100 YEARS AGO: INQUEST INTO DEATH OF 17 YEAR OLD KILLED AT PENDLETON PIT, SALFORD

Last week we attended a memorial service for the coal miners killed at Agecroft Pit, Salford, when new names were added to those previously listed, with ages ranging from 10 years of age to 70.

I came across this story from the Salford City Reporter, February 1922 the inquest report into the death of Daniel Allam aged 17, a colliery wagoner at Pendleton Colliery who lived in Ann Street, Pendleton.

The inquest was held at Pendleton Town Hall with the Coroner, Mr Holmes, Mr G. B. Harrison, H.M Inspector for mining for Swinton and Mr Sutton representing the Lancashire and Cheshire, Miners Federation.

Mr Benjamin Hole, told the inquest that the deceased was his stepson, who left home at 6 am the previous Thursday to go to work, and at 11 am he received information from the colliery that Daniel had been involved in a serious accident, he went to the pit and was told that he had been taken home in an ambulance, upon reaching home he found that the boy was dead.

John Powell a wagoner at the pit told the inquest that about 10 am he saw Daniel pushing an empty coal waggon, when a steel rope attached to a full waggon of coal, snapped, sending the full waggon down an incline some 30 yards long, smashing into the empty waggon, jamming him against it, he went to his assistance but he was already dead.

The Coroner asked him if he had ever seen the steel ropes tested and was told that it was frequently inspected by the fireman, he then suggested that had become slack, and then suddenly tightened, and could take a strain of four and five tons under ordinary circumstances.

Walter White a collier who resided at Bradshaw Street, Pendleton, said that the rope was taut when the waggon was a yard from the incline, there was no control over the truck when the rope snapped, and the only chance that Allam had of survival was if the waggon had come off the rails but it kept on the track all the way down the incline,

White then took the body to the surface and then home in the ambulance.

The Coroner in summing up, said that he was satisfied that the ropes were tested regularly, but it was difficult to understand how the rope broke.

A verdict of Accidental Death was recorded.

Such a sad story, a young life snuffed out in such horrific circumstances, I can't understand why they took his body home in an ambulance, it was obvious that he was dead, surely the nearest hospital mortuary was the place to take him?

Hopefully this young boys name will be added to any further memorials in the future.

The Pendleton Colliery was located on Whit Lane, Salford and was mined from the 1830s until it's closure in 1939.