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Details of Event: Gas explosion. 2 killed 1 injured. On Thursday afternoon a serious gas explosion occurred in No.1 pit, Millhall, Polmaise Colliery, belonging to Messrs Archibald, Russell Ltd and as the result of which, two men have died in Stirling Royal Infirmary and a third remains in that institution in an extremely critical condition. The injured men, along with the others, were working in No 1 Slope Dook of the Main Seam of coal and at 2.00 had ceased operations for the day and were on their way to the pit bottom. They had gone about 20 yards from the coal face when a loud explosion of gas took place, extinguishing the lights, safety lamps being used in this seam of coal. On help being forthcoming it was found that three men had been severely burned about the face, hands and body, the names of the injured being John Cowan (25), miner, a married man residing at 18 Baker Street, Stirling; James McCann (23), miner, also married and residing in Upper Castlehill, Stirling and John McLaughlan (31), miner, a single man, who lodged at 9 Glencoc Road. Other miners, who were in the vicinity of the place when the explosion occurred, had very narrow escapes. The three injured men were removed in the ambulance to the Royal Infirmary. Cowan passed away on Friday morning and McLachlan died on Sunday night. It is asserted that the explosion was due to somebody having struck a match to light a cigarette and thus ignited an accumulation of gas.