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Full Details

Surname
DAVIE
Forename
Alexander
Day
09
Month
12
Year
1926
Age
Occupation
Inspector
Mine/Quarry Name
Lochgelly, Nellie Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Lochgelly Iron & Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Lochgelly
County
Fifeshire
Details of Event
9 December 1926: Lochgelly – Miner Killed – On Thursday last week at the Nellie Pit, belonging to the Lochgelly Iron and Coal Co., Alexander Davie, an inspector was killed. A hutch coming down the wheel brae and gathering great speed, struck Davie and killed him instantaneously. Deceased who resided at Launcherhead, leaves a widow and five children. [Dunfermline Journal 18 December 1926] Breaches of Pit Rules - One of the seven fatal accidents inquired into before Sheriff Umpherston and a jury at Dunfermline yesterday was that concerning Alexander Davie, underground foreman, lately residing at 10 Stationhead road, Lochgelly, who died from injuries received by being struck by a runaway loaded hutch in a wheelbrae in the Lochgelly Iron and Coal Company's Nellie pit. It was stated by the colliery manager that it was the duty of the man in charge at the top of the brae to see that the hutches were properly coupled before he drew the safety blocks of which there were two, and that there had been a bit of forgetfulness on the part of this man with regard to the coupling of the hutches. By the direction of the Sheriff, the jury added to a formal verdict an expression of opinion that the accident was due to breaches of the working rules in respect that (1) deceased was going down the brae without any signal having been given to and returned from the bottom of the brae; (2) the first of the two hutches was pushed forward past the first safety block without the hutches having been coupled ; (3) the hutches were pushed forward without the second safety block being in close position, and (4) the hutches were pushed forward with both blocks open without a signal having been received from the bottom of the brae. It was perfectly clear, his Lordship observed that these were all breaches of the working rules of the pit and that it was owing to these breaches of the rules that the accident happened. [Scotsman 21 January 1927]