Saturday September 11th, 1886
A YOUTH SCALDED TO DEATH AT HOLME
An inquest was held on Wednesday at the Commercial Inn, Holme, by Mr. J. B. Wilson, coroner, on the body of a youth named Thomas Hornby, 14 years of age, who had died on the previous day from injuries received from falling into a vat of boiling water. The deceased was employed at Holme Mills, and a little after eight o’clock on Tuesday morning he was warming his breakfast can in a room, when he fell into the boiling water and was seriously scalded. He died from the injuries. The following evidence was adduced:-
Mary Ann Stamper, the wife of Robert Stamper, of Holme, weaver, deposed: The deceased, Thomas Hornby, was my son. He was 14 years of age. He was employed at Holme Mills to carry cops for the carpet weavers. The deceased left home a little after six o’clock yesterday morning. He had his breakfast before he left home, and should have had another meal at the mill, which he took with him, at 8-30. The deceased has always had good health, and left home in good health yesterday morning. I did not see the deceased again until he was brought home about 8-30 by Mrs. Templeton and others. He was then suffering from scalds over his body, and Dr. Newberry was sent for. He attended the deceased up to the time of his death, which took place about 8-15 yesterday evening.
George Jackson, of Holme, weaver, employed at Holme Mills, deposed: I knew the deceased, Thomas Hornby. He was employed in Holme Mills about 8-15 yesterday morning. I was in the same room as the deceased. We were taking the breakfast cans of some of the operatives into the vat-room to warm in the vats. The deceased had a can in each hand, and was holding them over the edge of the vat in to the boiling water to warm. The vat is from 6ft. to 7ft. long, from 4ft. to 5ft. wide, and about 4ft. deep. The edge of the vat is from 2ft. 6in. to 3ft. from the flooring, and is sunk about a foot into the ground. There would be about three feet deep of boiling water in the vat at the time, and he would have to reach about a foot over the edge to get the cans into the water. I saw the deceased fall forward into the vat. I was about six yards away from him at the time. George McKend was there at the time, nearer the deceased than I was, and when I gave the alarm he turned round and dragged the deceased out by the waistcoat collar. We then tried to undress the deceased but could not, and he was afterwards undressed in the dye-house. The deceased was afterwards removed home in charge of Mrs. Templeton and others, in Mr. Shepherd’s conveyance. No one was within three or four yards of the deceased when he fell into the vat, and no one touched him. There is a place provided properly to warm the cans, but the fire was not on that morning.
George McKend, of Holme, also gave evidence.
Margaret Templeton, of Holme Lodge, mat-dresser, deposed: I in company with others removed the deceased from Holme Mills to his own house yesterday morning. He was then undressed, and we left him on the couch in his mother’s house. Dr. Newberry was at once sent for, and he arrived in about an hour. I remained with the deceased until he died, which happened about 8-15 last night.
William John Newberry, of Burton, surgeon, deposed: I was called in to see the deceased yesterday morning about 9-30. He was suffering from severe scalds over the entire body. The deceased died from shock to the system consequent on the scalds.
A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.
A YOUTH SCALDED TO DEATH AT HOLME
An inquest was held on Wednesday at the Commercial Inn, Holme, by Mr. J. B. Wilson, coroner, on the body of a youth named Thomas Hornby, 14 years of age, who had died on the previous day from injuries received from falling into a vat of boiling water. The deceased was employed at Holme Mills, and a little after eight o’clock on Tuesday morning he was warming his breakfast can in a room, when he fell into the boiling water and was seriously scalded. He died from the injuries. The following evidence was adduced:-
Mary Ann Stamper, the wife of Robert Stamper, of Holme, weaver, deposed: The deceased, Thomas Hornby, was my son. He was 14 years of age. He was employed at Holme Mills to carry cops for the carpet weavers. The deceased left home a little after six o’clock yesterday morning. He had his breakfast before he left home, and should have had another meal at the mill, which he took with him, at 8-30. The deceased has always had good health, and left home in good health yesterday morning. I did not see the deceased again until he was brought home about 8-30 by Mrs. Templeton and others. He was then suffering from scalds over his body, and Dr. Newberry was sent for. He attended the deceased up to the time of his death, which took place about 8-15 yesterday evening.
George Jackson, of Holme, weaver, employed at Holme Mills, deposed: I knew the deceased, Thomas Hornby. He was employed in Holme Mills about 8-15 yesterday morning. I was in the same room as the deceased. We were taking the breakfast cans of some of the operatives into the vat-room to warm in the vats. The deceased had a can in each hand, and was holding them over the edge of the vat in to the boiling water to warm. The vat is from 6ft. to 7ft. long, from 4ft. to 5ft. wide, and about 4ft. deep. The edge of the vat is from 2ft. 6in. to 3ft. from the flooring, and is sunk about a foot into the ground. There would be about three feet deep of boiling water in the vat at the time, and he would have to reach about a foot over the edge to get the cans into the water. I saw the deceased fall forward into the vat. I was about six yards away from him at the time. George McKend was there at the time, nearer the deceased than I was, and when I gave the alarm he turned round and dragged the deceased out by the waistcoat collar. We then tried to undress the deceased but could not, and he was afterwards undressed in the dye-house. The deceased was afterwards removed home in charge of Mrs. Templeton and others, in Mr. Shepherd’s conveyance. No one was within three or four yards of the deceased when he fell into the vat, and no one touched him. There is a place provided properly to warm the cans, but the fire was not on that morning.
George McKend, of Holme, also gave evidence.
Margaret Templeton, of Holme Lodge, mat-dresser, deposed: I in company with others removed the deceased from Holme Mills to his own house yesterday morning. He was then undressed, and we left him on the couch in his mother’s house. Dr. Newberry was at once sent for, and he arrived in about an hour. I remained with the deceased until he died, which happened about 8-15 last night.
William John Newberry, of Burton, surgeon, deposed: I was called in to see the deceased yesterday morning about 9-30. He was suffering from severe scalds over the entire body. The deceased died from shock to the system consequent on the scalds.
A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned.
