On This Day, 17 July 1918

Birmingham Mail

Wednesday 17 July 1918

FATALITY AT BIRMINGHAM GAS WORKS.

JURY AND THE WEARING OF GAS HELMETS.

The death of Arthur Hodnette (51), 376, Charles Road, Small Heath, which occurred at the Adderley Street gas works on Monday, was investigated by Mr. A. H. Hebbert (Deputy Coroner) at the Law Courts to-day.

According to the evidence of Edwin Elkington, 36, Adderley Street, the general foreman at the works, Hodnette had been employed at the works for 28 years and was the foreman gas purifier. It was part of his duty to clear the wells, and before he could do so he would have to go down and close the valves. On Monday afternoon witness found Hodnette collapsed at the bottom of one of the wells, and raised an alarm. A man named William Cotterill, who had gone to Hodnette’s assistance, was also down the well, collapsed, and lying on the top of Hodnette. Another workman named James Edward Jones, 190, Green Lane, then descended the well, followed by Joseph Floyd, foreman of the retort houses. The latter lashed Cotterill to a rope and came up with him. Another workman named Downes, who was following up the ladder, collapsed before reaching the top. Sam Buxton, back 111, Nechells Park Road, wearing a gas helmet, went down, and, lashing Downes and then Hodnette to the rope, brought them up the well. Cotterill and Hodnette were gassed, but Downes and Floyd were not.

Asked by the Deputy Coroner if he did not think it advisable that men descending the wells should wear gas helments, witness said he did not think so. He had been down the well hundreds of times without.

Jones said Hodnette tapped the plug at the bottom of the tap to loosen it, and the gas escaped. He then turned the cock and started to go up the ladder, giving the cock another tap as he did so.

The jury, in returning a verdict of “Accidental death,” strongly recommended the wearing of gas helmets by the men in descending the wells.

Mr. Minshull said he would take note of the recommendation. The committee, he added, would like to record their appreciation of the gallant conduct of the men who went to Hodnette’s assistance. It was worthy of all praise.