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Full Details

Surname
COWAN
Forename
James
Day
26
Month
04
Year
1937
Age
42
Occupation
Mine/Quarry Name
Polmaise, Nos 1 & 2 Pits
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Archibald Russell Ltd
Location
Stirling
County
Stirlingshire
Details of Event
Fall of roof 2 killed. Two pit brushers lost their lives in an accident in MilIhall Colliery, Stirling, on Monday afternoon. They were James Cowan (42), 4C Gordon Crescent, Raploch, Stirling and John MeKenna (36), Orchard Farm, Millhall, by Stirling. Both were married. The men were working in the Dip Mine in the Main Coal seam of No.2 Pit, Millhall Colliery, at the time. About 5.00, a stone weighing 1 ton fell from the roof burying the men beneath it. They were killed instantly. Cowan was asphyxiated and MeKenna's skull was fractured. It took workmen an hour to recover the bodies which were then conveyed by stretcher to the pit bottom, two miles distant. It was about two hours after the accident before the bodies were brought to the pithead. As is the custom in local pits, when a fatal accident occurs, the men employed on the shift immediately cease work. About 200 are employed on the back shift. Today (Tuesday), the entire colliery will also be idle. Fight hundred men are employed at the pit during a working day. (Stirling Observer).