Durham Mining Museum - Newspaper Articles (original) (raw)

24th October 1895

Shocking Mining Fatality At Whitehaven

Last (Wednesday) night Mr. Gordon Falcon (coroner for West Cumberland) opened an inquest at the Police Court, Whitehaven, on view of the body of John Doran, aged 66 years, who was killed that morning. Mr. James Egerton was chosen foreman of the jury. The deceased was a collier, and resided with his son in law, George Mirehouse, in Peat's Court, Scotch Street, Whitehaven. He was in the employment of the Whitehaven Colliery Company at William Pit. He went to his work at 3.30 yesterday (Wednesday) morning, and whilst coming along the main road in the pit bottom, about one p.m, it appears that there had been a sett of tubs filled with coal coming behind him, which knocked him down and killed him on the spot, the body being terrible mutilated.

William Doran deposed he lived at 16, Back Row, Newhouses, and was a coalminer. The deceased was his father, aged 66 years, and worked at William Pit. They were working together that day, and witness left him in the working about 12.15 to come home. The deceased was preparing to leave also, but (witness heard) was killed on the road while coming out of the pit, being run over by a sett.

The Coroner: We will have to adjourn this inquest in order to give the Inspector of Mines notice.

It was decided to adjourn the inquest to Wednesday at 3.15 at the Police Court.

Newspaper transcript kindly provided by
West Cumbria Mines Research.