IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ROBERT BRADSHAW
SON OF JOHN AND BARBARA HANKEY
WHO WAS KILLED AT THE ASKAM IRON WORKS
FEB 1ST 1894 AGED 19 YEARS.
ALSO THE ABOVE JOHN HANKEY
WHO DIED DEC 11TH 1874
AGED 40 YEARS.
ALSO WILLIAM BRADSHAW, THEIR SON
WHO DIED NOV 23RD 1871
AGED 10 MONTHS.
ALSO PATTISON SON OF
WILLIAM AND BARBARA PENNINGTON
WHO DIED JAN 8TH 1883
AGED 3 YEARS.
ALSO THOMAS TEBAY,
WHO DIED AT JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA
JUNE 4TH 1894, AGED 31 YEARS.
ALSO THE ABOVE WILLIAM PENNINGTON
WHO DIED AT KIMBERLEY, SOUTH AFRICA,
JUNE 6TH? 1903, AGED 61 YEARS
ALSO THE ABOVE BARBARA PENNINGTON,
WHO DIED NOV 4TH 1916 AGED 80 YEARS.
“AT REST”

MURDER OF AN ASKAM MAN ABROAD

Information has been received by Mrs. Pennington, Ireleth-road, Askam-in-Furness, of the death of her son, Thos. Tebay, aged 31 years, and the particulars given point to a horrible murder having been committed. On June 2nd, Tebay was waylaid in a lonely spot near Johannesburg and robbed of a considerable amount of money. When found by a pedestrian, he presented a sickening sight, his head having been fearfully battered in. He was removed to a dwellinghouse, and great care was taken, three doctors being constantly in attendance, but he never regained consciousness, and died on the 4th, two days after the occurrence, and was buried on the 6th. It is stated in the letter that two or three Cornishmen have been arrested by the police authorities, it being suspected that they concerned (sic) in the murder. The deceased left the Furness district six years ago. He leaves a widow and one child at Chorley. The deceased was a brother of Robert Hankey, who was killed in the ironworks some months ago.

SINGULAR FATALITY AT THE ASKAM IRONWORKS

On Thursday night, a strange accident occurred at the Askam Ironworks, whereby Robert Bradshaw Hankey, aged 20 years, living at Ireleth, met with an untimely end. Between seven and eight o’clock he was talking to some of the men at the works, and left them to attend to his own duties in one of the boxed bays of iron ore, which are emptied into the barrows by means of shoots. Nothing more was seen or heard of him until half-past ten o’clock, when a man found Hankey’s arm was protruding through one of the shoots. On examination it was found that the poor fellow was quite dead, the body being cold. The body was conveyed to his home. Deceased was a member and player in the Askam Football Club, and had occasionally been included in the first team. He was one of the picked fifteen to play against Carnforth on Saturday. Much sympathy is felt in the district for the bereaved relatives.

Another account says: - Hankey was working on the night shift, and was seen at 4.45 by Frederick Sirett, foreman. The deceased was then at his usual employment on the gangtree (sic – gantry?), and it is conjectured that in running down the shoot the metal had stuck, and with the intention of loosening it he got a crowbar. Whilst using this he must have overbalanced himself and fallen into the box, and dropped a distance of nearly 50 feet, landing at the bottom head first. He was quite dead when found.

On Saturday, Jno. Poole, Esq., opened an inquest at the Bay Horse Inn, Ireleth, before a jury, of whom Mr. John Noble was foreman. The evidence of Wm. Buxton, Thos. Proctor, Fred. Sirett, was taken, and they stated it was the duty of deceased to loosen the ore if it got stuck in the shoot, as it did sometimes when damp.

Deceased’s mother said the lad had often complained of the dangerous occupation, and had said that somebody would be killed. Accidents had occurred there before, but had not been fatal.

The inquiry was adjourned, so that further evidence could be got, and the jury and coroner see the place where the accident occurred.

THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT ASKAM. – The adjourned inquest on the body of Robert B. Hankey, was resumed at the Vulcan Hotel, on Wednesday, when the Company was represented by Mr. S. Hart Jackson, and the friends of the deceased by Mr. R. F. Thompson, Kendal. The jury returned a verdict of Accidental Death, adding a rider to the effect that there was not sufficient protection for the workmen, and in future there should be a rope suspended from a bar at the top by which the man in the box could escape.

SUDDEN DEATH AT ASKAM. –  On Friday morning (i.e. 11 December) a miner named John Hankey, residing at No. 1, Huddleston Row, Lots, Askam, died very suddenly. The man was seized with pains and grew seriously ill. Dr. Anderson, of Askam, being called out of bed shortly after midnight to visit him. The doctor was quickly in attendance. The patient seemed merely to be suffering from colic, and the doctor gave him some medicine. Hankey then seemed better for an hour or so. About 2 a.m., however, he suddenly staggered whilst in the kitchen, and fell down dead. The relatives quickly summoned Dr. Anderson, who was instantly in attendance, when he found that life was quite extinct. The deceased leaves a wife and a family of young children. He was employed at the Greenscoe mines, the property of the Furness Iron and Steel Company, Limited, of Askam, and has been about ten years in that neighbourhood. He was a strong-built fellow, with every appearance of health. Some time ago Hankey was employed filling ore at the back of the furnaces, and was also for a time engaged on the slag bank, so that he was well-known on the works.

 IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ROBERT BRADSHAW
SON OF JOHN AND BARBARA HANKEY
WHO WAS KILLED AT THE ASKAM IRONWORKS
FEB 1ST 1894, AGED 19 YEARS
ALSO THE ABOVE JOHN HANKEY
WHO DIED DEC 11TH 1874
AGED 40 YEARS
AND WILLIAM BRADSHAW, THEIR SON
WHO DIED NOV 23RD 1871
AGED 10 MONTHS
ALSO PATTISON SON OF
WILLIAM AND BARBARA PENNINGTON
WHO DIED JAN 8TH 1883
AGED 3 YEARS
ALSO THOMAS TEBAY
WHO DIED AT JOHANNESBURG
SOUTH AFRICA
JUNE 4TH 1894, AGED 31 YEARS
ALSO THE ABOVE WILLIAM PENNINGTON
WHO DIED AT KIMBERLEY, SOUTH AFRICA
JUNE 6TH 1903, AGED 61 YEARS
ALSO THE ABOVE BARBARA PENNINGTON
WHO DIED NOV 4TH 1916, AGED 80 YEARS
AT LAST, “REST”

SINGULAR FATALITY AT THE ASKAM IRONWORKS

On Thursday night a strange accident occurred at the Askam Ironworks, whereby Robert Bradshaw Hankey, aged 20 years, living at Ireleth, met an untimely end. Between seven and eight o’clock he was talking to some of the men at the works, and left them in order to attend to his duties in one of the boxed bays of iron ore, which are emptied into the barrows by means of shoots. (i.e. shutes) Nothing more was seen or heard of him till half-past ten o’clock, when a man found that Hankey’s arm was protruding through one of the shoots. On examination it was found that the poor young fellow was quite dead, the body being cold. The body was conveyed to his home. No particulars can be got as to how the accident occurred. Deceased was a member and player in the Askam Football Club, and had occasionally been included in the first team. He was one of the picked fifteen to play against Carnforth to-day (Saturday). Much sympathy is felt in the district for the bereaved relatives.

Another account says:- Hankey was working on the night shift, and was seen at 4.45 by Frederick Sirrett, foreman. The deceased was then at his usual employment on the gangtries, (sic) and it is conjectured that in running down the shoot the metal had stuck, and, with the intention of loosening it he had got a crow bar. Whilst using this he must have overbalanced himself and fallen into the box and dropped a distance of nearly 50 feet, landing at the bottom head first. He was quite dead when found.

An inquest will be held this morning.

A SAD FATALITY AT THE ASKAM IRON WORKS

THE INQUEST
A QUESTION OF DANGEROUS EMPLOYMENT

An inquest on the body of Robert Bradshaw Hankey was held at the Bay Horse Inn, Ireleth, on Saturday morning, before Mr. Coroner Poole, and a jury of whom Mr. John Noble was foreman. A plan of the workings was produced and explained to the Coroner and jury. – William Buxton said he lived at 47, Sharp-street, Askam, and was a mine filler at the Iron Works. He knew the deceased quite well, who was employed as a lime stone breaker, and also to see that the ore was running properly down the shoot. He lived at Ireleth Brow, and was 19 years of age last birthday. He last saw him alive on Thursday morning. Deceased would go to work again at five o’clock, being on twelve hour shifts. The deceased had worked there about two years. The ore goes to the top of a landing in wagons, and were (sic) tipped during the day into the shoot or boxes. The box at the top was 24 feet wide, there being four outlets, from which the barrows below were filled, and the ore was carried from there to the furnace hoist. The depth of the box was from 24 to 25 feet, and it was part of the duty of the deceased to see that the ore went down during the night and did not stick. If it stuck he had a pick. There was a ladder from the top to the bottom of the short. By a Juror: - The deceased would stand on the ore when using the pick. There was no room for a plank. By the Coroner: - He had a pick to loosen the ore with. The barrows were filled from the bottom of the shoot, and an ordinary barrow load would be about 10 cwt. The barrow was filled by means of a lever. The boxes were put up about four years ago. – By a Juror: - The ore often stuck when damp. They worked all the holes in both boxes regularly. – The Coroner: - It appears to me that it is a very dangerous thing for a man to stand on the ore when shuffling it down. – A Juror: - That is my opinion. – Witness admitted that it was dangerous to stand on the ore when the top was not full. He could go there and nothing like that would happen to him. – The Foreman: - It appears to have been a death trap in this case. – Witness said he had often gone into the box to get the stuff down. – By a Juror: - Sometimes they probed the hole from the bottom with a bar. The ore perhaps might have a slip, and the man might get fast with it. He did not know whether those were the circumstances in this case or not. – Witness (continuing) said he found the deceased about half-past 10 o’clock on Thursday night when he went to the shoot for ore. There was only a small quantity of ore in the bottom of the shoot, and he probed the hole with a bar and touched something. William Whiteside struck a match, and they looked up the hole and saw the deceased’s hand. He was head foremost. He was got out, and was quite dead. He should have gone to work at 5 o’clock. – By a Juror: - The men on the previous shift had missed Hankey. – By the Coroner: He had not known of anyone being fast in this box. He had heard of Wm. Smith being fast in another box, and he was pulled out with ropes. Smith was an old man and could not get out, but a young fellow would have crawled out like a cat. That did not occur in witness’ shift. – Thomas Proctor said he lived at Steel-street, and was a charger at the Askam Iron Works. He went to work at half past nine, and shortly afterwards heard a remark passed that the men on the afternoon shift had not seen the deceased since half-past seven. They had shouted and got no answer. Thomas Hutchinson told him that they heard some knocking close to the box, and thought it was deceased, but they afterwards found out it was the weighman. – Frederick Sirett (sic) stated that he lived at 55, Sharp-street, and had been furnace foreman for about two and a half years. During that time these shoots had been used for about two years for ore, and previous to that for limestone. The deceased was the limestone breaker, and if the shoots did not work properly he attended to them. When the ore got low and the weight was off the ore did not run so very well, and deceased would have to go inside to start it off again, generally using a pick. If the ore was not too low the deceased would get on to the beams, and if it was low he had a ladder to go to it. If the hole was full the deceased would stand on top of the ore. He did not considered (sic) that a very dangerous thing to do. – The Foreman: It seems a very dangerous proceeding. – The Coroner: If the man got hold of the beams with one hand he could not take a pick very well with the other. It would take both hands. Is it an ordinary method of doing work at iron works? There is no other way of doing it. I don’t know whether these shoots are used at other works. They are used at Millom, but the depôts are not so high as ours. There have been no accidents here to my knowledge. I have never heard of Smith being fast. Hankey never complained to me of any danger. – By a Juror: - It was a common occurrence when the ore was damp for it to stick fast. – By the Coroner: - Witness went to work at five o’clock, and he saw nothing of the deceased before he went to his supper at 9.30. – By the Foreman: No search was made. If any men are short at the works it would be the deceased’s duty to look after extra men, and they thought he was attending to that. – By a juror: - There was no man on the top with him, but if he required assistance he could get it. – By the Coroner: - Deceased had no special direction for the work. – Mrs. Margaret Pennington said she lived at Sea View, Ireleth. The deceased was her son. He has complained about the place he worked in, and had said many a time that it was not fit to work in and that someone would be killed. She could not say whether he had complained to anyone over him or not. – By the Foreman: - A fortnight or three weeks ago he complained of an accident by which he was stunned. By a Juror: - He came home with the skin off his shins. She told him to be careful, and he replied that she would not say that if she knew the place he had to work in. He said that he had complained to a man named Sirett. Deceased went to work about five o’clock on Thursday, and she never saw him alive again. The deceased’s face is scratched. – Sirett (recalled), in answer to the Coroner, said the deceased had never complained to him about the place being dangerous. He may have complained to Mr. Bumby. – He told his mother that he had complained to you? Not on any occasion had he complained to me. – Mrs. Pennington: I think he will have. – The Coroner said he had formed an opinion in this case, but perhaps the jury would like further evidence before they gave a verdict. He thought Smith should be called. [It was stated that Smith was ill.] Several of the jury said they had been very little enlightened as to the nature of the work, and the inquiry was adjourned to Wednesday next at 3.15, when the coroner and jury will inspect the place where the accident occurred*.

* No paragraphs in original; Sirett spelt with one r and two; coroner and jury capitalised and not in original.

ADJOURNED INQUEST

A JURY ON PROPER PROTECTION FOR WORKMEN

The adjourned inquest into the circumstances attending the extraordinary death of Robert Bradshaw Hankey was held at the Vulcan Hotel, Askam, on Wednesday afternoon, the inquiry lasting two hours. Prior to the inquest, the Coroner (Mr. John Poole) and the jury visited the scene of the accident. Mr. S. Hart Jackson, solicitor, Ulverston, appeared on behalf of the Askam and Mouzell Iron Company, and Mr. R. F. Thompson, solicitor, of Kendal, represented the relatives of the deceased. Mr. J. Law, factory inspector, Preston, was also present. – Wm. Buxton was the first witness called into the room, and in answer to the Coroner he said that he was told that the deceased’s pick was found after the accident. – By Mr. Thompson: - He had known the deceased five or six years. He was a very steady young fellow and pretty well respected. Smith was pulled out of the box by means of a rope. Witness could have got out without the aid of a rope. He was in the box on one occasion when a man got his foot fast. That was before Mr. Bumby came. Witness did not know that Hankey had got fast previous to the occasion when he met his death. Witness knew a man called Benjamin, and had heard that Benjamin got fast last Sunday morning. Could not say whether he was got out with the aid of ropes. The sides of the shoot for some distance were perpendicular. The ore, when wet, sometimes stuck. There was no clay in the ore. He had worked at the ironworks 10 or 11 years, and was there before these particular shoots were used. He knew they had been used for limestone. He did not know that when the shoots were made that there were ropes connected with them. He had, however, seen ropes in the boxes, but he did not think there was a rope when Hankey met with his death. There was a rope alongside the ladder, so that the men could get hold of it when going down the ladder. – By Mr. Jackson: The rope hung by the side of the ladder so that the men could steady themselves when going up or down. He did not know whether it had been used for any other purpose. Witness went on to the top after Hankey had been discovered, and the ore was pretty near to the top of the box. There was a hole in the centre. There was a good light. – Frederick Sirett (cross-examined by Mr. Thompson) said he had been in the employ of the company nearly 12 years. He admitted that the shoots were used for limestone at first. There had been no difficulty on his shift, except one. He knew a man named Smith, but he was not on his shift. He had never heard before this job occurred that Smith was nearly smothered in the box. He never heard that Hankey was almost smothered in this box in the summer of 1893. It was not true. He had heard of Benjamin being fast last Sunday morning, but no ropes were used to get him out. He asked Benjamin how it occurred, and he replied that he had only got one foot fast. Witness saw him in the box with another man. Some of the ore was sticky when wet, and was bad to get away if the sides were fast. When it was fast a pick or a bar were needed. There was a bar at the top as well as at the bottom. He would swear that the unfortunate young fellow never complained to him under any circumstances about the dangerous condition of the place. He never asked witness to stop with him at night. At Xmas time when they were short of coke he had extra men at the depôt, but the deceased had never said that he was afraid, and that he wished witness would be about when he was at this dangerous work. Such a remark was never made by the deceased to witness. Witness knew that ropes were used in the boxes when they were first worked, but the men said the ropes were no good. The deceased did not say so to anyone to his knowledge. He was not working there then. He would swear that the deceased never asked for ropes. There was no rope there when deceased met with his lamentable death. There were no iron bars (illegible) the boxes. They were perfectly open except where the ore was. He had not seen boxes of this description at other works. He had had no experience in regard to these boxes. There was formerly wood beams in the boxes at the Askam works, but the weight of the ore broke them down. He had never heard that iron barriers were placed across similar boxes as a protection. – Some disagreement took place as in a previous answer to a question, which led Mr. Thompson to say: Now be cautious what you are about. Will you swear on your solemn oath that this poor young fellow never asked you for ropes as a protection? I could not swear to it right down like that. – I must have an answer. Let’s have no play about it. It’s a serious matter, and I warn you. Will you swear that he never asked you for ropes as a protection for himself? He never asked me that I am aware of. – Who did he ask? I don’t know. – Do you swear he did not ask you? Yes. – Then didn’t you know that he was very frightened after he met with that first difficulty? The first difficulty was on the bottom. – Will you swear that he did not say that he was frightened? Yes. – Didn’t you know he told his mother that he wanted protection there? No. – Didn’t he tell you that his mother had asked him to be very particular, and to ask you for protection? No. By Mr. Jackson: Deceased had never told witness that he was frightened of his work. Witness went to the top of the bay after the accident happened. The ore was within 18 inches of the top of the bay with a hole down the centre of the shoot. The lid of the trap door was on. A man could not use the ladder when the ore was within 18 inches of the top at the sides, nor would a rope be of any use then. When Benjamin shouted that he was fast the boxes were half empty. He had never heard of anyone complain of danger when in these boxes, and he had not made any complaint to his employers that the work was dangerous. – The Foreman: You say Benjamin had one foot fast? Yes. – If another barrowful of ore was taken away, was there anything to prevent Benjamin going in? No. By a Juror: He could not say for what reason the wood beam was put in. – By Mr. Law: It was a common occurrence for the men to draw the ore at the time when other men were in the hopper. – By Mr. Thompson: Supposing the ore was being regularly taken away a rope would be of use as the ore got lower. No important questions were put to Thomas Proctor – Henry Bumby, examined by Mr. Jackson, said he was the manager at the Askam works. He would have been at the inquest on Saturday had he not been called away to London. He had been manager of the works since the end of July, 1892. He then found Hankey employed as a miscellaneous labourer at the “back”. His work was to break limestone, and to loosen the ore in the boxes when necessary, and do any other work required of him. He did his work satisfactorily. The men wheeled the ore from the bottom of the bay, and when the ore stuck Hankey had to go on to the top to loosen it when the men could not probe it from below. He was on the works on Thursday evening up to 8.15, and he returned when he heard of the accident. He found when he got there at ten minutes to eleven that the body of Hankey had been taken out. As soon as he ascertained that Hankey was dead he went on to the top to see how the accident had occurred. He found Hankey’s torchlamp hanging from a crowbar which had been placed across the rails. The stage itself was lit by electric light. The electric light was outside of the bay, the torchlight being for lighting up the bay. At the two sides of the bay the ore was within two feet of the top. There was not the slightest necessity for a man to get into the box with the ore as it stood. The ladder goes to the beam. With the ore as it was in the box the ladder would not have been of any use. When the ore was low the men went down the ladder. They had to get on top of the ore when it was very low, but only when it was low. A man was then liable to catch his feet if he was not careful. He had never heard of a fatal or a serious accident in these places before. He had been eighteen or twenty years connected with the work. There were similar bays used at the Millom works, at Cleveland on the East Coast, and South Wales, with slight differences according to the works. There were similar bays at the largest mines in this district, and he had never heard of a serious accident in any of these bays. He heard about a man being fast in the bay last Sunday. There had been no complaint to him that the work was at all dangerous. – The Coroner stated that the bays at the mines were nothing like those at the Ironworks. – In answer to the Coroner, Mr. Bumby said that on Thursday the last ore would be put in at five o’clock, and the men would be drawing continuously. – Mr. Thompson: You say this poor young fellow had no right in the box? - There was no necessity at that time. – And yet with the same breath you say it was necessary when the ore was low? Yes. At some time or other it would be necessary. – How many difficulties have you had with these unfortunate holes or boxes? None whatever. Have you not heard of any man getting fast? I heard today that a man named Smith got his foot fast. - Did you hear that the deceased only just escaped being smothered last summer? I never heard of such a thing. – Can’t you rub your memory up a bit. Do you recollect the deceased being fast? – I have no recollection of any serious difficulty. – I am not asking about any serious difficulty, but about any difficulty. Have you any knowledge of the deceased having any difficulty in this box? No. – Have you ever been asked for ropes? – Never. – Have you ever been asked for anything to give protection in this place? None whatever. If anything had been asked for it would have been given immediately. – Were there any ropes in this box when you first came to the works? No. I have never heard of them except in this room today. – Have you seen any of the boxes at the other mines? I have not paid special attention to them. – Round such dangerous place as these, have you ever noticed iron breakers being put across? I don’t remember ever seeing such a thing in the boxes. I have known it done in open bays. – Don’t you think it would be a good thing? I am afraid not for our ores. – Would it not afford a twofold condition, firstly to break the ore, and secondly to give a little protection to any man who had to get the ore down such a dangerous place? I don’t think it would give any protection. It would break the ore to a certain extent. – Do you think it a proper thing to have iron girders for protection? It would stop the ore running. – Life is of more value than the ore running. Would iron girders afford any protection in this dangerous employment? I don’t know that the work is dangerous. I don’t see how any girder could be put up and be of use here. – When the ore went down the middle was there a Y shaped chasm? Yes. And had the men to work in this chasm? There was no necessity for it. Have you heard about Benjamin having to be pulled out with ropes? No. I heard to the contrary. – Don’t you think, as a practical man, that it would have been better if two men had worked together at this dangerous place? There was no work for two men, even if the place was dangerous. – I know trade is not so good as it was, and you want to be careful, but would it not have been better if you had two men instead of one man while such dangerous occupation was going on? It’s a simple question, but perhaps a poser. There was not work for more than one man. – I am not asking you that. Would it not be better to have two men here? Two men together would have been safer, possibly, if we had any reason to suspect danger. – You had notice of Smith being in danger? He was not in danger. – I believe the deceased was steady, industrious and intelligent? Moderately intelligent. – You considered him intelligent enough to be put on a job like this? Yes. – Didn’t you conclude long before this accident happened that some provisions should be made for protection? The only thing I thought necessary was to have a steady man there. – And if the deceased had not been a steady man would it have been necessary to have more protection? I should not have allowed an unsteady man to go there. – Then you consider the place dangerous? Not the place where he worked, but the place he had to go up. – I want to localise you to the hole where the ore went down. Would you have allowed an unsteady man to work there? No. Do you wish us to understand that you apprehended danger to an unsteady man? I refer to the place where the man had to pass in order to go to his work. – You considered the risk was too great? No, not until now, when I find there has been an accident. – What do you propose to do now? – The Coroner: This is not a question for the witness. He will have to consult his employers. – Mr. Thompson: You consider it a matter that wants looking into? – Witness: I think there wants some rules for the guidance of the men. – And that you can do? I shall have to try. – By the Foreman: I don’t remember any men called Huck or Nibbs being fast. – By a Juror: There should be a considerable space between the shoot and the ore at 11 o’clock on Thursday night. - William Smith said he lived at 23, Furnace-place, Askam, and had worked at the Iron Works about 26 years. For the last two or three years he had broken limestone, and had gone into the ore box the same as the deceased. He got fast in one about twelve months ago, and he was pulled out with ropes. About two months ago he had another fall. He was going to get the ore down when he slipped, and, fortunately, threw himself forward on to the ore, instead of going head foremost into the box. When the ore was damp it got fast on to the plates and it had to be got down with a pick. There were ropes there up to five or six months ago. There was one in each bay, but the metal had cut it through. The deceased complained about it being dangerous when he got fast last summer. He never heard him complain to anyone in authority. – Mr. Thompson: The deceased told you he was fast last summer? Yes. – Did he complain it was a dangerous place? Yes, and he cautioned me. – You had two escapes? Yes. – And ropes were used on one occasion to get you out? Yes. – How did you get out the other time? I got out myself. – There were no ropes when Hankey met with his death? No. – No protection of any sort? No. – Nothing to lay hold of in case of an emergency? No. – Don’t you think it would be better to have two men working there instead of one to protect each other? Yes, it would be a great deal better. – So as to give an alarm if anything happened? Yes. – Have you heard of William Huck being fixed up in this place? Yes. – And of Nibbs? No. – About Benjamin? Yes. – Sirrett (recalled): The Coroner: The last witness has said there were ropes in this place up to 5 or 6 months ago? I know nothing about them. – You had charge of this place, and it is curious you did not know there (sic) were there. Did you ever see any ropes there? Yes, in the bottom of the bay. – How long ago? Six months or more perhaps. – The Coroner: You did not tell me that before? Mr. Ward had ladders put in instead of ropes. – The Coroner summed up lengthily, and said there must be considerable danger if a man was on top of the ore when men were using their bars at the bottom of the shoots. It seemed an exceedingly risky thing for a man to do. For instance, at a quarry when the men had to bar down the stone they had a rope attached to their body, and were lowered from the top. When he first gave his evidence Sirrett said that he never knew of any ropes being in this box, but it appeared that formerly there were ropes, but a ladder had been substituted. When the men go into the box they had to go across the ore, and then the ladder was no protection whatever, and he doubted whether a rope fastened to the ladder would be any protection. If there was a rope it should be used from the top. Sirrett and Mr. Bumby had denied that any complaint had been made to them, and he believed what Mr. Bumby had said, but whether Sirrett’s statement was true or not was a matter for the jury. So far as this accident was concerned, there was no criminal liability on the company at all, but as to whether there was any civil liability on the question of damages it was a matter between the two solicitors present. The jury would be fully justified, he thought, in recommending that some better protection should be adopted by the company to prevent any like accidents in the future, leaving the company to adopt any such means as they think proper. It was not for them to advise the company as to what measures they should take if they concurred that any measures were necessary for better protection of the men. – The jury, after private consultation, brought in a verdict of ‘Accidentally smothered’, and added the following rider: “That we are of the opinion that proper precautions had not been taken by the company for the protection of the men working at this place, and we recommend that this rider be brought to the notice of the company, who should take such steps as they may find necessary to prevent any like accident in the future.”

 IN
REMEMBRANCE OF
BENJAMIN GILLAM,
AGED 25 YEARS.
WHO LOST HIS LIFE AT THE
STEAM BOILER EXPLOSION AT PENNY BRIDGE
PAPER MILLS, ON THE 7TH DAY OF SEPT 1875.
 
OUR SUDDEN LOSS WE SHOULD NOT MOURN,
NOR SHOW OURSELVES OPPRESSED,
HE IS NOT DEAD BUT GONE BEFORE
TO SCENES OF HEAVENLY REST.

BOILER EXPLOSION AT PENNY BRIDGE

SIX PERSONS KILLED – DEATH OF MR. JOHN LONG.

An accident, which has cast a sad gloom over the entire district, occurred at Penny Bridge Paper Mills, in the occupation of Messrs. Harrison and Long, on Tuesday evening, when the revolving rag boiler exploded at about 5.40 p.m., completely wrecking the chopping and engine house. An examination of the ruins disclosed the sad fact that Hugh Lowther, of Little Dicks, who was in charge of the boiler, was killed and his body much mutilated. William Atkinson, of Penny Bridge, who was in the chopping house, was also taken out dead. Mr. Long, one of the proprietors of the mill, was found a short distance from the boiler site. He had received serious injures to the head, shoulders and ribs. He was removed to his residence which adjoins the works. Isabella Bivens, Hannah Barthram, Dinah Chadwick, Ann Woodburn, and Fanny Baines, were also injured and severely scalded. Benjamin Gillam, who keeps a beerhouse in Greenodd, and who had been employed at the works for a considerable time past, was very badly scalded and injured. John Whittam also received severe cuts and bruises. Several others sustained slight injuries. A messenger was at once dispatched to Ulverston for medical aid, and several doctors were soon on the spot, who did all they could to relieve the sufferers, but in the case of Mr. Long and Isabella Bivens, the efforts were unavailing. Mr. Long died about a quarter past eight, and death terminated the woman’s sufferings about 11. p.m. Hannah Barthram died next afternoon, Lowther and Atkinson were both married men: the former leaves four children, and the latter three.

At present it is impossible to form any idea as to the cause of the melancholy accident. Since the explosion of a rag boiler at the Ellers Mill, Mr. Long had taken steps to strengthen the one in use at Penny Bridge, and as the one which has caused the present disaster has been felt to be insufficient for the requirements of the works, a second boiler had been ordered, and is expected to arrive this week. It is thought that at the time of the explosion Mr. Long was talking to the man in charge of the boiler, so we may assume that no negligence on the part of those in charge has led to the sad result. The force of the explosion was evinced (sic) by the fact of several large pieces of metal being picked up at distances of from 100 to 200 yards. The mill employs about 80 hands.

The deaths will each and all have a sad significance in their separate family circles; but in the case of Mr. Long it is a very heavy public loss, and very many will mourn his sudden departure. He was a prominent member of the Wesleyan Methodists, and presided at most of the public meetings of that body. As a guardian of the poor, Mr. Long has for many years served the office, and for the past few years has been second vice-chairman of the Board, and generally took the chair at the weekly meetings. He was most earnest and untiring in the work, and few men possessed a more thorough knowledge of the Poor Law and its workings than did the deceased.

Mrs. Long was at Kendal at the time of the accident, and was telegraphed for. She at once drove over, but did not reach home until 10.30 p.m.

On Wednesday evening Mr. J. Poole, coroner, opened an inquest at the residence of Mr. Long. After evidence of identification of the deceased had been taken, the inquiry was adjourned until Monday next. Benjamin Gillam, of Greenodd, died about one o’clock on Thursday morning, thus making the sad total of six deaths.

We understand the funeral of Mr. Long will take place to-day (Saturday), at three o’clock, at Penny Bridge.

At the meeting of the Ulverston guardians on Thursday, Mr. H. W. Schneider moved a vote of condolence with the family of the deceased gentleman, which was unanimously resolved upon.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS
(List of members of the Board)
THE LATE VICE-CHAIRMAN MR. JOHN LONG.

Mr. Schneider said: Mr. Chairman, I have never risen in this Board with feeling of such deep regret as those which actuate me on this occasion. When I think of the number of occasions that I have sat in this room with Mr. Long, the place hardly seems the same without his familiar face being present. I do not think it will be necessary to enter into any address on the occasion of this deplorable accident, but feeling as I do towards Mr. Long, I should hardly like to submit a motion to this Board without expressing my opinion of the value he has been to the Board and to the community at large. There follows a lengthy eulogy to Mr. Long.

 

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
JAMES
BELOVED HUSBAND OF FLORENCE YOUNG
WHO LOST HIS LIFE ON H.M. SUBMARINE THETIS
JUNE 3RD 1939, AGED 41 YEARS
 
 
 
 
LOVE’S LAST GIFT REMEMBRANCE

On Thursday 1st June 1939 the brand new submarine HMS Thetis (Lieutenant Commander Guy H Bolus) sailed from the Birkenhead Yard of Cammell Laird into Liverpool Bay to carry out diving trials. In addition to the normal crew of fifty five Officers and Ratings there were a large number of passengers, both uniformed personnel and civilians, on board for Trials purposes. This took the total number of personnel on-board the submarine up to one hundred and one. During the dive difficulties were encountered with the trim of the submarine.
 
During the investigations into why the submarine could not dive properly it was decided to examine the condition of the tanks and torpedo Tubes. In this process the rear doors of all tubes including No. 5 Tube were opened. Unknown to the crew the Bow Cap of No. 5 Tube was already open and the tube was full of water.
 
As the rear door was opened water rushed in and the forward compartments of the submarine were flooded. The submarine inevitably ended up on the bottom and was unable to resurface. Eventually four of the trapped personnel were able to make an escape but, despite all the desperate efforts of both those remaining in the submarine and all those on the surface in ships, aircraft and rescue vessels, the remaining ninety nine of the crew and passengers died in the accident.
 
James Young who was employed as a Foreman Fitter by Vickers-Armstrong Ltd at the Barrow in Furness Shipyard. He was the husband of Florence Young of 8, Falmouth Street, Barrow in Furness and the father of Joan and Hugh who were nine and eight years old respectively.

In Remembrance of
HORACE T. CRAGG
WHO LOST HIS LIFE
ON THE SUBMARINE THETIS, JUNE 3RD 1939,
AGED 46 YEARS.
ALSO OF FLORENCE, HIS WIFE,
WHO DIED JULY 20TH 1966
AGED 73 YEARS.

North Western Daily Mail 2 June 1939

North Western Daily Mail 2 June 1939

On Thursday 1st June 1939 the brand new submarine HMS Thetis (Lieutenant Commander Guy H Bolus) sailed from the Birkenhead Yard of Cammell Laird into Liverpool Bay to carry out diving trials. In addition to the normal crew of fifty five Officers and Ratings there were a large number of passengers, both uniformed personnel and civilians, on board for Trials purposes. This took the total number of personnel on-board the submarine up to one hundred and one. During the dive difficulties were encountered with the trim of the submarine.
 
During the investigations into why the submarine could not dive properly it was decided to examine the condition of the tanks and torpedo Tubes. In this process the rear doors of all tubes including No. 5 Tube were opened. Unknown to the crew the Bow Cap of No. 5 Tube was already open and the tube was full of water.
 
As the rear door was opened water rushed in and the forward compartments of the submarine were flooded. The submarine inevitably ended up on the bottom and was unable to resurface. Eventually four of the trapped personnel were able to make an escape but, despite all the desperate efforts of both those remaining in the submarine and all those on the surface in ships, aircraft and rescue vessels, the remaining ninety nine of the crew and passengers died in the accident.
 
Horace Cragg was a Submarine Draughtsman at the Barrow in Furness Shipyard of Vickers-Armstrong Ltd. He married Sarah Cragg of Broadgate, Victoria Road, Ulverston

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
MY DEAR HUSBAND
SAMUEL T. COCK, OF ROOSE
WHO WAS KILLED AT STANK MINE
JUNE 8TH, 1888, AGED 53 YEARS.
ALSO OF HANNAH, WIDOW OF THE ABOVE,
WHO DIED AUGUST 28TH 1918, AGED 82 YEARS.
ALSO ELIZABETH BAINBRIDGE,
GRANDDAUGHTER OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED MAY 12TH 1884,
AGED 3 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS
ALSO MABEL, HER SISTER
WHO DIED SEPT 22ND 1889
AGED 2 WEEKS

FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE STANK MINES

Yesterday morning a sad fatal accident occurred at the Stank Mines, near Barrow, the person killed being a miner named Samuel Cox, 54 years of age, residing at 63, North Row, Roose.  It appears that the deceased was working in a “rise”, receiving timber which was being passed down to him by another miner named Harvey, and it is supposed that one of the pieces of timber struck him on the head.  He was found by a man named Combs lying insensible, and expired about an hour and a half afterwards, his skull having apparently been fractured.

THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT STANK MINES

An inquest was held at the Ship Inn, Roose, yesterday, before Mr. Coroner Poole, on the body of Samuel Cox, who was killed at the Stank Mines on Friday morning last, particulars of which appeared in our Saturday’s issue.  Mr. J. R. Patterson was foreman of the jury.
            Elisha Harvey, 84, South-row, Roose, miner, employed at the Stank Mines, said he and the deceased were working together on Friday last at No. 4 Pit, having commenced work at seven o’clock in the morning.  The accident happened about half an hour afterwards.  The first thing they did was to send down some wood.  Deceased went down the shaft.  Witness stayed at the top to send timber down.  It would be about 5½ fathoms from where witness was standing to where the deceased was.  The timber was thrown down.  The timber was about nine inches diameter and ten feet long.  Witness could have seen the deceased if he had looked down, but this was not required.  When deceased first went down he shouted out “all right”, this being the signal for witness to throw the wood down.  Witness shouted out to him either “stand clear” or “stand back”, then he threw down a piece of wood.  He waited for some time, expecting him to shout out for the other piece, but he heard nothing.  There were only two pieces to throw down and about two dozen of “spiles”.  Witness got no answer and shouted again to the deceased, and as he got no reply he kneeled down and listened and heard the deceased groaning.  He took his candle and went down the ladder to him.  He spoke to the deceased three or four times, but got no answer.  He then went for assistance, and got him out.  He was carried to the changing house, where he was attended to.  He died there about an hour afterwards.  Deceased had been struck on the head, and had his skull fractured.  He was never conscious after the accident.  It was the usual method for putting down timber.  It was being thrown down a “rise”, and there was at least four fathoms of room for a man to stand in.  Twenty men could stand in the place without being in the way of the timber.  Witness and deceased had arranged that the latter should give the signal and witness should throw down the two large pieces first, and that the two pieces should be removed before the spiles came down, for fear they should be broken.
            Captain John Easterbrook, residing at Stank, underground captain, said the deceased was working under his charge.  He heard the evidence of the previous witness.  The course followed for throwing the timber down was the usual one, and had always been done wherever witness had been.  Witness thought that Harvey and deceased must have misunderstood each other in some way.
            A plan of the workings was here produced by Mr. J. W. Lawn, showing the place where the accident occurred.
            James Taylor, 15, North-row, Roose, employed at the Stank Mines, said on Friday last he was at work at the mines, and heard Harvey shout “Hello”.  Witness replied to him, and Harvey said “I am not shouting to you.”  Harvey shouted “Hello” again, and witness heard someone shout from the bottom of the place where Harvey was shouting to.  Harvey then shouted “Stand clear.”  Witness did not see him throw down any timber.  He heard of the accident about then or fifteen minutes afterwards.  Witness was standing about 10ft. higher up than Harvey.
            The Coroner then summoned (sic) up, and said it had been stated in the evidence that there was sufficient room for a man to keep out of the way of the timber, and no doubt this was so.  It might have been that the deceased and the witness Harvey had misunderstood each other as to the signal, but there was no doubt whatever that the deceased had been standing in the way when the timber was thrown down.  There was no blame attaching to anyone, and Harvey appeared to have done all that was requisite.  If there was any blame at all it rested with the deceased himself, who seemed to have exposed himself at the time he should have been under cover.  The Inspector of Mines had visited the scene of the accident, and inspected the place, and was apparently satisfied, as he had sent him (the coroner) no intimation that he would attend the inquiry.
            A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.

This picture was kindly sent to me by a correspondent contacted through Ancestry.  It depicts Samuel Cock and his family.  It was probably taken about 1880, when the youngest, Alfred, was less than two years old.

• Back row: Anna Jane; James H.; Eleanor; Edward J.
• Middle row: Peter V.; Hannah; Samuel; Samuel V.
• Front row: Alfred; Frederick; William.

IN
AFFECTIONATE REMEMBRANCE
OF
WILLIAM DENNEY
OF CHAPPELS IN THIS PARISH
WHO WAS ACCIDENTALLY KILLED
ON THE L. & N. W. RLY AT CARLISLE
JANUARY 14TH 1898
AGED 28 YEARS.

“THY WILL BE DONE”

ALSO JOHN, BROTHER OF THE ABOVE
WHO WAS ACCIDENTALLY KILLED
AT THE KIRKBY SLATE QUARRIES
APRIL 17TH 1911, AGED 33 YEARS

ALSO ELIZABETH,
MOTHER OF THE ABOVE,
WHO DIED JULY 8TH 1911
AGED 72 YEARS

ALSO WILLIAM
HUSBAND OF THE ABOVE
WHO DIED JULY 15TH 1921
AGED 82 YEARS

A FATALITY AT KIRKBY

A QUARRYMAN KILLED: TWO MATES INJURED
THE INQUEST AND VERDICT

The inquest on the remains of the man John Denny, who was killed the previous day whilst following his employment at Kirkby Quarries, was held at the Kirkby Institute on Tuesday afternoon, before Mr. Coroner Poole and a jury, of whom Mr. W. Minnikin was foreman. Mr. Leck, H. M. Inspector, was present, and Mr. J. Trenwith represented the company.

               John Postlethwaite, Wallend, a quarryman, deposed that on the day in question he was working in the quarry along with the deceased, John Casson, and Matthew Lewis. Casson was the headman. They went to work at the place just after 8 o’clock. They were engaged blasting in the face of the quarry about 36 feet from the bottom of the quarry. They had blasted a piece of rock which had fallen, and had come back to examine the result of the explosion. About three minutes after they got back he and the other three men were standing together, when they heard something coming down. They ran away in different directions, but a piece of rock came down and caught his three companions after having broken on the ledge of an old working above them.  When witness turned round he saw Casson and Lewis standing near the fallen rock, and deceased was lying on his back, quite dead.

               Mr. Leck explained that the piece of rock fell from a height of about 120 feet, and the quarry was 230 feet high.

               By the Coroner: There were no ambulancemen at work that morning, there not being many men at work.  They lifted the deceased’s body onto a bogey.

               In reply to Mr. Leck, witness said the quarry face was often inspected, but they had not been down with the ropes for some time. They could usually tell from the bottom of the quarry when something was loose. When they went to work that morning they looked up the quarry in the usual way to see that everything was right. He had worked in the quarries for three years. There was only one fall of rock at the time in question. There were always rock hands in each company, and two of the four in his company were rock hands. If they noticed a dangerous place on the face of the quarry, they tackled it themselves, and did not wait to tell the officials.  The last time he inspected the place by means of a rope was about five weeks ago. That was about ten yards from the place from which the rock fell. He was not aware that any irregular times were set apart for making the inspections. There had not been much rain that morning, and, therefore, he did not expect it would have any effect on the rock after the spell of fine weather. He agreed that under ordinary circumstances rain coming after a long dry spell might have an effect. The practice at the quarries was to at once remove any loose stones they might notice in the face of the quarry. Inspections were made in accordance with the regulations each day by Mr. Jones and Mr. Boulton. It might be an improvement to have fixed days for inspection. He could not say. He was not an ambulance man himself, and had not attended the ambulance classes which were held in the village, but several ambulance men were present when they brought deceased down.

               In reply to a juror, Mr. Jones said there were three stretchers at the quarries.

               James Denny gave formal evidence of identification.

Wm. Bolton, inspector of the quarries, was called, and in reply to Mr. Leck, said the places were inspected by him twice daily, and Mr. Jones also went about once a day.  He produced his report book. The accident occurred in Fisher quarry.

               What experience have you of quarrying?

               Witness: About 28 years.

How old are you? – 42. I started at Kirkby quarries when I was 14 years of age, and have worked there all my time.

               When did you examine the face of Fisher quarry? – Last Thursday.

               Did it occur to you that after the spell of fine weather a downpour of rain would make a fall more likely? – Yes; I think it has something to do with it. This place looked like solid rock.

               In reply to further questions, Mr. Boulton said there was no systematic examination of the quarries by means of ropes, but they were examined periodically. In his opinion the best system was to make these examinations when the appearance of the quarry face suggested an examination was necessary.

               By a juror: The men were not hemmed in in any way, and had room to get away if they had time.

               Mr. Jones, manager of the quarries, explained the mode of working at the quarries, and said as a rule they were worked on the gallery system. Whilst agreeing with Mr. Leck’s suggestion that there should be a fixed time for making an inspection of the places, he would insist on the present system of inspections being made twice a day being continued. He gave dates on which the place in question was examined.

               By the foreman: He estimated the weight of the piece of rock which fell at about four tons. Of course it broke into several pieces.

               The Coroner, in summing up, said all the jury had to consider was whether the quarries were worked in a proper and efficient manner.  They had been told that not only were the regulations carried out, but that two inspections were made each day, so that the officials were realling (sic) doing more than they were legally required to do. Personally, he thought the evidence went to show that the quarries were worked in a proper and efficient way, and that was one of those accidents which must occur in such dangerous occupations from time to time. It was cause for congratulation, in fact, that fatal accidents had been so few. That, he suggested, spoke well for the management, and he hoped it would be a long time before there was another.

               The jury returned a verdict of “Accidental death”.

               Mr. George Trenwith, J.P., asked to be allowed, on behalf of Lord Richard Cavendish, (the owner), Colonel Higson, and the management generally of the Burlington Quarries, to express their profound sorrow and regret that such an unfortunate accident should have occurred, and to tender to the parents and other relatives their deepest sympathy in this sad bereavement, a loss doubly sad from the fact that it was the third fatality in the family. John Denny, he said, was an exemplary character – a good workman, honest, straightforward, and manly – and one ever ready to help on any cause or object which concerned the good of his fellows. In fact, there were few like him, and his place would be difficult to fill. He was sure the young fellows of Kirkby would do well to profit by the bright example his life had left on record.

               The expression of sympathy was unanimously endorsed by the jury.

IN LOVING MEMORY

OF

ISAAC SLATER

DIED FEBY 22, 1925, AGED 72 YEARS

ALSO OF

MARGARET, BELOVED WIFE OF

ISAAC SLATER,

DIED MARCH 9TH, 1911, AGED 52 YEARS.

ALSO MARY, THEIR DAUGHTER

DIED DECR 21ST 1884, AGED 6 YEARS.

ALSO OF JOHN, THEIR SON

WHO WAS SUFFOCATED IN THE

SPECULATOR MINE DISASTER AT BUTTE,

MONTANA U.S.A.

ON JUNE 8TH 1917, AGED 35 YEARS

“It was no small irony that the fire broke out in the course of an effort to make the mine safer: A crew of men was attempting to install an immense electrical cable — 5 inches thick and weighing several tons — as part of a fire alarm system, an upgrade designed to save lives in precisely the kind of crisis the men would soon be in. The weight of the cable proved too much, and when the men lost control of it, it plummeted down the shaft half a mile, snagging and snarling into a tangled mess at the 2,500-foot level.

 

In the days before plastic, electrical cables were insulated with oil-soaked cloth and paper. As one of the workmen, Ernest Sullau, climbed over timbers that reached across the yawning abyss of the shaft that extended down another half mile to inspect the damage, his carbide lamp ignited the oil-soaked wrapping of the cable. The highly inflammable insulation on the cable burned as fast as a cannon fuse, quickly carrying the blaze throughout the shaft and kindling the massive timbers that lined it.”

From Big Sky Journal above (Third website)

KIRKBY MAN KILLED IN USA: - We regret to report the death of Mr. John Slater, victim of a mining disaster at Butte Mountain. Much sympathy is extended to his father, Mr. Isaac Slater, Beckside.