Darngavil Colliery

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Bell, Edward, 20 Dec 1902, aged 42, Miner, Deceased with his son and his drawer reached the shaft at a mid working after their day's work was over, and as there was no one present to attend to the signals he signalled to get up. When the cage arrived his son and the drawer got on, and just as he stepped on the cage, it was suddenly raised and he was thrown back against the gate used to protect the shaft and fell into the shaft to the bottom, a distance of 12 fathoms, whereby he was killed instantaneously. The bottomer was on the surface

Cullen, William, 22 Dec 1911, aged 49, Machineman, He knocked out a prop to enable him to get at the switch of the coal cutter, and just as he did so the roof fell suddenly upon him. After the fall it was discovered that there were "lypes" which were unseen, and that the roof fell away from them

Develin, Henry, 11 Nov 1858, Collier, By fall of roof at face of working

Gallocher, John, 18 Mar 1874, aged 33, Brusher, Fall of roof. In road whilst drawing a prop from a stone which he intended to take down (Long wall)

Gardner, James, 07 Nov 1877, aged 38, Collier, By shot exploding on him. He returned too soon

Gibson, James, 15 Dec 1913, aged 22, Machineman, Deceased had his picks in the disc, but, before putting the disc into its position to begin cutting the coal, he did what is usual, viz., turned the disc to see that everything was in order ; while the disc was revolving, some of the picks struck the coal face, causing the machine to bound back, and he was caught by the revolving picks. One of the "Stells" had given, which permitted the machine to swing round

Gilmour, Adam, 25 Feb 1903, (accident: 13 Mar 1902), aged 27, Miner, Deceased was engaged wedging down coal, when the roof suddenly fell upon him, causing injury to the spine, to which he succumbed on 25th January, 1903. The stone fell away from a break and a dry, the latter of which was seen, but it was thought to be secured by the props close by

McLachlan, Thomas, 12 Sep 1890, 11.00 a.m., aged 13, Drawer, Fall of roof

McNally, Thomas, 20 Mar 1904, aged 15, Coal picker, This boy was employed at the colliery, and on the Sunday evening was about a pit which is only used for pumping ; while the boiler fireman was moving a waggon the boy got among the wheels and was run over.

Montagu, B., 17 Mar 1868, aged 13, Drawer, He worked with his father and brother, and was passing along the face when the roof fell on him. Seam 3 feet ; roof sandstone

O'Neil, Francis, 14 Jul 1904, aged 34, Miner, Deceased was taking down the upper portion of the seam when the bottom coal, which he had shortly before holed, fell over on him

Port, John, 13 May 1897, aged 35, Fireman, Deceased men and others, including the undermanager, were engaged in the pit on an idle day endeavouring to connect two places, in one of which there was firedamp : after endeavouring unsuccessfully to expel the firedamp by "waffing" and running a hutch backward and forward, it was agreed to fire a charge of gunpowder near the gas to "break it up," and while doing this an explosion took place [More information ...]

Scobbie, James, 05 Sep 1913, aged 59, Pithead Labourer, Deceased was engaged putting tubs of dross on to the cage at the low scaffold to be raised by the winding engineman to the upper scaffold, 18 feet above. He drew forward a loaded tub, opened the gate when the cage was not at the level, and pushing the tub forward fell into the shaft with it to the bottom, a distance of 46 fathoms

Waugh, Charles, 20 Oct 1906, aged 29, Attendant on Coal Cutting Machine, A recess had been cut in the coal at the dip side of the run to begin cutting, and disc of coal cutter had been placed up to the coal ; deceased who had charge, was next to the disc and gave instructions to two men assisting to push the machine forward when the electric current was put on, as soon as the machine started and the disc struck the coal it sprang back, and the picks caught his head inflicting terrible injuries. The haulage rope was not taut nor was the machine properly "skidded" and what happened was only what might be expected when the machine was to cut up hill

White, James, 13 May 1897, aged 53, Repairer, Deceased men and others, including the undermanager, were engaged in the pit on an idle day endeavouring to connect two places, in one of which there was firedamp : after endeavouring unsuccessfully to expel the firedamp by "waffing" and running a hutch backward and forward, it was agreed to fire a charge of gunpowder near the gas to "break it up," and while doing this an explosion took place [More information ...]

White, William, 08 May 1894, 8.30 a.m., aged 25, Repairer, Fall of stone

Whyte, A., 17 Aug 1872, aged 38, Miner, Fall of coal