ROBERT R. ROBERTS. TANYGRAIG, EBENEZER.
FATAL QUARRY ACCIDENT.
At the Dinorwic Quarry Hospital on Friday, Mr. J. Pentir Williams (Coroner for North Caernarvonshire) held an inquest on Robert R. Roberts, Tanygraig, Ebenezer, who (as reported in out last issue) was killed as the result of a fall the previous Wednesday. There were also present Mr. O. R. Jones (Inspector of Mines), Messrs. William Jones (of Messrs. Ellis Davies and Co.), and J. H. Jones (both representing the Quarrymen's Union), Supt. W. P. Williams, Caernarvon; P. C. Jones, Llanberis, and Mr. J. C. Lloyd Williams, quarry manager.Griffith R. Roberts, Blaen y Waen, Ebenezer, identified the body as that of his brother, who was 47 years of age. Witness worked with the deceased as a partner and was working beneath him on Wednesday afternoon. The deceased tried to attach a flexible air pipe and he descended from the top of the bargain. He was securely fastened to his own rope and witness heard him fall. He fell on his back over the edge and was taken to the hospital unconsious. He died there the same evening.
In answer to Mr. O. R. Jones, the witness said that he noticed the deceased was holding a rope but he could not say which one it was.
William Owen Thomas, Caradog Terrace, Ebenezer, said that he also worked with the deceased. They were about to bore a hole in the top of the bargain when the deceased fell. Roberts went up shortly after one o'clock and witness and his brother went to ease the air pipe. The deceased remarked that the air was weak and witness went up to him. The pipe was leaking and deceased took it from the engine and asked his brother to replace it with another. Witness got hold of the rope in order to allow the deceased to go down to his brother. There was a noise and witness saw the deceased grasping what seemed to be the further of the ropes. It was difficult for the deceased to keep his hold on the rope, but he did his best until he slipped over the edge.
Witness explained by means of plan where the deceased tried to go to.
Mr. J. C. Lloyd Williams said that the whole weight of the deceased's body was on the rope. It was a single rope with two knots on it.
Mr. Ellis Jones, the steward in the Tophet section where the deceased worked explained that the slope was slippery and there were no footholds for the deceased to try to save himself.
Mr. O. R. Jones remarked that there had been several accidents before.
Mr. J. C. Lloyd Williams : Ther ehave been many seriously injured in this manner, but there have not been fatal accidents.
The Coroner said that the deceased fell 19 yards, and he died at 5.40. He returned a verdict of "Accidental death" and expressed sympathy with the deceased's relatives.