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

15th February 1912

Collier Killed At Ladysmith Pit

Yesterday (Wednesday) afternoon, Mr. E. Atter, coroner for West Cumberland, held an inquest at the Kells Reading Room, touching the death of a colliery named Thomas Bowe (60), Hudbank Cottages, near Sandwith, who was killed at 5.45 a.m., on Tuesday, whilst following his employment as shiftsman at Ladysmith Pit, Whitehaven, through being knocked down by a wagon.

Matthew Mawson, shiftsman, 16, Newtown, said he worked at Ladysmith Pit. Deceased and witness were working together on the date of the accident. They kept on the side of the road until they got to the narrow part and then they had to get in the centre. Witness said "Here's a sett coming" and they both went to the side again. Not long afterwards a full sett came along and knocked deceased down. Witness had a narrow escape; but he did not get in a manhole. They were always very careful.

By the inspector: The bogies were white-washed, and they could be seen 15 yards away. They were not expecting the second sett, and before deceased knew where he was he had walked into it.

The jury returned a verdict of "Death by misadventure."

Newspaper transcript kindly provided by
West Cumbria Mines Research.