Benarty Colliery

Current Status - Page under construction! and is far, far from complete!

Campbell, David, 22 Oct 1908, aged 26, Miner, Preparations were being made to begin stooping, and roadways were being cut on side of stoops. To make height for a "brae" it was arranged to take down the brushing which consisted of 2 ft. 6 ins. of blaes. For that purpose "breakers" were placed on each side of road, and the work of withdrawing the props to allow the brushing to fall had just begun when the roof collapsed, throwing out all the timber and burying both men ; the other men who were at work at the job at once ran to their assistance, but had to retreat as a second fall took place, and as soon as roof had settled, the men were got out but were dead. The whole area of fall was well supported with timber [More information ...]

Casey, Michael, 22 May 1899, aged 38, Roadsman, Deceased with naked lights were accompanying the fireman, who had a safety lamp, when he was making his inspection before the entry of the miners, and going first up a rising road ignited firedamp [More information ...]

Duffy, Cornelius, 21 Sep 1899, aged 26, Drawer, Deceased had hung on an empty tub at the foot of a short wheel brae, and shouted to the drawer above to "shove over." As the tubs started the empty one became derailed, and the consequent jerk caused the chain to snap. The loaded tub ran down upon deceased, fracturing his thigh and causing injuries to which he succumbed five hours afterwards

Finlayson, John, 03 Aug 1891, 9 a.m., aged 17, Labourer, Fell before waggon

Flannigan, Gilbert, 30 Mar 1910, aged 19, Drawer, When engaged greasing a hutch, a fall of stone occurred and fatally injured him

Flockhart, David, 05 Jan 1906, (accident: 18 Dec 1905), aged 39, Miner, Deceased was proceeding along a level road in a seam with a gradient of 1 in 1, when a piece of coal fell off the high side and injured him. He died from his injuries 18 days afterwards

Gulland, John, 26 Apr 1909, aged 48, Hanger on, Shortly after the rake had started to run on an inclined roadway a "false" link in the chain gave out and tubs ran back, crushing deceased who failed to get clear

Gunn, Thomas, 19 Mar 1916, Tetanus

Hamilton, Joseph, 22 May 1899, aged 44, Roadsman, Deceased with naked lights were accompanying the fireman, who had a safety lamp, when he was making his inspection before the entry of the miners, and going first up a rising road ignited firedamp [More information ...]

Haney, Martin, 24 Jul 1912, aged 19, Filler, He and three other men were illegally riding down it dook in the hutches. At a point where the inclination was 1 in 1½, the hutch that Haney was in became detached, and ran away, and killed him on the spot

Harrower, Robert, 09 Dec 1900, (accident: 06 Dec 1900), aged 40, Drawing contractor, Deceased emerged from a bench to shift the points on the main dook road as the rake left to ascend to the top, and a coupling breaking, four tubs ran back on him and he was crushed internally ; his injuries proved fatal three days afterwards. The coupling was made of iron, and the broken link appeared to be defective

Hynd, John, 26 Mar 1919, Killed by a fall of roof

McIntosh, Thomas, 19 Apr 1902, aged 32, Miner, See report

Mitchell, Robert, 22 Oct 1908, aged 38, Miner, Preparations were being made to begin stooping, and roadways were being cut on side of stoops. To make height for a "brae" it was arranged to take down the brushing which consisted of 2 ft. 6 ins. of blaes. For that purpose "breakers" were placed on each side of road, and the work of withdrawing the props to allow the brushing to fall had just begun when the roof collapsed, throwing out all the timber and burying both men ; the other men who were at work at the job at once ran to their assistance, but had to retreat as a second fall took place, and as soon as roof had settled, the men were got out but were dead. The whole area of fall was well supported with timber [More information ...]

Spittal, Robert, 17 Dec 1891, 7 p.m., aged 32, Collier, Fall of roof

Thomson, John, 13 Sep 1909, aged 47, Fireman, Deceased was riding up a dook on a rake of tubs, when the drawbar of one of the tubs broke, and he was carried by the runaway tubs and crushed by them when they left the rails and overturned

Thomson, Michael, 24 Apr 1907, (accident: 28 Dec 1906), aged 38, Miner, A brae wheel was fixed and when it was put into operation it stuck, deceased went to release it and met with an accident. He died on 24th April, 1907

Whitehead, John, 30 Jul 1909, aged 15, Pony-driver, Deceased was bringing a pony rake out of a level and either tripped while walking in front of the tubs, or struck his head on a crown and fell off, while riding on the tubs. He was found dead with his neck jammed between his rake and a prop at the side