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Full Details

Surname
DUFFY
Forename
William
Day
21
Month
05
Year
1914
Age
Occupation
Mine/Quarry Name
Orbiston, No.3 Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Summerlee Iron Co. Ltd
Location
Orbiston
County
Lanarkshire
Details of Event
21 May 1914: Accident In A Bellshill Colliery – Miner Killed & Two Injured - A series of falls of roof took place about noon yesterday in the New Orbiston Colliery, Bellshill, of the Summerlee Iron and Coal Company, as the result of which one miner was killed and two others were injured. The first fall was caused by a rake of hutches leaving the rails and knocking away some of the props which were holding up the roof. Three oncostmen - Patrick Gallacher (25), Nook Street, Mossend; William Kerr (25), Robb's Land, Bellshill: and William Duffy, Old Orbiston Rows, Bellshill - proceeded to clear away the debris, and a fall of roof estimated to weigh 8 tons came upon them. Gallacher was buried in the fall and killed, while Kerr received a crushing blow on the arm and the body from a falling prop. Duffy was more fortunate, being but slightly bruised. He crawled over the debris to safety, and had just got clear when another and larger fall took place, blocking up the Pyotshaw section altogether. Kerr summoned assistance, but it was fully two hours before Gallacher was extricated. The other men in the pyotshaw section were imprisoned until a passage was cleared through the debris. Gallacher was married over a year ago. [Scotsman 22 May 1914]