It is sort of funny, in a weird way, how much time a family
historian spends reading or searching for obituaries. We can learn a lot from them. You would normally see the deceased’s age at
death, when they died and the survivors.
We could also possibly find out a little more about the deceased person,
their interests, their hobbies and any club affiliations.
So I was truly surprised to find a full inquest into the
death of one in our tree along with who all went to the funeral. From a purely historical angle, it was also
interesting to read how the inquest and the funeral proceeded.
Crewe Works Fatality
Collapse of a Hand Rail Inquest
and Verdict
Mr. H.C. Yates, district coroner, and a jury, held an
inquiry on Friday Afternoon at Crewe Police Station, into the circumstances
attending the death of Charles Palin of 27 Broughton Rd, Church Coppenhall, a
leading hand in the Forge at the Steel Works.
Mr. H.E. Brothers, H.M. Inspector of the Factories, of
Latchford, Warrington, was present and Mr. W. Savage represented the Railway
Company. Mr. H.W.G. Garnett, solicitor,
represented the family.
 |
| Inside Crewe Works, 1901 |
Alfred John Palin, 27, Broughton Road, Church Coppenhall,
said deceased was his father. He was 64
years of age, and was a lead hand at the steel furnaces. He had been in the employ of the Railway
Company for over 40 years. On Thursday,
at 5 a.m., witness heard of the accident, and went to the hospital, and saw the
dead body. His father was subject to
giddiness.
The Accident
Thomas Turner, assistant furnace man, residing at Bradfield
Road, Church Coppenhall, stated that Wednesday night deceased came to No. 2
furnace to try the heat. He saw him about
to put a bar into the furnace, and was standing near the handrail round the
stage. Witness's back was toward him,
and a few seconds later he heard the cry "Oh!" He turned round and noticed deceased was not
on the stage and that the handrail had gone down. Witness looked over the rail on to the floor
and noticed deceased between the ingots on the bogie, which was moving
slowly. He at once shouted to the driver
to stop, and the bogie was immediately brought to a stand. Witness then went below and found deceased on
the ground underneath the bogie on the metals.
Witness raised the bogie by hydraulic jacks, and the deceased was taken
from under it and conveyed to the Company's hospital. The drop from the stage would be about 14'
7". It was common practice for the
leading hand when he had to test the heat of the metal, to lean against the
rail.
The Coroner: Have you
noticed the handrail give way before?
Never sir.
Do you know if he was sitting on the rail? I can't say.
Mr. Booth (foreman of the jury) - There is a piece of wire
round the bar as though the bar had been broken.
Witness - I put the wire round the rail last night.
Mr. Brothers - (H.M. Inspector) - There is a distinct flaw
in the rail now
Witness - I had never noticed it before.
Mr. Garnett - Was the flaw noticeable before the accident occurred?
Witness - I don’t think anyone noticed it before the
accident occurred. If it had been we
should have reported it
Was it all visible? - I don’t think it could be.
Mr. Brothers - You never noticed the rail next to this one
is cracked in the same way? - I never noticed it.
In reply to further questions, witness said deceased was a
heavy man - 18 or 19 stone. Deceased's
weight broke the rail. The rail was bent
the least bit before the accident.
{18 stone= 252 lbs/ 19 stone= 266 lbs}
The Condition of the Rail
Joseph Barker, 2, Dudson Street Crewe, labourer, said
deceased told him to get the ladle ready and he did so and stood waiting for
instructions to the shunter to bring along the moulds. The moulds were on bogies a little way down
the shop, and had to be brought right under the ladle and pushed back by the
engine. Witness was about 6 yards from
the furnace, standing ready, and he had his back to the deceased. He heard a shout and at once looked round and
missed the deceased. He then noticed the
handrail had gone and he looked over and saw the deceased on his back between
the metals of No2 and no 3 groups. He
was wedged between the axle and the metals.
The bogies were raised and deceased was got out and taken to the
hospital. Witness had been leaning over
the rail the same night and out nearly his whole weight on. He thought it was
perfectly sound. The men frequently
leaned on the rail when they were waiting.
 |
| Iron foundry at Crewe railway works, 1913 |
John Durkin, scrap-man, 39 Myrtle Street, and Alfred Walley,
shunter's attendant also gave evidence.
The latter in replay to the Coroner, said deceased must have fallen
whilst they were moving the moulds towards the ladle. The deceased gave orders for them to get the
moulds into position.
By a juror: He had
seen the deceased sitting on the rail many times.
Medical Evidence
Dr. Lawrence said Palin was dead when admitted to hospital
soon after 11 p.m. There were bruises on
the head, face and hands and on the side of his head. On the left side of the chest it appeared to
him that several ribs had been broken.
There was a great deal of bruising of the skin on the left side. The left arm had been broken and evidently a
great weight had gone over it. It was practically
severed. There were one of two bruises
on the legs.
The Coroner - You heard he fell 14 feet. Were there not more serious injuries to the
head? I cannot say that there were. He died from shock through the crushing of
his chest.
The Coroner - Caused by the axle of the bogie that we hear
was on him?
Dr. Lawrence - I should think that would be it.
Would the death be instantaneous? - I should think so
Asked whether the handrails were examined. Mr. Savage said it was the duty of the
deceased, if he found a flaw, to report it at once. Independent of that, no examination was made.
The Coroner remarked that the flaw had been partly hidden.
The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death"
Juror's Suggestion
Mr. J. Booth (the foreman) suggested the desirability of making
a stronger rail and a more permanent fastening than it appeared to be now. He did not blame the officials. It was a pure accident in his opinion.
Mr. W Savage foreman of the steel making department,
speaking on behalf of the L. and N.W. Railway Company, said he desired to
express much regret at the accident and sympathy with the relatives of the
deceased: and also to further say that the deceased was held in high esteem by
the company for his long and meritorious services. They felt they had lost a trustworthy servant
and one whose place it would not be easy to fill.
The Coroner said he was sure that would be some comfort to
the family.
Mr. Garnett, on behalf of the family, said he was much
obliged to Mr. Savage for his kind expression of sympathy. He understood deceased was much respected.
 |
| The boiler shop at Crewe railway works, 1913 |
The Funeral
The funeral took place on Sunday afternoon amid a general
manifestation of respect. A deputation
of about 150 employees of the Steel Works Forge, together with a deputation
from the Rose of England" Lodge (Warmingham) of the Grand United Order of
Oddfellows assembled at the deceased's late residence and before the cortege
was formed Mr. E. Alcock offered prayer in the presence of the immediate
relatives and friends, and the hymn "Jesu, Lover of My Soul" was
sung. The coffin was afterwards moved to
the lawn in front of the house and here the Oddfellows conducted their customary
service.
After these rites had been concluded the procession was
formed in the following order: members of the "Rose of England"
Lodge, deputation of about 150 fellow workmen, the hearse and bearers, namely
Messrs. J. Mason, F. Galley, A. Walley, S. Stubbs, S. Barnes, W. Walford, A.
Haynes and G. Howarth; five mourning coaches, containing James, Jock and Sam
(sons), Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Sampey (daughters), Messrs. Sam Palin, Robert Palin
and John Palin (brothers), Mrs. Barnett (sister), Mrs. Sam Nightingale, Mrs.
Spode; Caleb, Wilfred, Lottie, Jennie and Lily (grandchildren), Mr. and Mrs.
Lucas, Mr. Brown, Mrs. Nightingale, Mr. J. Sampey, Mrs. S. Palin, Miss Stubbs,
Mr. Spode, Mrs. Robert Palin, Mr.
Barnett, Mrs. S. Palin, Mr. T. Waldbrun, Mrs. S. Nightingale and Mr. E.
Alcock.
The cortege proceeded to the Coppenhall Church, where the
burial service was impressively conducted by the Rector (Rev. W.C. Reid). Another hymn was sung in the church and the
\Rector afterwards concluded the last rites at the graveside. Along the route from the deceased's late
residence to the church, blinds were drawn as a mark of respect. Mr. E. Charlesworth, Bradfield Road, carried
out the funeral arrangements.
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