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Full Details

Surname
WESTWOOD
Forename
Levi
Day
17
Month
02
Year
1937
Age
21
Occupation
Miner
Mine/Quarry Name
Michael
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Wemyss Coal Co. Ltd
Location
East Wemyss
County
Fifeshire
Details of Event
7 February 1937: WARNING SHOUT IN COLLIERY ACCIDENT - Runaway Hutch Which Killed Miner - Companion's Story of Dash for Shelter - The death of a 21-year-old miner following an accident in the Michael Colliery, East Wemyss, was the subject of inquiry at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court to-day by Sheriff Dudley Stuart and a jury. Levi Westwood, miner, Clyde Street, Denbeath, died in the Wemyss Memorial Hospital on February 17, two days after he had been injured in the Michael Colliery by a runaway hutch which collided with several other hutches on which he had been working. Mr R. S. Henderson, procurator fiscal, conducted the examination. Robert Drummond (42), brusher, 1 Wemyss Terrace, East Wemyss, said that Westwood and he had been working together in the Bowhouse east side dook of the Michael Colliery. They had both been brushing at the time and there were two hutches of redd standing opposite a man hole which was under repair. When they heard a shout "all clear” coming from further up the dook Westwood clipped on one of the hutches to the main haulage rope. Drummond described that after receiving that signal he heard a noise on the rope and from that he knew that there was something coming down. The noise was unusual. He also heard a shout to "look out" and he knew that a hutch had run away. Half Way In. - He made for the shelter of a nearby manhole, and Westwood was half-way into the same manhole when the hutch came down. The runaway hutch came down at a high speed and collided with the other hutches. Westwood was jammed between a steel girder and the mouth of the manhole. The distance between the manhole and the rail was 19 inches. Westwood received severe head and leg injuries. Tho weight of the hutch was between 30 cwts. And two tons. James Boyd (28), brusher, 81 Barrie Street, Methil, stated that he was working along with John M'Nally 50 yards above where Drummond and Westwood had been working. They had been filling hutches at the time, and five hutches had been sent away. The last hutch was sent away itself and M'Nally clipped it on to the haulage rope. After it had left something unforeseen happened, and the hutch became detached and ran back. There was no means of them stopping it, and they could only shout a warning to those who were working further down the dook. Mr Henderson—Can you account for the clip becoming detached?—l think the clip may have gripped something. What could it have gripped?— lt may have gripped the re-roaders which are used for putting derailed hutches back on the rail. If it had not been properly clipped on would it have run back?— lt is possible. In answer to question by Mr A. Ferguson, for the coal company, Boyd stated that the hutch had travelled about 150 yards up the dook before it ran back. "Fixed Properly." - John M'Nally (23), brusher, 33 Omar Crescent, Buckhaven, gave evidence to fixing the clip on to the rope. He had fixed and screwed the clip properly. Questioned by Mr W. Philp, Kirkcaldy, for relatives —Can you suggest any reason for the jaws becoming detached? —No. The Sheriff—How did it become slack? It must have got a jolt. David Gardner (29), haulage worker, 18 Wemyss Terrace, East Wemyss, said that the clip was in good condition. Mr P. G. Dominy, His Majesty's Inspector of Mines —Have you any experience of clips becoming detached from ropes? —Yes, once a week probably. Have you found out why it did so? —It could have caught girders on its way up. After further evidence a formal verdict was returned. [Evening Telegraph 29 March 1937]