between the legs by the chain. His watch was in his pocket, and had stopped at a quarter past eleven. It was explained that the deceased might have given the signal for the ginney to be stopped. The Coroner observed that the deceased had evidently got accustomed to his dangerous work, and in striding over the chain he was probably only doing what he had done many times before. A verdict of "Accidental death" was recorded. (Accrington Gazette).