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Full Details

Surname
CLELLAND
Forename
John
Day
26
Month
02
Year
1927
Age
23
Occupation
Miner
Mine/Quarry Name
Douglas Castle
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Wilson's & Clyde Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Douglas
County
Lanarkshire
Details of Event
26 February 1927: Fatal Colliery Accident – A tragic accident resulting in the death of John Clelland (23), miner, Douglas Castle terrace, Douglas West, took place in Douglas Castle Colliery on Saturday morning. The accident occurred in the west stooping section of the colliery and took place with tragically startling suddeness. The deceased, about 9am, was engaged filling a hutch at the coal face when the contractor, Frank Cornelius, called on him to come and have his piece. Clelland shouted - “All right, I'll be there when I fill this bogey”. Later Cornelius was joined by another workman and finished eating his piece. At this stage another workman named Crawford came in and asked if Clelland had not come out. Cornelius explained that he had shouted on Clelland. He again shouted to Clelland but got no reply. He sent the other two men (Watson and Crawford) to find out what was wrong and on these two men going to where Clelland had been working they discovered him in a kneeling position with his head jammed between a large stone and the pavement. The stone was at once removed but Clelland was found to be dead. The remains were removed to the surface and examined by Dr A Cameron Ewing, who gave it as his opinion that death was instantaneous. The stone, which weighed about 1 cwt had apparently come away from the roof and hit Clelland on the side of the head while he knelt at his work. The injuries were fracture of the neck and skull. [Hamilton Advertiser 5 March 1927]