Single Record

Full Details

Surname

WHITTLE

Forename

John

Day

30

Month

11

Year

1925

Age

18

Occupation

Shale Drawer

Mine/Quarry Name

Rishton

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

P.W. Pickup Ltd

Location

Rishton

County

Lancashire

Details of Event

Killed by big fall of stone. 2 killed. Of 27, Cross street, Oswaldtwistle. The circumstances attending the accident were explained at the inquest conducted by the District Coroner, Mr D.N. Hazlewood, sitting with a jury at the Rishton Police Station on Thursday. Mr H.A. Steele H.M. Inspector of Mines attended, and other representatives present were Major A. Radcliffe Ellis, of Wigan representing Messrs P.W. Pickup Ltd the proprietors of the colliery. Mr J. McGurk J.P. of the Miners Federation, and Mr W. Miller of the Colliery and Fireman's Deputies Association. Mary Whittle, 27 Cross street, Oswaldtwistle, widow of Richard Whittle, general labourer, and mother of the deceased, John Whittle gave evidence of identification. On Monday last about 2.30 her son went to work as usual, and was quite well when he left the house. He had worked at the Rishton Colliery about four years, he made no complaint of his work. James Ainsworth Cross Smith, 13, Blackburn road, Accrington, boot and shoe maker, and brother-in-law of the deceased Joseph Alfred Jones, said deceased had worked at Rishton Pit for a number of years. He left home for work on Monday last about 1.45, being quite well. He had never complained of his work. John Bury, 11 Whitebirk, a drawer employed at Rishton Colliery, said that about 6.45 p.m. he was following his employment in the main chain road of No.1 West dip district, when the deceased Jones fired a shot in the roof. After doing so, Jones came and examined the place, the deceased Whittle and witness followed him. As they were returning Jones remarked "the roof of this place is bad" and he was testing it when without any warning a large stone weighing about 15 cwt fell and pinned Jones and Whittle to the ground. Witness helped to remove the stone, and found that Jones and Whittle were dead. Their bodies were brought to the surface. Mr Steele:-- Two shots were fired? Yes. Where were you when the shots were fired? In a manhole up the chain road. Where was the fireman Jones? He was round a corner about 30 yards away. He fired the shots and then went back to examine the place? Yes, I had gone down with a ton. Did you go there with Jones permission? Without his permission. We took a tub down, one on either side. I was at the side where the fall did not happen, it just caught my arm. At that time Jones was actually sounding the roof? Yes. Mr Ellis:-- Jones was the shotfirer, not the fireman? He was the fireman in charge. He fired two shots, and tested the roof afterwards? Yes. Robert Nowell, 62, Church street, Church, assistant fireman employed at Rishton Colliery said that at 6.45 p.m. on Monday he was following his employment in the main chain road of No.1 West dip district along with the deceased Jones. The latter fired a shot, wrapped up the cable and afterwards examined the place. Shortly afterwards he (witness) heard a crash and went to see what had happened, finding a large stone weighing about 15 cwt. was lying on the bodies of the two men. He raised the alarm and got assistance, the stone being subsequently removed, but both the deceased were dead. Mr Steele:-- Had you been working in this place before the shots were fired? No, I was assisting Jones. You went to the place when he went? Yes. Mr Miller:-- Jones was not a fireman, was he? Yes, fireman in charge of the district. So that when he found the roof was unsafe, he had authority to send the men out of the place? Yes. Alexandra Bray, 40 Henry street, deputy, said that on Monday he was in charge of No.1 West dip district. At one o'clock he examined the place where Jones and Whittle subsequently worked. He found the roof quite safe, sound and secure. William Kehoe, 29 Clifton street, Rishton, manager of the colliery spoke of being informed of the accident at 8.40 p.m. on Monday, and immediately returned to the pit. The road where the accident occurred was eight foot wide and four foot six inches high. Witness submitted a plan showing the spot where the accident occurred. Jones was working there to make the roof higher. Addressing the jury, the Coroner said that was all the evidence he had to give them. It was simply an unpleasant accident of the type that happen from time to time, even with the best regulations in force. He thought they could only return a verdict that the two deceased were struck by a stone that fell from the roof, and were accidental killed. The jury returned a verdict of "accidental death". Accrington Observer.