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

14th November 1929

Aged Miner's Fatal Injury

Question Of Bandages In Whitehaven Pit

Mr. D. J. Mason, coroner, conducted an inquest in the Whitehaven Hospital on Monday into the death of John Cowser, aged 65, coal hewer, Primrose Hill, Sandwith, who was injured in Ladysmith Pit, on October 17th, had a leg amputated on November 3rd, and died on November 8th.

Amongst those present were Mr. W. B. Brown, H.M Inspector of Mines, Mr. W. Morgan, representing the Colliery Company, Mr. J. Martin, miners' agent, represent the relatives, and Mr. H. Skerry, deputy's agent.

Mr. J. McGuffie was chosen foreman of the jury.

Evidence of identification was given by John Todd, 35, Main Street, St. Bees, son-in-law of the deceased.

John Turner, coal hewer, 25 Mill Street, Whitehaven, described how deceased and he were lifting tubs on to the road when the side coal came down and buried deceased. They extricated him and then found that his legs were badly cut. They sent for the deputy and the ambulance man who, when he arrived, asked for bandages, but there were none, so they used witness's shirt.

In answer to Mr. Brown, witness said he understood there was an ambulance box in the district but at the time of the accident there were no bandages.

By Mr. Morgan: He had been in the pit nine years and had been in that district three times but had never seen an ambulance box.

Mr. R. G. H. Garside, the Company's surveyor, produced a plan of the scene of the accident.

James Johnston, coal hewer, 74, Queen Street, Whitehaven, said when he arrived on the scene of the accident and examined deceased he found he had cuts on the right arm and left leg. He inquired for bandages and was told there was just one. He asked for a clean shirt and Mr. Turner gave him his.

By Mr. Brown: He did not suspect a facture and therefore did not apply splints. Usually he carried an ambulance set about with him, but on this particular day he had inadvertently left it at home.

By Mr. Morgan: He was not the recognised ambulance man for the district. He carried his own ambulance set with him.

George Beck, 16, East Row, Kells, the deputy on the shift, said when he examined the place of the accident about 3 p.m., it was quite safe and the only thing that could account for the fall (of about 2 cwt) was a bump.

By Mr. Brown: The ambulance box for that district had been filled with bandages on the 14th. It was about 200 yards from the scene of the accident. On the 17th there were two bandages. It was not unusual to find the boxes empty soon after they had been filled because of thefts.

By Mr. Morgan: The deputies had carried bandages about with them since the accident.

Dr. Ablett said on the day of the accident he saw deceased down the pit. His injuries included extensive lacerated wounds on the left leg. An X-ray examination, however, showed a fracture. It was found necessary to amputate the leg on November 3rd. Cowser progressed well after the operation but on Thursday last his condition became suddenly worse and he died on Friday. His death was due to toxaemia from virulent sepsis in wounds of the left leg. Continuing, Dr. Ablett said he had heard about the bandages but they did not cause any infection of the wound, the infection was due to organisms in the earth that fell on deceased.

The jury returned a verdict of "Death from misadventure." The foreman (Mr. J. McGuffie), Mr. Morgan and Mr. Martin expressed sympathy with the relatives, also Mr. Skerry who complimented Mr. Johnston on equipping himself with bandages.

Newspaper transcript kindly provided by
West Cumbria Mines Research.