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Full Details

Surname
DUNLOP
Forename
David
Day
08
Month
08
Year
1918
Age
Occupation
Contractor
Mine/Quarry Name
Smeaton
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
A.G. Moore & Co.
Location
Dalkeith
County
Edinburghshire
Details of Event
8 August 1918: Colliery Accident At Smeaton – Two Lives Lost - An accident by which two workmen were suffocated occurred during the back shift in the Dalkeith Collieries at Smeaton, leased to Messrs A G. Moore & Co., Glasgow. Four workmen had descended to put off the blast, when two of them - Peter MacGovern, fireman, Smeaton Cottages, and David Dunlop, a contractor, Musselburgh - were overcome by the fumes following the exploding of a heavy charge of gelignite. A fellow workman, Robert D. Whyte, 88 High Street, Dalkeith, headed a rescue party. With a mask made from his shirt, which he tore off, he covered his mouth and nose, and rushed in, followed by Francis Lynch and Alexander Combie. Mr Whyte managed to drag out both workmen, but, despite first-aid efforts, they were beyond recovery. Whyte himself collapsed and attention was as soon as possible given him by a local doctor. He was afterwards removed to his home at Dalkeith. His condition during the afternoon was favourable to his complete recovery. [Scotsman 10 August 1918]