An inquiry was held at the Parkside Hotel, Frizington, yesterday afternoon, by Mr. Webster (coroner for the Lordship of Egremont) into the circumstances attending the death of Wm. Fletcher, a Frizington miner, who was killed whilst working at the Parkside Mine on September 2nd.

There were present : Mr. J. L. Hedley, H.M. Inspector of Mines ; Mr. J. Flynn, secretary to the Cumberland Workmen's Association; Mr. G. Scoular, representing the Parkside Mining Company and Mr. H. Kirkby, manager of the mine.

Joseph Coombes, surveyor, in the employ of the Parkside Mining Company, produced a plan and sections showing the working in which the accident occurred.

Patrick Carney, miner, of Frizington, who was working with the deceased on the day of the accident, Monday, September 2nd, said they commenced work at six a.m. Before commencing they examined the working place. John Goldsworthy was the overman, and he had examined the place before they arrived, and he came to the working between eight and nine o'clock in the morning to see it again. He said he thought everything was right. The accident occurred about a quarter past one. They had previously no indications that there was anything wrong ; if they had thought it was unsafe they would not have stayed a minute. Fletcher was a very careful man. At the time of the accident deceased was boring a hole in the working, and witness was about six feet away. There was a crash of the middle head of the forebreast and deceased made a jump, and their candles went out. A man named Farrell ran for a light, and brought some men with him. They could hear the deceased moaning, but they were unable to get to him as he was covered up. His body was not found until the Wednesday night.

By Mr. Flynn : They were using larch and Norway legs. The timber was new. The roof was spiled. They were "robbing," but there was one sound side. They thought the timber was strong enough to support the roof. He could not account for the breakage. No one had worked in the working since the accident. He thought three heads came away ; they all broke. There was plenty of wood. They had spiles, some of which were four inches thick. There were no loose workings above them.

If you had had stronger timber do you think the fall would have been avoided? — I don't think so. The headtree broke first ; it was eight inches through.

By Mr. Hedley: They shared with Goldsworthy the opinion that the place was safe. It was in the same condition when, the accident occurred as it was in the morning. The spiles were up to the forebreast. The timber had not been lying in the mine ; it was brought fresh from the bank.

By Mr. Flynn: They had some middle legs in.

John Goldsworthy. deputy overman at the Parkside Mine, stated that on the 2nd inst. he went into the No. 11 working about five a.m., previous to the men starting work. He examined the working and found it in a safe condition. He saw the deceased and Carney about 7.30, but he didn't say anything about the working. He heard of the accident about one o'clock and went to the place, and commenced putting in wood to enable a search for the body being made. He had a report book in which he entered the result of his examination every morning.

By Mr. Flynn: There was no indication of much weight on any of the spiles. He considered the timber was strong enough to support the place. There were no spiles broken when he examined it. He could not tell how many of the spiles were broken by the accident. All was new timber.

Do you think this accident would have taken place if the men had had heavier timber? — I can't tell.

Do you think if it had been twelve to eighteen inches thick it would have held it? — I can't say that.

By Mr. Hedley: On this particular morning he did not warn the men that there was any danger. Neither of the men asked for more timber. The last head the men put in was about two feet from the forebreast. The men had plenty of wood near at hand if they required it. He considered Carney and Fletcher two very experienced miners; in fact, they were two of the best and most careful miners he ever had to look after.

The jury returned a verdict of "accidental death."