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Full Details

Surname
FORRY
Forename
James
Day
20
Month
12
Year
1923
Age
30
Occupation
Brusher
Mine/Quarry Name
Bedlay, No.1 Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
William Baird & Co. Ltd
Location
Glenboig
County
Lanarkshire
Details of Event
21 October 1923: Pit Explosion At Kilsyth – Three Men Injured – One Fatally - An explosion, resulting in injury to three men, occurred on Saturday morning, writes our Kilsyth correspondent, in No. 1 Pit, Bedlay Colliery, belonging to William Baird & Co. (Ltd.), and situated close to the Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire border. Brushing operations were proceeding, and only a few men were in the pit at the time. Preparations had been made for firing a shot, and two brushers - William Love, a married man, residing at Creighton Street, Coatbridge, and James Forray, single, Annathill Terrace, Bedlay, along with James M'Connell, colliery fireman, residing at Annathill Terrace, Bedlay - had proceeded into a byeway about 20 fathoms from the place to await the shot going off. When the blast did occur, it was accompanied by a loud explosion , the effects of which reached the men in the byeway, burning them badly about the face, hands, and parts of the body. The explosion was so severe that Daniel Crawley and Peter Greachen, who were at work on another road over 80 yards away, had their caps blown off, and their hair singed, while their clothing, which had been left lying on the roadway, was blown some yards away. Crawley and Greachen immediately made for the spot where their comrades had been working, and found them trying to scramble out of the byeway. They assisted them to the pit bottom, and after first aid had been rendered, the three men were removed in the ambulance to the Royal Infirmary. The condition of two of the men appeared to be serious. Electric safety lamps are used in the pit, and as no trace of gas was found ,before the preparations for firing the shot were made, it is conjectured that a feeder of gas had been tapped, and the firing of the shot had caused the gas to explode. On inquiry at the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, last night, it was ascertained that Love had succumbed to his injuries. [Scotsman 22 October 1923] NB James Forry died 22 October 1923