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COLLIER KILLED.I COllnllED.…

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COLLIER KILLED. I COllnllED. I A shocking accident occurred at the Bryn- dias Colliery, Burry Port (owned by Mr. David Lewis, Llanelly), on Friday morning. One of the workmen, named Willie Jones, living at Pinged, was riding upon one of the trams, when his head came into contact with the wires near the roof. He died immediately afterwards. THE INQUEST. Mr. W. W. Brociie conducted an inquest on Monday, at' Pembrey, respecting the death of Willie Jones (16), step-son of John Lloyd, far- mer, Tywrthymorfa-issa, which took place on the 9th instant. John Lloyd, Tywrthymorfa-issa, identified the body, and stated that deceased had been working at Bryndias Colliery for five or six weeks. Dr. Owen Williams, Burry Port, said that on December 9th he was sent for, nd went to Bryndias Colliery, Pinged, Pembrey, where he found the deceased in the office, lying on the table. He was then dead, and had been dead over half an hour. There were no external marks upon him. Witness believed the cause of death was asphyxia and shock. There was a mark on the front of the neck, as if the coal dust had been rubbed off. The appearance was as if the neck had been compressed. Rigor mortis had set in early, which showed, in his opinion, that there had been great fright, and that the deceased was conscious during the first portion of the asphyxia. In answer to a juror, Dr. Williams said that in his opinion there was no dislocation of the neck. Jasper Gordon Daniel, mining engineer., 51 Worcester Place, Swansea, stated that he was the engineer to the Bryndias Colliery, the property of Mr. David Lewis. Witness pro duced a plan showing the spot on the slant where the deceased met with his accident. There was a pipe across the slant at the spot. It was a three-inch cast-iron pipe, internal measurement. It was placed there for the I purpose of conveying the exhaust water into the sump. From the floor level to the roof the height was 6 feet lis inches. The train- rails were laid beneath the pipe, and they were used for taking journeys up and down the slant. The tram which deceased was riding on at the time of his death was 2 feet Ik inches high. The sleeper being five inches high made the highest point of the tram 3 feet and 4 £ inches above the floor level. The height of the pipe above the ground floor, where the tram ran, was 4 feet 4 inches, but the pipe there bent lower and reduced the height. The exact distance between the top of the tram and the pipe at the place where the accident occurred was fourteen inches. The place for the rider to sit was the wooden bar across the tram, about three inches in width, and 16 inches below the top of the j tram. That would give a distince of 2ft. 65ns. between the rider's seat and the pipe. Questioned by the jury witness said the pipe was not put in by his orders. It might have been put under the roadway, but he believed it was only placed where it was temporarily. The pipe could also have been put higher up near the roof. It would have been more effec- tual for its purpose, either under the roadway or nearer the roof Joseph Brazell, Waunrhedynmaen Cottages. Pembrey, said he was a pump boy at Bryn- dias Colliery. On December 9tfi he went down the slant to work at 6 a.m. In about fifteen minutes' time deceased brought an empty tram down the slant, past the place where he was working.. In about ten minutes after- wards he came back with a full tram. He was riding on it, sitting on the wooden bar, with his two feet on the chain. Witness was stand- ing about 2 feet from the pipe. When he got near the pipe he bent his head down, but he did not bend it low enough, as it struck the pipe. As the engine continued to pull, his feet came off the chain. His head then came against the tram, and the pipe fell on to his neck. The engine continued to wind, and de- ceased's neck came between the pipe and the tram. Witness shouted to the boys working in the drift to give the signal "Halt," and the engine stopped soon afterwards. Deceased's neck was tight between the pipe and the tram. Witness shouted to them to signal "To lower." The engine-driyer lowered, and that took the pressure off deceased's neck. Deceased then fell, but witness caught him. He believed the pressure on deceased neck was for a couple of seconds. Thomas Gravell and John Davies came up, and pushed the pipe into the sump. They carried the deceased one side, and gave him water. They then sent for a doctor. De- ceased, who did not say a word, died half-way up to the surface in the tram. He had a con- vulsive struggle before he died. The pipe had been in the same place for two months. There had been no accident there before. Witness I had seen riders passing under the pipe al- ) ways, but they always had to stoop. Witness had seen deceased passing under the pipe ten or twelve times a day for the last five or six weeks, and he knew it was necessary to stoop there. In reply to the jury, witness said the face of the coal from which the deceased was working I was 34 yards away. The tram was travelling very slowly. Since the accident the pipe had I been put in the same place. Questioned by the Inspector, witness said the deceased had a safety lamp, which ga'.e a good light. Witness bad a. "Comet" lamp, which also gave a good light. The pipe was supported by a cramp nail on the sump side, where there was a post. By Mr. Williams: Deceased was sitting with his back to the ham. with his face towards the direction in which the tram was going. Deceased did not speak to witness as he passed. I By the jury: Witness had not heard anyone I connected with the management warn the de- ceased to stoop under the pipe. He told the deceased dozens of times to mind his head when he approached the pipe. He told de- I, ceased the last time when he was within three yards of the. pipe. just before the accident, I and he stooped. Witness warned him because he was careless, and he appeared to stoop sometimes more than others. I Thomas Gravell, Cwmvrerv'm. Pembrey, col- lier employed at Bryndias Colliery,, said he was working at the colliery ::t 6 a.m. on Dec. 9th, he and John Davies being at the f:C8 of the slant. He remembered tlie deceased bringing down an eaiptv tram, and starting back with a full one. Witness did not notice how; he was sitting. The next lie beard was Joseph Brazell shouting to ;s.?m to signal to the engine-driver to stop, "vl did so. Brazell called them, and {her r n --j where I he was, and found Willie Jo.ier- h log on the tram, with the pine on his neek. He was pinned behvscl1 the t:l!\d tbo tram, 'Wit- ness pulled the pipe [¡'o;;) to n;e sump, and released hi"1. who was groaning, was placed at t'u cf the slant for ten minutes. uavid Williams, Thiildn Coitr. £ >3, Pembrey. engine-ariver, said he received the signal to wind up. He started the engine, and after it had wound about thirty yards the rope tieiitened. Witness thought there was some- thing wrong, and stopped the engine before having the signal to do so. He received a sig- nal to lower, which bo complied with at e', ] i',Ii at once. The puce at which the tram was travel- ling en the upward .fournev, when nearing the pipe, was half a mile an hour. The highest speed possible was only 14 miles an hour, ov.mg to the construction of the engine. The inquest was adjourned until Saturday. December 17th.

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