Archived Extracts

  A verdict of "Accidental death, with no blame attaching to anyone," was returned by the jury at the inquest held at Mansfield on Friday on Benjamin Emanuel Woodhead, aged 47 years, of 15, Sherwood Street, Huthwaite, who died at Mansfield Hospital on Sunday, February 19th, following injuries sustained whilst working at Silverhill Colliery the previous Friday.
  The enquiry was conducted by the District Coroner (Mr. A.H. Bradwell), and the proceedings were watched by Mr. T.E. Pickering (Inspector of Mines), Mr. F.H. Jessop (representing the Stanton Ironworks Co., Ltd., the owners of the colliery), Mr. T.W. Machin (colliery manager), Mr. Val Coleman (representing the Notts. Miners' Association) and Mr. J. Buddle (Deputies' Association).

  The Coroner explained that deceased was buried by a fall of roof, and the only question for the jury was whether they were satisfied every precaution was taken, and that there was no one to blame for the matter.
  The first witness was William Woodhead, an unemployed miner, of 5, Sherwood Street, Huthwaite, brother of the deceased, who was a single man. His brother, he said, was, so far as he knew, injured at Silverhill Colliery on February 17th and was removed to Mansfield Hospital. He saw deceased in Hospital, but his brother was unable to tell him what had happened. He had been employed as a stallman at the Colliery for fourteen months. He was in good health, and was an active man.
  John George Barnes, of 10, Market Street, Huthwaite, a stallman at Silverhill Colliery, said he was working in company with deceased at Silverhill Colliery on Friday, February 17th, being engaged in No. 61 stall of the low main seam. They started work at 7 a.m., the shift concluding at 2.30 p.m. Deceased, when he saw him at the pit bottom on commencing work was quite all right. At the time of the accident, which occurred about 1.30 p.m., they were engaged in building a pack in the stall, obtaining the material from the corner of the pack.

  They had put the pack three-parts up when the roof suddenly came in. The roof was close up to the pack, and came down in one big lump and some small stuff. He estimated that about two tons of roof fell and deceased was underneath. The fall occurred without any warning, and witness was just clear. Before starting work in the morning witness and deceased examined the roof, and were satisfied it was safe. There were sufficient timber, consisting of props and bars, and when the fall took place it brought a bar down with it. They had had no notification of any weight that morning, but they had had the day before. When they had that notification of weight they took further precautions, putting some additional props and bars up....
  The jury then returned the verdict stated above.
  Mr. Machin, on behalf of the Colliery Co., expressed regret at the accident and sympathy with the bereaved relatives. Deceased, he said, had worked for the Company for fourteen months and was a very careful man.
  Mr. Coleman, who also associated himself with the expression of sympathy, said as a practical man, it was known there were slips and bad patches of work which must be gone through, but he quite agreed from the evidence that every precaution was taken. Deceased was a good workman and they were sorry to have lost him.
  Mr. Buddle and the Coroner also joined in the sympathetic expressions.

The wreaths at the funeral of Mr. R.E. Woodhead last week should have included one from Marion, in affectionate remembrance of Mr. Woodhead.

On Thursday the annual meeting in connection with Home Missions was held in the Sutton Road Methodist Church. The Rev. H.R. Hackforth wa the lecturer, and his subject was "Romance at Home and in the Army." There was a fair congregation and the annual report and collections were presented.

It is hardly necessary to state that there was no football on Saturday, and yet Huthwaite Villa made preparations for a match. They should have entertained Mansfield Sports Club (a fixture which will probably decide the League Championship) and the pitch was fairly clear of snow. The Huthwaite players assembled and the referee, Mr. Powell, motor cycled from West Bridgford, and declared the ground fit for play. The Mansfield team, however, seemed to regard football as an utter impossibility, for they did not turn up and sent no message. With many matches abandoned the previous week and a blank sheet on Saturday, fixtures are likely to become congested during the next eight weeks, and several local championships are still open questions. On Saturday the Villa intended to give a trial to Froggatt, their new winger from Stanton Hill.

On Thursday evening a concert was held at the "Shoulder of Mutton" on behalf of Messrs. W. Marshall and J. Stones, neither of whom has worked for a considerable time. There was a good attendance, and in addition a large number of tickets had been sold. The effort had been organised by the Sick and Dividing Society, and Mr. C. Butterworth officiated as chairman. The following programme was rendered: Selection, Huthwaite Prize Band Quartette Party; Mr. J. Stone; Mr. Bert Toon; Mr. G. Bee; Messrs. T. Chapman and J. Stone; ... Mr. G. Bee revealed a first-rate tenor voice, and sang in excellent style, while Mr. Toon's humorous items were well-received. The pianist was Mr. J. Quibell, and a vote of thanks to artistes and helpers was carried on the proposition of the chairman, Mr. Marshall, it will be remembered, was trainer to the New Hucknall Colliery Football Club in its palmiest days.

  A Bill has been introduced by Mr. David Grenfell, the Labour member for Gower (Glam.) to amend the Coal Mines (Minimum Wage) Act of 1912.
  The Bill proposes new minimum rates of wages to apply to underground and surface workers in coal, ironstone, shale and clay mines.
  The new minimum would be the rate paid on July 31st, 1914, plus an amount equal to the percentage increase in the cost of living from that date, as published periodically by the Ministry of Labour. Moreover, the minimum would not be subject to any deductions for the purchase of explosive used in the extraction of coal or stone.
  The Bill is supported by Messrs. Batey, Cape, Charles Brown, Charles Edwards, Duncan Graham, Gordon Macdonald, Lunn, Tinker, Thomas Williams, John Hall and George Hall.