Most of the
stories listed are classed as disasters. What occurred at the
Eppleton pit, on 29th May 1936, should be classed as a potential
disaster with a happy ending.
The following
text was supplied by the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust and kindly sent to
me by Susan Perez, relative of John Morpeth Tubby. John died as
recently as 1984. Susan would appreciate anyone with information,
about him, to contact her.
"At about
2.25 pm, a heavy fall of roof took place in a coal-working at
Eppleton Colliery, County Durham, where 3 hewers, James Brown, Mark
Summers and William Moffatt, were removing the last loads of coal
from a stook. Moffatt was trapped by the fall and his left hand
pinned by large frames of stone to the top of a tub.
Brown and
Summers went to his help while the roof was still falling heavily but
were unable to liberate him. With the assistance of two other hewers,
Thomas Whitfield and David Wood, they erected supports over the tub
to protect Moffatt from the large pieces of stone which were
gradually moving down to him.
About ten
minutes after the fall Ralph Stoker and George Storey (Overmen) and
John Tubby and Albert Simpson (Deputies) arrived. Heavy falls were
still occurring, and it was difficult to maintain the supports, some
of which were crushed as soon as erected. Stoker crawled into a
narrow opening of about twenty inches between tub and the coal side,
and in a working space of about ten inches uncovered Moffatt, who was
lying in a crouched position behind the tub, and erected additional
supports to keep back the stones which were lowering towards him.
This probably
saved Moffatt from serious injury as there was risk of his being
crushed to death.
After some
time Storey relieved Stoker, the working space being large enough to
admit only one man. Stoker, helped by the deputies, tried to make the
position less dangerous from the other side of the tub. Meanwhile the
risk had increased and a larger roof fall was expected. The deputies
and hewers concentrated on erecting supports in the jud to maintain a
means of access to Moffatt, who by this time was severely shocked and
begging the rescuers to amputate his fingers and so release him. But
for Stoker there is no doubt that this quick but dangerous method
would have been adopted. Stoker and Storey continued their efforts to
move the stone that was trapping Moffatt's fingers, and by driving a
wedge piece on the top of the tub they were able at length to release
the thumb and first and second fingers. The roof then started to
"weight" again. Stoker persisted in his efforts, and by
about 4.40 pm succeeded in releasing Moffatt, who was dragged through
the narrow aperture to safety."
For his part
in the rescue, Ralph Stoker was awarded the Edward Medal (Bronze) by
His Majesty The King together with an award of £20 and the
Carnegie Honorary Certificate.
Storey
received a £15 award and certificate whereas Simpson, Tubby,
Brown, Wood, Whitfield and Summers were awarded £10 and the certificate.
Front row:
John Morpeth Tubby, receiving the award. R Stoker, T Whitfield (hand
bandaged, back centre), G Storey, back left, and D Wood.
Others unknown.
The Carnegie
Hero Fund Trust Certificate as awarded to John M. Tubby
Photograph and
certificate courtesy of Ray Tubby, son of John Morpeth Tubby
