WATERFALL Ralph

Other Events:

• Occupation: Collier
• Census: 30 Mar 1851, Openwood Gate, Belper, Derbyshire, England; 1851
• Census: 7 Apr 1861, Barton Knowle, Belper, Derbyshire, England; 1861
• Census: 2 Apr 1871, Barton Knowle, Belper, Derbyshire, England; 1871
• Inquest: 22 Jan 1874, Seven Stars, Openwood Gate, Belper, Derbyshire, England

Notes:

Census:
Ralph gives his occupation as a Coal Miner.

Census:
Ralph gives his occupation as a Coal Huggler.

Census:
Ralph gives his occupation as a Labourer.

Inquest:
FATAL COLLIERY ACCIDENT,-Mr H. W. Sale, coroner, held an inquest on Thursday [22 Jan 1874] at the Seven Stars, Openwood Gate, Belper, in the occupation of Mr Oates, _onching the death of Ralph Waterfall, labourer, Belper, aged 48 years. The first witness called was John Morris, Belper, who said he was employed as a labourer at the Kilburn Colliery, belonging to Messrs. Small Brothers, and that deceased was employed at the same colliery up to the time of his death, which took place at ten minutes past twelve on Tuesday morning. At the time stated, the deceased, and another labourer, George Wingfield, were engaged in taking a loaded skip from the workings into the main road along a tramway. Deceased was in from of the skip and witness was behind it, Wingfield being behind him. They were in stall No.5. They got into a gate end, where there was a smooth iron plate about six feet long and three feet wide, and supported by Iron puncheons at each end. The roof over the plate was propped by two iron bars, which were about four inches wide, and supported by iorn puncheons at each end. There was also an iron prop at each end. When they got the skip onto the plate, and were turning it, it came against the prop on the left hand side, and knocked it down. The roof fell in directly, and deceased called out to him "Look out Morris." Some of the roof fell on witness, and he was knocked down, but not injured. His candle as well as deceased's was put out. The greater part of the roof fell on the skip, throwing it over onto deceased, whom he heard say "Oh, dear!" just as he (the witness) was getting up. Witness asked Wingfield to bringhis candle, when they found the deceased lying partly under the skip. He spoke to him, but recieved no answer. John Hall, the timber-setter and Joseph Taylor, a collier, then came and assisted in getting the deceased from under the skip. Deceased was quite dead, and cut on the left cheek. - George Wingfield gave corroberative evidence. - John Hall said he was overlooker on the main road, and that his duty was to look to the timbering, as well as to see that the roof was properly propped. He knew the gate-end plate No.5 skip from side to side was about two feet three inches. The distance between the puncheons, through which the skip went, was about five feet and a half. There was ample room for the skip to go between them. After the accident he saw that the puncheon on the left hand side of the gateway, and the corresponding one at the back, were down. Deceased had been employed three years at the colliery. - A Juryman remarked that nineteen out of twenty accidents in the colliery districts happened in the same way, and that the puncheons should be set in the ground so as to be able to resist a skip coming against it. A skilled collier ought to be employed to look after such men as deceased as well. -The Coronor remarked he did not know any set of men more careless, as a rule, as skilled colliers. Taking them as a whole, they were more careless than the unskilled. The jury reurned a verdict of "Accidental death." The inquiry was somewhat lengthy.

Died:
Aded 48 years.

Ralph married BERRESFORD Dinah 13 Apr 1846, Duffield, Derbyshire, England. Dinah (daughter of BERRESFORD William) was born Abt 1821; died Between 1 Oct 1904 and 31 Dec 1904, Belper RD, Derbyshire, England. [Group Sheet]

Mary married . Unknown [Group Sheet]

Annie married ALLEN George 4 Jul 1885, St Peter's Church, Belper, Derbyshire, England. [Group Sheet]