Mr Hedley stated that there was a rope connected to the working shaft from a horse gin, but there was no chance of anyone going down it owing to the quantity of smoke. He had seen John Sisson attending to the erection of a barricade over the pumping shaft and had seen George Foster descend the shaft on the 'horse' at around 5 o'clock. He recalled that Richard Blackburn was the first man to be brought to the surface. Mr Hedley followed George Foster and John Sisson down to the first stage after seven or eight men had been brought out. He remained there to steady the men as they came up and later descended to the foot of the shaft and brought up Naboth Kirkby (see description of what then transpired above). After the accident with Naboth Kirkby, he brought up two further men, including James (John) Turner. He didn't see the body of Naboth Kirkby until it was brought to the surface the following morning. Mr Seymour of Staveley recounted how he had descended into the shaft at around three o'clock but only got to within eight yards of the bottom, and there remained suspended as there was no signal rope. He instead shook the rope by which he was suspended and was raised again to the surface. He had spoken to John Kay and promised to return for him. He recalled seeing George Gee go down to bring out his son. Mr Wells asked the witness how he thought Hugh Bird came to his death, to which the witness replied that he believed that Naboth Kirkby fell upon him and killed him on the spot. George Plant, a miner at Silkstone Main Colliery, was the next to give evidence. He was working at the south level at the time of the accident, and two boys came to tell him about the fire at around four o’clock. He described what he saw when he got to the drawing shaft and the efforts to extinguish the fire. On reaching the foot of the pumping shaft with the other men, he said he saw the bodies of Naboth Kirkby and Hugh Bird. The discussion then turned to the arrangements for the cleaning of the flue. A quite combative exchange took place between Mr McEvoy, Mr Widdowson and the Coroner as to the cause of the accident. McEvoy argued that the deaths occurred due to failure to clean the flues. At the same time, the Coroner asserted that the jury's function was to determine the immediate cause of death of the two boys. After this exchange, Frith Beresford and George Plant were re-examined. A further argument between the Coroner and certain jury members ensued, particularly concerning the culpability of John Sisson, the steward. Eventually, the jury concluded that Naboth Kirkby had come to his death by the chain of the 'horse' becoming accidentally detached, but regarding Hugh Bird, they recorded an open verdict, being “found dead” but with insufficient evidence to show how he came to his death. Inquest into the death of Charles Meggitt 186029 An inquest was held on Thursday 12 April into the death of Charles Meggitt, age 13, hurrier, before the Coroner, C.S.B. Busby, Esq., at the ‘British Oak’ pub, and the following jury:

- • Wells, Esq. of Eckington, foreman; • Wells, Esq. of Eckington, foreman;
- • Rotherham, Esq. of Mosborough Hall; • Rotherham, Esq. of Mosborough Hall;
- • George Booth, Mosborough Moor; • George Booth, Mosborough Moor;
- • Murther McEvoy, Eckington; • Murther McEvoy, Eckington;
- • George Widdowson, Eckington; • George Widdowson, Eckington;
- • William Turner, Mosborough; • William Turner, Mosborough;
- • Luke Worrall, Mosborough; • Luke Worrall, Mosborough;
- • Septimus Staton, Mosborough; • Septimus Staton, Mosborough;
- • Joseph Alton, Plumley; • Joseph Alton, Plumley;