TWO MEN ENTOMBED AT ROANHEAD

GALLANT ATTEMPTS AT RESCUE RESCURERS (sic) BAFFLED

A TERRIBLE SITUATION

ONE MAN KILLED, ANOTHER INJURED
AN ASKAM FOOTBALLER IN DANGER

On Thursday morning a terrible accident occurred at the Old Plunger Pit, Roanhead Mines, belonging to Messrs. Kennedy Bros., whereby one man lost his life and another was very seriously injured. The man killed was William Simpson, married, living at 21, Buccleuch-street, Dalton, and his companion Edward Ainsworth, single man, Ireleth- road, Askam. The men, along with four others in the same gang, went to work at 3.30. They were following their ordinary employment in the drift, and sometime between four and five o’clock there was a sudden fall of earth from behind the forebreast, in the direction of the working above. Simpson and Ainsworth were embedded. An alarm was raised. The other workmen ran to the scene of the fall, and by the aid of their candles sought for their companions. Repeated shouting, however, revealed nothing of the whereabouts of poor Simpson. A once a rescue party was formed, and gangs of men under Captain Swainson being immediately set to work. They soon ascertained that Ainsworth was hemmed in by one arm close to the elbow, which was on the top an iron bogie, and above the arm was a ‘head tree’ – a large piece of timber – and upon this was a lot of the fallen debris. His head was uncovered, but still the poor fellow lay in a very awkward position. He was conscious, and could converse with his rescuers, who gave him food and brandy. Strenuous efforts were made to rescue Ainsworth, but the men found that it was a more difficult task than they anticipated. Time after time they were driven back by falls of earth, but they plodded on under the supervision of Mr. Frank Symons, underground manager, and Captain Martin Ashburner. Several relays of rescuers were put on, and Dr. Cook, of Askam, and Sergeant Lings, certificated ambulance man, waited all night with the expectation that Ainsworth would be released. The hundreds of tons of stuff, however, took a long time to clear. Many a time the men crept through a whole between the bogie and the forebreast, and gave the entombed man food and drinks of brandy and warm milk, at the same time speaking words of encouragement to him. At length a screw jack was got under the ‘head tree’, and by this means Ainsworth’s right arm was released. The timber was then chopped away. In the meantime the body of Simpson was found on the opposite side of the bogie. That was at six o’clock yesterday morning. The body, which was greatly mutilated, was removed to the shaft foot, and the rescuers continued their arduous task in trying to extricate Ainsworth. They were able to release him about 11 o’clock yesterday morning, and brought him to the surface at a quarter past. He was perfectly conscious, and after taking some nourishment was removed to his home at Ireleth in the Dalton Ambulance Van, which had been at the works since the previous afternoon. He was remarkably fresh, considering his 31 hours incarceration. Dr. Cook examined the man, but owing to the swelling of the arm, could not say whether the bones in the arm are broken or not. The arm, both above and below the elbow, is much bruised. The body of Simpson was taken out of the pit at 1-30 p.m., and removed to 21, Buccleuch-street, Dalton. The inquest is fixed to take place at the Cavendish Arms, at one o’clock on Monday next. Probably it will be formally opened, and adjourned for the attendance of Ainsworth.

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THE REPORT TO THE CORONER

Last night, Sergeant Lings, of Askam, reported to the Coroner for the Furness District, the death of William Simpson, aged 58 years, of 21, Buccleuch-street, Dalton, a married man, which took place between 4 and 4.30 a.m., whilst following his employment at the Roanhead Mines, and under the following circumstances: He left home about 2.20a.m. to go to work, and was then in good health. He was working in No. 1 Pit, along with a man named Edward Ainsworth, aged 26 years, of Ireleth. They went to their drift, and nothing more was seen of them for about an hour, until a man named Robert Lee, of Victoria-street, Askam, who was working a neighbouring drift, said to his mates that no ore was coming from Simpson’s place. He shouted, but received no answer, and on proceeding to the place he found it blocked up with a fall of earth and timber. He at once gave an alarm and assistance was soon at hand. They found Ainsworth with his head leaning back, and his right arm fastened between the bogie and a fallen head tree. He was conscious, and they at once attempted his rescue. They could, however, not find any trace of Simpson. The work of rescue was undertaken under difficulties, the men having to proceed cautiously on account of a continual fall. They managed to creep through a hole and give Ainsworth some nourishment. At length a fresh drift was driven, in order to reach Ainsworth, who was got out about 11 o’clock yesterday.

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A RESCUER’S NARRATIVE

One of the rescuer’s at Roanhead, in conversation with one of our reporters, said: ‘I never had an experience similar to this before, and I hope I never have a repetition. I helped to extricate poor Ted Ainsworth, and to recover the body of poor Simpson. Ted was wonderfully cool considering his dangerous position and many a time asked the rescuers to be sharp and get him out. He was given nourishment and spoken to in an encouraging manner. He kept his spirits up remarkably well and when rescued was in good condition considering he had been entombed for over 30 hours. Ted is a popular footballer with the Askam team and was picked to captain the fifteen against Barrow this afternoon. It was his splendid physique and brave heart that saved his life. The injuries to his arm are not yet known.

Barrow News, 14 January 1899

THE FATALITY AT ROANHEAD

OPENING OF THE INQUEST

The inquest on the body of William Simpson, who was killed at the Roanhead Mines on Thursday, by a fall of the roof, was opened at the Cavendish Arms, Dalton, on Saturday evening, before Mr. Coroner Poole and a jury, of which Mr. John Wardley was foreman. Mr. Frank Symons, underground manager at Roanhead, represented Messrs. Kennedy Brothers.

The Coroner (to P.S. Lings, of Askam): When will the other man be able to attend?

Dr. Cook told me this morning that it will be five or six weeks before Ainsworth could appear, even if he did well.

The Coroner thought that it would be best to adjourn the enquiry for three weeks and if at that time Ainsworth was not better, the police could let the jury know.

William Simpson, junior, said he lived at 21, Buccleuch-street, Dalton, and the deceased was his father. He was an iron ore miner at Roanhead, and was 58 years of age.

The Coroner then adjourned the inquest until Wednesday February 8th, at 2 o’clock, and the jurors were bound over to appear in the sum of £5 each.

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DEATH OF AINSWORTH

Edward Ainsworth, the miner who was entombed for 30 hours, succumbed to his injuries on Sunday morning.

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FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS

The interment of William Simpson took place at Dalton Cemetery on Sunday afternoon, and was attended by a large concourse of people.

Amid many expressions of general sympathy and regret the remains of Edward Ainsworth, who died as the result of his terrible experiences at the Roanhead Mines last week, were interred at Ireleth on Tuesday. There was a large gathering to witness the last sad rites, including some fifty members of the Foresters’ Court, of which deceased was a prominent member, and representatives of the Askam football club. The bearers were Messrs. H. Pickthall, H. Barker, S. Smith, and ? Benson, and when the cortege arrived at the church gates it was met by the Vicar, who read the first part of the burial service in the church, and completed the sad ceremony at the graveside. The chief mourners were: Mr. and Mrs. Ainsworth, John and Willie (brothers), Miss Ainsworth (sister), and Agnes (sister-in-law), the deceased’s grandparents, and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Postlethwaite, Barrow (cousins). The others present included Mr. and Mrs. Mellon (Brook Lea), Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Walton, Mrs. Metcalfe, Mrs. Goad, Dr. Cook, Mr. W. Turner (Dalton), Mr. Councillor Butcher, Mr. ? Nicholls, Mr. Martin Ashburner (representing Messrs. Kennedy Bros.), Mrs. Ormandy (Roanhead), Mr. and Mrs. Massicks, Mr. W.S. Jervis, Mr. John Park, Mr. J.J. Shepherd, Mr. W. Swainson, Mr. J. Lishman, Mr. James Newby, Mr. R. Sharp, Mr. James Onslow, Mr. Fisher (Dalton), Mr. Matthew Coward. The Askam Football Club was represented by Mr. Hayes (chairman), Mr. W. E. Benjamin (secretary), Mr. E. Small and Mr. W. Robinson (committee), Mr. John Benjamin (captain), Mr. Jesse Turford, Mr. Charles Barnes, etc. A large number of beautiful wreaths were sent, including those from Miss Cook, Mrs. Goad, Askam Football Club, Mrs. and Miss Harrison, Mr. and Mr. Little, Captain J. H. and Mrs. Mowers(?). The funeral arrangements were entrusted to Mr. J.B. Riley, parish clerk of Ireleth.

Barrow News, Saturday 28 January 1899