Fatal Accident at Ellenborough Colliery

On Friday afternoon an inquest was opened at the Turk’s Head Inn, Maryport, to inquire into the death of David ARMSTRONG, aged 56 years, coal-miner, who had died from the effects of an accident which happened early in the morning of the 9^th inst. It appeared that he had been working in the Ellenborough colliery with a man named Robert RITSON, and was cleaning a quantity of small coal from the furnace, when a quantity of coal fell upon him and injured him internally, and also upon his left leg. He was conveyed home and attended by Dr CRERAR, who found that he was seriously injured. He died at his residence, 24, King-street, Maryport, on Thursday afternoon last. The inquest was adjourned.

On Wednesday the inquiry was resumed at the Turks Head Inn, before Mr W W LUMB, deputy-coroner, and a jury, of whom Mr John BENSON was foreman. – Mr E T TYSON represented the Maryport Hematite Iron Company, who are the owners of the colliery; and Mr ATKINSON, of Whitehaven, and Mr A SHARP watched the proceedings. - Robert Ritson deposed that he was a coalminer and resided at Ellenborough, and worked at the "Guslet" pit along with the deceased. They were working in the high level end. At the time the accident occurred deceased was casting coal. There was a piece of coal left standing from a shot, and it came off by a "cleet." There would be about two or three hundredweight of it. The piece of coal fell on to the "thrill," and rolled over. Examined the place before commencing work, and thought it was safe. Had talked with the men in the pit, and none of them thought any person was to blame. – In answer to Mr E T TYSON, witness stated that the piece of coal struck the deceased on the leg. – Mr Tyson: Did the deceased after the accident say anything to you about it? – Witness: I said "I thought you were safe," and he replied, "I thought so too." – Mr Tyson: The deceased did not impute blame to anybody? – Witness: No. – A Juryman: You would be aware that this coal would be in a dangerous position after the shot was fired, and the coals taken out? Witness: They were not all taken out from beneath it; they were lying under it all across the face. – A Juryman: Was the shot fired in the solid? – Witness: No, sir. – Mr Sharp: Did Tindle examine the place previous to the men going into it? Witness: John PENN was on the afternoons, and I think he examined it before he came out. – Mr Tyson: We had better have Penn himself. – Witness, continuing, said at first he did not think the deceased had sustained such serious injury. They would be about half-an-hour in getting him to the shaft. He was brought out in a tub. After getting him on to the pit bank, he was left there until the stable door was broken in to get a horse out. Deceased was afterwards conveyed home in a cart with plenty of hay in it. It would be about four o’clock when the injured man was got to his home, the accident having occurred at about half-past three. Tindle went right away from the pit for a doctor, and witness and others accompanied the injured man home. – William TINDLE deposed that he lived at Gardiner-street, Grasslot, and was a night overman at "Guslet" colliery. John CUNNINGHAM examined the place before the accident occurred, and witness examined it after. He "jowled" the roof, and saw that there was sufficient wood, and found it to be quite safe. Examined the place on the day previous to the accident. – Mr Tyson: We will get it out of the other witness. - The Coroner: No, we will get it out of him because he is not very willing. Now, when did you examine the high level end before the accident occurred? – Witness: On the 8^th at one o’clock by "jowling" the roof and seeing there was sufficient wood. – In answer to Mr Sharp witness said if any person said the deceased man was not got home before five o’clock, he would say they knew nothing about it. There was a stretcher at the pit, with a bed on it for carrying injured men home on. The reason the stretcher was not used was that they considered a cart would be quicker. Did not think deceased could have been conveyed to his home during the time it took to break the stable door in. Robert Ritson bound up the deceased man’s wounds with his "bait" clout. – Alexander ROSS deposed that he was assistant-surgeon for Dr Crerar, who was the doctor for Ellenborough Colliery. Attended the deceased man and found him suffering from a contusion on the left leg, a cut on the knee about four inches in length and rather curved, a contusion on the back, and in a weak state generally. Did not think at first that his injuries were so severe, and did not know that he was suffering from internal injuries. The internal injuries might have been caused by the coal falling upon him. – In answer to Mr Tyson, the witness stated that deceased was in a weak state of health, and was rather debilitated. – The Coroner afterwards summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." – After the jury had given their verdict, Mr Tyson rose evidently with the intention of making some remarks, when he was interrupted by the coroner. Mr Tyson sat down, but immediately rose again, and observed that he was only going to say that as the doctor had been sent for especially, he hoped that he would be paid for his attendance. – The Coroner: I sent for the doctor and I will pay him.