1879 Wood Haydock Richard Evans and Co. The certificated manager was John Turton who also managed Old Boston colliery.
1873 to 1878 there had been 192 deaths at the colliery and there were none in 1879
1882 John Turton manager and of Old Boston and Lyme pit which was not working. Still 192 deaths
1894 manager E. P Stewart cert. no 67 Undermanager Seth Hutchinson cert. no 1164 2nd class 423 underground, 49 surface 4th.
26th December 1857.
William Cooke of Haydock was fined 10/- plus costs of 10/- for trespassing on Richard Evans land in pursuit of game. (St. Helens Intelligencer)
April 1867.
John Whittle who was sinking Wood pit was killed when a piece of rock fell from the sides which were well-cased rings having been placed to carry the walls every five yards down to the rock from which the missile came. There was no proper foundation and the last eighteen yards had not been cased. Rock often proves dangerous when not secured. If the fore rings can not be laid in the usual way they should be lain on plugs of iron fastened to the sides of the pit. (Mines Inspectors Report)
8th. May 1867.
Alfred Seddon aged 26 years, a drawer was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
19th. June 1874.
Henry Singleton age 24 years, a collier was killed by a fall of coal. (Mines Inspectors Report)
1st. July 1875.
Andrew Cowley aged 25 years, a dataller was killed by a fall of the roof. (Mines Inspectors Report)
7th. June 1878.
189 men and boys were killed in an explosion of gas. This was to remain the largest loss of life in a Lancashire colliery until the Pretoria Pit disaster of 1910. A full account of the disaster can be found in ‘Weep Mothers Weep’ by Ian Winstanley.
8th. June 1878.
James Callaghan aged 32 years, a dataller was killed by a fall of the roof in the rescue attempts after the explosion. He had a sick wife and his ten year old son was waiting at the pit head when he was brought up with badly broken legs and taken to St. Helens Hospital where he later died. He is buried at St. Oswald’s Ashton. (Mines Inspectors Report)
13th. June 1878.
George Britch aged 20 years, a locoman was killed in jumping from the engine he slipped and fell beneath the wheels. The accident happened while the rescue work for the explosion was going on. (Mines Inspectors Report)
15th June 1878. Fatal Accident at Haydock Colliery On Thursday a man named George Birch a locomotive driver at the Wood Pit was run over. he was taken to St. Helens Cottage Hospital where both legs were amputated but he died later that day. (St. Helens Newspaper and Advertiser)
10th. December 1888.
James Delaney aged 27 years a drawer was killed when a drawer was taking full tubs down the incline and the sprag broke and the tub overpowered him and ran into the deceased who was going out with a loaded tub. (Mines Inspectors Report)
August 1890.
Charles Dillin aged 40 years, a collier was killed at 1.45 p.m. on the 8th. hour of the shift. The place was ten feet wide with a row of props three feet apart in the centre. A thin shell of stone fell capping one of the props and falling on him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
20th. January 1891.
Gas Explosion.
Two men were injured in the shaft by an explosion of gas when the barometer read 29.50 inches. They were clearing the shaft of ice and they fired some gas that was coming from an old mouthing of which they were not aware. The incident was caused by ‘Naked lights’. A serious explosion took place at the pit when Hugh Stirrup of Haydock and John Cunliffe of Ashton were burnt in the shaft. They were descending to take a riding at an old mouthing with lighted torches which ignited the gas. They were badly burnt but managed to hold on until they were rescued. It was found that the pit was full of gas and the work was suspended for the whole of the next day and the gas was cleared by air pipes. (St Helens Lantern) (Mines Inspectors Report)
25th. September 1891.
On Friday last John Canny, aged 66 years, was caught between the buffers of two waggons and crushed. He was taken to hospital and his leg was taken off. He is progressing favourably. (St Helens Lantern)
1st. January 1892.
Reported an accident to Richard Harrison a weighman when he fell and was dragged by a machine. His arm was dislocated and he had slight injuries to his leg. (St Helens Lantern)
17th. February 1893.
Alfred Barnes a furnace man at the colliery was fined 20/- and costs at Newton for neglecting his duty. He went to sleep and let the fire out. (St Helens Lantern)
30th. March 1893.
Accidents in the Haydock collieries have been scarce of late but David Burnes a pony lad had the misfortune to break his arm on Monday and he progressing favourably. (St Helens Lantern)
27th. June 1893.
John Critchley aged 29 years, a waggon lowerer was killed at 6.30 a.m. in the 1st. hour of the shift he was caught between two waggons which were being lowered by hand. He appears to have slipped on the railway metal. (Mines Inspectors Report)
26th. September 1898.
Walter Clarke aged 13 years, a pony driver was killed when he was in charge of a pony that ran away with some tubs and getting off the rails knocked out a bar leg which brought down the bar and three props and stone killing him. There appeared to be good clearance between the rails and the bar legs. (Mines Inspectors Report)
July 1898.
Martin Cosgrove aged 32 years, a collier was killed as he was attempting to get some coal off the side which was disposed to fall and was seven feet thick. In doing so he stood on the lower side and it fell and he could not get clear. (Mines Inspectors Report)
9th. December 1898.
Earlestown Man Killed At Haydock.
End Of An Old Campaigner. Robert Wilson aged 55 years, a collier was killed by a fall that capped three bars and caught him as he was passing through the drawing road with his empty tub. The place had been previously disturbed by another fall. At an accident at Wood pit, Haydock on Friday last to Robert Wilson aged 55 of 335, Crow Lane, Earlestown was killed at 2 a.m. It appears that another man named Moran Wilson was at the working place known as Fearnley’s Level. He went out with a box of coal and returned with an empty box along the drawing road when a quantity of the roof fell completely burying him. Moran had to get a prop and James Bennett, hearing the noise went to the place and he and Moran removed the dirt and timber and got the deceased out but he was found to be dead and removed to the Cottage Hospital. The deceased was a pensioner in the army and had gone through the Egyptian campaign. The inquest was held at the Waggon and Horses Hotel. Ann Wilson said that he was her husband and gave the evidence of identification. She last saw him when he went to work and then in the Hospital. Matthew Moran of 306, Crow Lane, Newton, said that he was working with him and the deceased had been under the place twice in the morning. Mr. Robinson, the general manager of the colliery, was a witness. John Shaw, the fireman, said he saw this part of the drawing road at 8.55 a.m. and he had ordered a prop to be set at the same place of the accident. He asked if the collier would put it right and the collier said yes. Mr. Matthews, the Inspector, described the fall and it seemed that the props on the right side had been burst open. Bars had been set at close intervals but one was cracked in the middle. The Coroner, in summing up said that he was a reliable man and had exercised his judgement. Perhaps a bar should have been used and not a prop and had done his best he had looked at the prop and had been satisfied. If the jury thought that the officials had not done their duty. A verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ was returned. (Mines Inspectors Report) (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
29th. July 1898.
Earlestown Man Killed At Haydock.
Thomas Caine aged 32 years was killed at the pit. He was a married man with a family of four and died at the Cottage Hospital on Thursday night from injuries received a few hours before. He lived with his family at 86, Leigh Street, Earlestown. He was engaged in getting coal on Tuesday afternoon when a fall occurred and partly buried him inflicting serious injury to his head. He was taken to hospital and treated by Dr. Haywood but he collapsed and died at ten o’clock. Mr. Brighouse, the County Coroner, held the inquest at the Waggon and Horses in Clipsley Lane on Saturday. The court heard that the deceased’s head was fractured by a fall of coal at the Wood pit. George Rogers, the drawer, for the deceased said Caine could not work the coal owing to the shot having been fired and he discovered that there was a crack in the coal at the side and attempted to get coal when it fell o him. The witness said that he was obliged to keep the boxes going or he would have got into trouble and this was why he started to get coal. Mr. T. Glover, J.P. the Miners’ Agent, said the Caine had not holed the coal and this was why it came down on him. A verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ was returned. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
19th. September 1898.
Youth Drowned At Haydock.
Frederick Wardle, aged 11 years, who lived with his parents in Lyme Street, was with some other boys on Sunday afternoon at the reservoir near Wood pit the lad went into the water a disappeared. A lad named Davis gave the alarm and a man named John Hall, a labourer of Wood Pit Cottages came to the scene and dived in and brought up the boy’s body. The inquest into the boy’s death brought in a verdict of ‘Accidentally drowned’. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
10th. February 1899.
Colliery Compensation Act. In St. Helens County Court.
Mr. H.L. Riley appeared before Judge Sands for leave to withdraw an action brought by James Jenkins, drawer of 70, Athol Street, Earlestown, against Richard Evans & Co. with respect to an accident that happened to Jenkins while working in No.1 pit on the 27th. July. The plaintiff claimed 15/- per week as compensation. Mr. Riley said that it had been arranged between the plaintiff and the defendants that he should pay 10/- per week from the date of the accident to the present and to the end of the plaintiff incapacity and also to pay costs the Judge agreed and the case closed. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
29th. December 1900.
John Lacey aged 39 years, a collier was killed. There were catches at the pit bottom and the cage was double-decked. Eight men got into the cage top deck and he and others were waiting to get into the bottom deck. When the engineman lifted and lowered the cage into the catches the hooker-on missed the cage with the catches and it went lower than expected. He was crushed trying to get into the cage. Cause, too many being at the pit bottom. (Mines Inspectors Report)
12th. December 1900.
Shocking Fatality At Haydock.
James Arnold aged 16 years, an engine boy was killed when he was caught in the machinery screen engine his body being found underneath. No one saw but it is supposed that he went to examine the engine while in motion and was caught and crushed. The flywheel was fenced at each side. The youth was fearfully mutilated. On Monday last a bright intelligent lad named James Arnold employed on the ‘shaker’ machine at the pit met his death in a fearful manner. He lived with his parents at 93, Church Road, Haydock, and had been working but four months at the colliery. About 2 p.m. on Monday the browman heard a scream and saw him lying in the engine between two flywheels the scalp was cut off and the body general mutilated. He was quite dead. The alarm was raised and the body got out of the flywheels. Nobody actually saw the accident. At the inquest before Mr. Brighouse at the Rams Head Hotel on Wednesday. Peter Cunliffe was the foreman of the jury, Mr. J. Robinson the colliery manager. Sarah Hammond wife of James Hammond of Church Road, Haydock, gave evidence of identification said the deceased was her son by a former marriage. He had bee told not to oil the engine while it was in motion and he worked well and was an intelligent boy. A man named Joseph Rawlinson was in charge of the engine. Elizabeth Ellen Seddon aged 13 years said that at the time of the accident she was at the pit brow and she saw a piece of wood fly from the engine and so did Selina Atherton. They looked around and saw James in the flywheel. Mr. Matthews, the Inspector, thought that the wheels were well fenced and there was an iron bar that was bent in the accident. He was inclined to think that the lad had slipped on an oily patch. A verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ was recorded. (Mines Inspectors Report) (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
4th. January 1901.
Terrible Fatality At Haydock.
John Lacey, aged 39 years, of 35, Station Road, Haydock, lost his life at the colliery. At the inquest, it was stated that a number of men were crowding around the cage and it is alleged that Lacey stepped onto the deck before he was told and the catches failed to act and the poor fellow was crushed between the stage and the landing. He was taken to the hospital but he died before he got there. The deceased leaves a widow and four children. The inquest was held in the Waggon and Horses Mr. J. Watkinson manager of the colliery and Mr. J. Glover the Miners’ Agent were there. Eliza his widow gave the evidence of identification. John Whittle a dataller at the colliery of 37, Vista Lane, Haydock, said that on the morning he was hooking-on boxes in the pit eye when Lacey and some of the men came to go to the surface. The cage was a two-decker. Larkin, the hooker-on, counted eight men and said that will do. he pushed the hook under the cage and he thought it had caught. He shouted but Lacey walked on and the cage caught him and pinned him down. The coroner said that it was his experience that the men wanted to get up even to save ten seconds That was what he had gathered at other inquests. Thomas Bond, of Brick Street, Earlestown, said that he was with the deceased but when the cage lifted up the catches were not on and he threw himself back into the road. After considering their verdict for a long time the inquiry was adjourned to call the engine winder on Monday which was the next time Mr. Brighouse could get to Haydock. At the resumed inquest, Thomas Sankey, 164, Penny Lane, Haydock, was the winder at the colliery. He was questioned very closely about the signally. Mr. Hall, the Inspector, said that the danger was that men were allowed to crowd around the cage. The verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ was returned and a rider added that there should be a barrier and that only one winding man should be allowed to be inside the barrier at one time. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
4th. October 1901.
Colliery Fatality At Haydock.
On Saturday, at the inquest at the Rams Head Hotel, held by Mr. Brighouse, on the body of Thomas William Davies aged 18 years of 3, Penny Lane, Haydock, who was killed on Wednesday morning at the colliery. The Evans Company was represented by Mr. Peace and Mr. J. Robinson, the general agent was present. The Coroner, reading from the Police report said that on the morning of the accident and the deceased was standing two yards from the top of the brow and he had to take full boxes off the haulage rope. At the time of the accident, there were no boxes passing and the rope. He knocked and the men turned to see him with his arm in the rope. The stopped the motion and released him and they asked him how it happened. He said ‘I don’t know. Give me a drink’. He expired in a few minutes. Mr. Matthews, H.M. Inspector of Mines sent a letter to say he was sorry he could not be present but he had inspected the place and he thought that the deceased had got hold of the haulage rope. A juror stated that the deceased was six feet in height and it would be quite easy to touch the rope without thinking of it. The stepfather of the deceased identified him. He worked in the same pit in the same motion road and his son was well acquainted with the place and there was not enough room to work in. Mr. Robinson General Agent for the Company stated that he was eleven feet from the wheel and there was a signal push and the motion could be stopped by this means. Patrick Dowd, of 8, Barber Square, Ashton-in-Makerfield, said that he was in the haulage and was working with John Brown who stated that he lashed on tubs and when they were un-lashed they ran two yards on the other side of the wheels and they had to go up to the wheel if there was a twisted chain. After along consultation the jury were of the opinion that it was an accident as there did not appear to be any work going on at the time. A juryman named Cawley who was due to be there at expressed his regret that he had mistaken the time and arrived late for the proceedings. The coroner said that he had made a similar mistake himself and pointed out that he could be fined and there was laughter in the court. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
25th. April 1903.
Edward Morris aged 26 years, a contractors man was killed as he had knocked out a bar in the roadway and was removing stones and some adjoining stones fell from the timbering and fatally injured him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
30th. May 1903.
William Jones aged 47 years, a collier was killed at the colliery. A drawer who had two scotches in a full tub when letting it down a brow dipping 1 in 6 with a hemp rope fastened to a prop and twisted a couple of times around the hook of the tub and it ran down striking him at the top of the brow. It was advised that a safer system be used in the future. (Mines Inspectors Report)
16th. October 1903.
Thomas Brown aged 50 years, a dataller was killed while levelling and repairing in the main brow of the haulage road a fall of roof occurred breaking down one of the bars, capping the timber and burying him. (Mines Inspectors Report)
3rd. July 1904.
Compensation Claim.
William Downes a drawer of 5, Hazel Grove, Vista Lane, Earlestown, made a claim against Evans and Co. While he was working the Wood pit 6th. November last he was caught in the eye by a piece of coal that flew out of the face and he lost sight of the eye. He received compensation and the payment of £10-15-6d including costs. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
15th. July 1904.
Young Man Drowned At Haydock.
On Wednesday a young man named Heath of Ashton living near Old Boston colliery was drowned and his body was recovered after three hours. His father was killed in a colliery close by about a year ago. At the inquest held on the 22nd. into the death of John Heath aged 19 years of Liverpool Road who was drowned on Wednesday in the reservoir near Wood colliery, evidence was given by Miles Phillips said that he and two other boys went to the water and saw a suit of clothes on the side of Haydock Lodge they gave information to the Police and dragging operations commenced. About 10 a.m. Jed Swinley, a collier, of Old Boston Cottage, saw the dragging, stripped and went into the water and he found the body in about two minutes. With assistance, the body was got out of the water. P.C. Tyson stated that the body was dead and he thought that the deceased had gone in the water to bathe as it was a very hot day. A verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ was returned. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
13th. April 1905.
John Heywood, aged 32 years, a dataller, was killed as he was clearing a fall of roof in the haulage brow and when they had partly cleared the fall and had set some props another stone fell on the deceased. He was a single man who lived at 84, Legh Street, Earlestown. At the inquest into the death of John Heywood of Little Hulton near Bolton, identified the deceased as a nephew but had not seen him for three years. Thomas Richardson, of 280, Church Road, Haydock, said he was a fireman at the colliery and when he left the pit on Wednesday the place where he was killed in the Higher Florida Mine was quite safe. It was a double haulage road where the fall occurred. There had been a fall that had been cleared and new timber erected. he had inspected the place at 7 a.m. and thought it safe for anyone to work under. Mr. Matthews, H.M. Inspector of Mines, questioned the witness and he said that there were 7 or 8 props had been set before and the middle of the haulage the roof was very strong it that part of the mine. he thought that the roof had been blown down by the force of the air. More timber was needed and there was plenty nearby. Thomas Cochran saw him make the examination. James Pilling the assistant fireman at the colliery he thought that the repairs were quite safe. Thomas Rafferty said that e accident happened at 10.15 and he was knocked back and with assistance, he got Heywood out from under the fall but he was dead. Matthews recommended that the roof should be barred in this place. A verdict of ‘Accidental death’ was returned and the jury added that everything that was possible was done. (Mines Inspectors Report) (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
8th. January 1906.
John Chorley aged 38 years, a brakesman was killed in the sidings when he got off the locomotive and was passing in front of the train of waggons in order to put the brakes down when he appeared to have caught his foot against the rails and fell and his arm was run over. He died on the 18th. after having the arm amputated. (Mines Inspectors Report)
27th. April 1906.
Earlestown Collier Killed.
James Readmead aged 28 years, a dataller was killed as he was setting a jack prop under a running bar and he appears to have disturbed the other supports as the bar and three others fell with some dirt on him. At the inquest into his death Held at the Waggon and Horses, the coroner, Mr. F.A. Jones, said that the deceased lived in Canal Street, Earlestown, and was killed by a fall of roof at the pit. Mr. James Cook was the foreman of the jury and Mr. Matthews, H.M. Inspector of Mines and John Robinson the General Manager of the Haydock Collieries were present. Hannah Redhead gave the evidence of identification and said he was 43 years of age. William Crawford of Gas Street, Newton, was a metalman at the pit and at 8 p.m. he arrived at the working place and he commenced to clear dirt out of the lower manhole and the deceased went one higher up. He bored a hole and fired a shot and the night fireman assisted then to set a crossbar and then they put in jack prop. When he returned he found that the deceased was hitting the jack prop with a hammer. At 2.15 a.m. he heard a fall of the roof and found the deceased under it. James Marshall and James Twist came to his assistance and when they got him out he was dead. They were putting in a crossbar to support three crossbars and when the deceased was left by the fireman the place was quite safe. Three bars and four tubs of dirt. Mr. Matthews said it was good timbering and must have been loosened by knocking it. A verdict of ‘accidental death’ was returned and the court gave their sympathy to the relatives. (Mines Inspectors Report) (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
20th. January 1911.
Haydock Compensation Case.
Alice Athley, a widow of Astley, of 9, Gibraltar Cottages, Haydock, at St. Helens Court, claimed compensation with respect to the death of her husband Robert Astley, who was a brakesman employed by Evans and Co., and 24th. December 1910, was riding on some waggons and he fell off and was run over and died. Albert Twist, the fireman, said the deceased was riding on the buffer of the train and the engine driver was under instructions for shunting. They were coming from Old Boston to Wood pit and the train was travelling at 7 or 8 m.p.h. When they were past some points, he noticed the man get off the buffer and he placed one hand on the brakes van and the other on the waggon and overbalanced and he was run over and took his arm off. Alice Athley said her husband had been employed for 4 years and they had two children. His Honour agreed to pay 11/- per week. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
14th. June 1912
The Wood Pit Disaster Fund.
The following letter has been sent to the editor of the St. Helens Newspaper: “After reading about the Titanic Relief Fund when over a quarter of a million has been raised at the present time one is lead to ask is there sufficient publicity given to the administration of funds. There are people in Haydock that remember that a large sum was collected in 1878 for the benefit of the unfortunate people who lost their breadwinners in the explosion at the Wood Pit on Friday 7th. June 1878. When I questioned whether any working man in Haydock knew if the Fund was exhausted and any particulars about it, I got no response. Parliament ought to demand that there should be a published account for these funds at least once a year. Yours etc. Pro Bono Publico”. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
19th. June 1912.
Richard Thompson aged 16 years, a haulage hand was killed while attempting to attach an empty tub which was off the rails to set on a brow 1 in 12. He appeared to have been overcome by the tub before it was coupled and was fatally crushed against a bar. (Mines Inspectors Report)
21st. June 1912.
Miners Gassed At Wood Pit.
An alarming accident occurred at the pit on Saturday morning. A party of eight men were working in the mine when there was a fall and a quantity of gas and firedamp escaped. All the men were overcome and some have been in a serious condition for some time but fortunately, help was at hand and the rescue was executed where the gas continued to pour out in large volumes. They were at one taken to the surface and afterwards removed home. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
30th. July 1912.
Thomas Bramon aged 40 years, a contractors man was killed when he and two others were widening a level roadway and had set two new bars. While filling a tub with dirt, a large fall occurred knocking out two more bars and killing him and injuring the other workmen. (Mines Inspectors Report)
30th. August 1912.
Coal Thefts At Haydock.
Before Messrs. Collingwood and Borron at Newton Sessions, Ann White, Edward Fenney, Mary Livesley and Emily Latham were fined 10/- including costs for stealing coal from the Old Fold sidings on the 17th.August. John Fenney was fined 15/- with costs for a similar offence John Norbury was fined 5/- with 14/- costs for stealing coal the property of John Picton, farmer, from the shale heaps at Wood Pit. A. Waywell was fined 10/- including costs for a similar offence at the same pit. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
13th. October 1916.
Earlestown Inquest.
The inquest was held at Earlestown Townhall into the death of Michael Quinn of 131, Legh Street, Earlestown. The deceased worked down Wood Pit. The coroner was Mr. Jones. Mr. Robinson appeared for the Company and Mr. Makinson appeared for the miners in place of Mr. Twist. Mrs. Quinn said that her husband was a dataller, aged 45 years. In May he came home saying that he had been crushed by a fall of roof and he stayed off work for two days and then continued until late August and then complained about his legs and saw Dr. Grey who treated him for abscesses. He died at the home on the 5th. October. As far as could be remembered, the accident occurred about Easter Week and there was a fall and they were entombed for about three hours. A hole was made for then to come through and there was a small fall that caught Quinn by the legs as he was coming through the hole. It took only a few minutes to free him. When he came home he had scratches all over his body on his right hip there was a round black spot about the size of a sixpence and she attended it at night. Up to the time of his death he had never any ailment and he had not lost a day’s work for 16 years. William Lyons, contractor of 44, Athol Street, employed at Wood Pit, said that the deceased in May last year and Peter Hawk, of Gas Street, were working together and were trapped by a fall. When they were coming through the hole that was made some dirt fell and caught him by the legs. He did not complain of any hurt but walked home and there was no accident report as he was asked if he was hurt and he had said no. Ernest Harrison 53, Kenyons Lane, Haydock, was in charge of the Wood pit and he thought that he had been to Holywell for his holidays. Dr. Grey gave evidence of the post-mortem and instructed the coroner the cause of death was heart failure caused by blood poisoning from the abscess which might have been caused by simple violence. Dr. Latham and Dr. Makinson were also called and they thought that the death was due to the accident. The jury returned a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ holding that the death had been largely accelerated by the accident. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
29th. December 1916.
Fatal Accident.
Some men were retained to clearer away snow to facilitate the moving of the coal waggons when John Burnes, aged 25 years, a contractor, who resided at 54, Clarence Street, Earlestown, was caught between two waggons and killed. The deceased was a married man with two children and was removed to the Hospital. The inquest was held at the Waggon Hotel on Thursday, and a verdict of ‘Accidental Death’ was recorded. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
18th. January 1923.
Richard Stirrup he was knocking in a prop with a hammer when he strained himself internally and died of peritonitis. The post-mortem showed the presence of a gastric ulcer and the accident caused the rupture of the duodenum. (Mines Inspectors Report)
13th. December 1923.
Peter Higham took a full tub out off one of the cages and thought he was passing an empty tub into the cage again but he pushed too hard and fell over the fence and fell twelve feet. The fence rail was 3 feet 8 inches above the ground. It was dark at the time but the place was well light. The man’s injuries were not serious but he died on the 5th. of pulmonary congestion set up by the injury. (Mines Inspectors Report)
16th. January 1923.
(A Haydock colliery most possibly Wood Pit.)
A man was crushed by a tub it a corner while cleaning up a dust hole. The tub into which he was putting the dust, was resting against a Warwick that had not been securely set but when the tub was full, the extra weight pushed the tub into a more vertical position and the tub moved about three yards and he was in front of it. (Mines Inspectors Report)
10th. October 1924.
Mine Manager Assaulted.
At Newton Petty Sessions, A Peake the magistrate John Patrick of Darley Street, Newton, was charged with assaulting Mr. Sharples of Penny Lane, Haydock, manger of Wood Pit. The defendant pleaded not guilty. Sharples let the pit to go home and saw a charabanc pull up opposite his house and he was going along and took no notice of the coach which overtook him and came to a stop. he was carrying his overcoat over one arm and had a hand in his pocket Patrick was before him and jumped up and down and he was not really aware what was happening and side something about a letter and struck him on the mouth and teeth had been loose ever since and as a result he had to visit the doctor and he could not work all the weekend. William Jenkins a furnace worker at the colliery 0f Penny Lane Haydock stated that they had witnessed the incident and the defendant hit him and he carried on walking. The defendant has changed his plea to guilty and he said that it would not happen again and the bench imposed a fine of £5. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
28th. February 1930.
Wood Pit Disaster Fund. In March 1929, the remainder of the Wood Pit Disaster Fund from the accident of 7th. June 1878 was handed over to the Lancashire and Cheshire Miners’ Federation. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
25th. April 1930.
Accident At Pit.
An unfortunate occurrence following the firing of a shot at the pit occurred at the Petty Sessions yesterday. Richard Lawrenson, colliery manager, residing at 97, Vista Road, Haydock was charged with an offence under the Explosives in Coalmines Act, 1913, in that the person authorised to fire a shot electrically had failed to couple up the cable himself. The offence was committed on February 4th. and he pleaded guilty. The regulations definitely stated that when shots had to be fired, the only person authorised was the fireman. Lawrenson was prepared to fire the shot and an arrangement was made with a man named Hayes. The arrangement was that Hayes should run the cable out and couple it with the detonator and to prevent anyone entering the place, he called out. After 5 or 6 minutes he heard someone shout ‘right’ and he fired the shot. When he went back he found Hayes lying with braises to his head and breast. It had been someone on the haulage landing that Lawrenson had heard call out. If he had coupled it himself there would have been no accident. He told the manager promptly in his defence. It was pointed out that the real breach in the regulations was that he allowed someone else to couple up the charge but they were old friends. He had taken other precaution and seen that everlasting was clear. The injured man was making a good recovery and was present in court on that day and he hoped that the bench would extend sympathy to the defendant. He had been a fireman for 32 years. He was fined £5 and lost his position but after some discussion, the fine was reduced to 40/-. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
30th. May 1930.
Theft Of Coal.
At Newton Petty Sessions, Harold Beret of 93, Atholl Street, was fined 7/6d. for stealing coal from the tip at the colliery. The nightwatchman of the Company said he saw the defendant picking coal at the tip. When he shouted he ran away but the watchman knew the man. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
25th. September 1931.
Coal Thefts.
Catherine Bullock, of 59, Clarence Street, Earlestown was charged at Newton Police Court with stealing 40ld of coal from the pit on the 17th. September the property of Mr. McLymont, of Yew Tree Farm, She stated that she was entitled to the picking at the spot near Wood Pit. A boy of 15 years was jointly charged. She stated that she only had 2 lbs. in her apron which she dropped in the footpath and it would have been an impossibility for her to carry 45 lbs. The boy admitted taking coal but the case was dismissed against the two of them but they had to pay 5/- costs. (Newton & Earlestown Guardian)
c1943.
Wood Pit. Falls of the roof was common and killed many a collier. A man tells of his experiences. “All at once the collier shots ‘Hey up’”. Before we could get out of the way the fall had all come over the coal and it pushed us down, apart from my head. I was over the conveyor. I had a detonator tin on my belt with twenty detonators in two bundles of ten and it flattened that detonator tin and it doesn’t damage a detonator. It opened them all out. It took them a while to get us out and we’d only three stretchers in the pit. The three men were carried and because I was the deputy I had to walk with my arms around some chappies shoulders. The only broken bones were the old man, the timbermen had just below his knee broke.” (DD).
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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