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Full Details

Surname
CASSELLS
Forename
Gilbert
Day
12
Month
04
Year
1900
Age
19
Occupation
Miner
Mine/Quarry Name
Holytown, No.2 Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
James Nimmo & Co. Ltd
Location
Holytown
County
Lanarkshire
Details of Event
Firedamp, apparently suddenly released by the breaking of the roof, ignited at an open light. Other two men were injured From Main body of report: Two miners, sons of the fireman, lost their lives, and other two miners were injured, in Holytown No.12 Pit by an explosion evidently caused by gas from a sudden outburst coming in contact with a naked light. The Lower Drumgray seam was being opened up by the long-wall system of working, when a sudden break in the roof took place, and one of the miners, on rushing out to the road-head, ignited the gas. The fireman, on returning about half an hour afterwards, observed some of the timbering on fire about 40 yards distant from where the gas was ignited, and was fortunate in retiring to a place of safety ere there was a second explosion, caused by the gas accumulating and igniting at the burning timber. After this, the owners were induced to introduce safety lamps, but within six months they wished to revert to open lights, and seemed to consider it a hardship when I informed them that I would oppose any attempt to withdraw the safety lamps in the meantime.