A mining fatality due to failure to use safety appliances provided was enquired into by the Deputy Coroner, Mr. E. Emley, at Blyth on June 15th, 1928.
The deceased was Charles Chapple, aged 61 years, a deputy at Cambois Colliery, who lived at 4 Wembley Terrace, Cambois. Mr. E. T. Forster. H. M. Inspector of Mines, and Mr. J. D. Eltringham, manager of Cambois Colliery, were present at the inquiry.
Henry Sharp, 25 Gees House, Cambois, colliery chargeman, son-in-law of the deceased, gave evidence of identification. His father-in-law died on the way to the hospital, he said.
Edward Wood, 30 Bridge Street, Cambois, hewer, said on June 13th, he was with Chapple in the north barrier district of Cambois Colliery. About one o'clock in the afternoon, Chapple was drawing timber and witness was picking it out. Chapple was using an axe to draw the timber when there was a fall of stone. The stone did not give the slightest warning. Witness ran out of the way as the stone fell. Chapple was nearest to the goaf.
The passage way there was about six yards long. A terrible lot of stone fell. About 16 yards, the whole length of the board they had worked fell, with the exception of what had been drawn. The bracken was all timbered. The fall commenced where Chapple was drawing a prop at the time.
By Mr. Forster: The thickness of the seam was about 4 ft. 8 ins. It had a strong post roof. The floor was soft. The width of the lift they had just finished was 10 yards. It was just an ordinary lift. They had no props to support the roof as far as witness could say, the roof in the previous lift had fallen properly before they commenced to draw this one. The deputy would be engaged about twenty minutes in drawing with the axe and in this time he would have got about six score of props.
The props came out quite easily, Chapple knocking them out, and witness picked them up. No roof in the judd had fallen while they were drawing the props.
The fall gave them no warning at all. He could not exactly say if the collapse was due to Chapple knocking the props out. If the fall had commenced further in they would have heard it. Chapple had good hearing. In addition to the axe, Chapple had a pout and Sylvester.
"If he had been using the Sylvester would the accident have happened?" asked Mr. Forster.
"I don't know as I have never seen one used," replied witness.
"Never seen one used!" exclaimed Mr. Forster. "They are supplied for safety and there was one there for use. Do you know the section of the Act requires safety appliances to be always used when drawing timber from the roof?" - Yes.
If you have never seen one used you cannot say how far the man would have been from the fall when it occurred. Do you know how long a Sylvester chain is - No, I don't know.
By Mr. Eltringham: When Chapple was caught by the first fall, it was only by one stone. Witness found Chapple lying with his foot fast when he got back. Then a second fall took place.
Replying to further questions by Mr. Forster, witness said he had just got back to Chapple before the second fall occurred. It was about two minutes after. They were trying to ease the stone with a plank and prop when the second fall occurred. He agreed it would be a great shock to Chapple when they had to leave him a second time.
"How long was it before you returned?" enquired Mr. Forster.
"Two or three minutes as we did not go far away," said witness.
He was then still conscious. Did he say anything?" - Yes, he shouted, "Come on men; try and get my foot loose."
Mr. Emley: How long was it before you got him out? - About two and a half hours.
John Fluke, 8 North View, Cambois, coal hewer, who was also working with Chapple corroborated the last witness's evidence.
Asked by the deputy coroner if he had ever used a Sylvester, witness replied he had used one to pull some tubs back that had got off the way at the plate ends, but not to pull timber out. He thought the drawing of timber caused the fall. He did not think planks instead of props would have made much difference.
Mr. Forster: Have you often assisted the deputy to draw the judd? - Only twice.
While working was the deputy continually sounding the roof? - Yes.
The witness Wood recalled, told Mr. Forster he had not often assisted deputies in drawing timber.
The jury returned a verdict that Chapple was, accidentally killed while following his employment

A verdict of accidental death was returned by Mr. Coroner Appleby and a jury at the R.V.I., Newcastle in January, 1923, in regard to a fatal accident at the Carl Pit, Ashington Colliery. The deceased was 27 year-old, John Albert Cook, (see photo) of Hawthorne Road, Ashington.
The evidence showed that Cook and his "marrow," John Baxter, were following a pony putter in coming "out-bye on January 28th, when the pony shied at the drivers light and hastily pushed the tubs back. Between a prop and the side of the way Cook had his head caught. He was taken out of the pit to the hospital at Newcastle where he died.
Mr Cook was born in Ashington. He began work at the age of 13 years in the Bothal Yard Seam, and worked his way up through the different trades of, driving, putting, hewing, and with the coal cutting machines.
He joined the Tyneside Scottish in 1914, and was wounded and discharged just before the end of hostilities.
He left a widow and three children.

A fatal accident in the Duke Pit, Ashington Colliery, was described at an inquest held by Deputy Coroner, A. J. Spark at R.V.I, Newcastle, on George William Anderson, (see photo) a 42 year-old, coal cutter, of Third Avenue, Ashington, who died from his injuries received while following his employment in the pit on Boxing Day, 1923.
Evidence was given to the effect that Anderson and his "marrow" were working with an electric coal cutting machine in a cut in the mine. They were just proceeding to commence work on the coal face when Patterson, the "Marrow," turned the electric current on and Anderson shouted "hold."
Patterson immediately switched the power off, and going round the machine found Anderson trapped against the coal with both legs severed.
A verdict of "Accidental death" was recorded.