Single Record

Full Details

Surname

HUNTER

Forename

John

Day

24

Month

11

Year

1915

Age

Occupation

Mine/Quarry Name

Bedlay, No.1 Pit

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

William Baird & Co. Ltd

Location

Glenboig

County

Lanarkshire

Details of Event

24 November 1915: Glenboig – Miners Entombed At Bedlay – Man Suffocated – Two Others Injured – An accident involving the death of one man and injury to two others occurred at one of the pits at the Bedlay Collieries, Glenboig on Tuesday. The collieries, which are owned by Messrs William Baird & Co Ltd, are situated almost two miles to the north east of the village of Glenboig. In the course of the forenoon it was learned that a portion of the roof in Pit No.1 had fallen in, imprisoning two men who were working there at the time. When it became known that an accident had happened, efforts were promptly mad to rescue the entombed men. Their plight was rendered extremely dangerous owing to the fact that they were shut off from escape and that there was no ventilation to relieve the atmosphere in the portion involved. Some time elapsed before the rescuers were able to penetrate the debris, and by that time one of the men had succumbed to the gas which had generated in the workings. Another of the men was suffering seriously, and it was not until artificial respiration had been applied for almost two hours that his condition was such as to allow of his removal to hospital. As is not infrequently the case in pit accidents, the rescue party experienced considerable risk in their work. In this case the manager of the pit, Mr Murray, took part in the operations and suffered in some measure before he was compelled to quit owing to the effect of the gas. The miner who succumbed was John Hunter, and elderly man, who resided at Annathill Rows. Two of his sons were working in the collieries when the accident happened. The injured were John Bolland (married) and John Crawley (married) both residing at Annathill Rows and the manager, Mr Murray, who resides not far from the pit. Coatbridge Rescue Brigade At Work – The accident, it is believed, occurred about eleven o'clock. It was only when the drawer of the hutches found the passage blocked that the management was apprised that something was wrong. Dr Moffat, Glenboig and Dr Andrew Maguire, Stepps, were summoned to the scene and rescue work was organised. The assistance of the rescue brigade stationed at Coatbridge was requisitioned. The brigade was established several months ago by the Lanarkshire mineowners under the Mines Regulations Act, and this was the first call made on its services. The members of the brigade, under Superintendent Welsh, motored to the scene, carrying with them all the equipment and apparatus for rescue operations. It is stated that when they arrived the two injured miners had already been removed outwith the zone of danger, but their life saving apparatus was made use of in the treatment of the men affected. Mr Murray, who only recently became manager of the pit, joined the local rescue party, and later Dr Maguire descended the pit to give the necessary treatment to Bolland, whose condition was critical for a time. Before two o'clock the dead body of Hunter was brought to the surface, and some time elapsed before it was found possible to remove Bolland. He was conveyed to Alexander Hospital, Coatbridge, where he was detained for treatment. Crawley, the third man, was able to walk home. The manager's condition was more serious. He collapsed while down the pit, and had to be carried on a stretcher to his home. Bolland's condition was last night reported to be much improved. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 27 November 1915] Glasgow Jury And Miners' Bravery – A Fatal Accidents Inquiry into the death of John Hunter a coal-miner, in the employment of Messrs William Baird & Co., which took place in Bedlay, colliery, Glenboig, on November 24th was held yesterday at Glasgow before. Sheriff Moncrieff and a jury. The evidence showed that Hunter and another man were engaged in repairing a subsidence, when a further fall led them to take refuge in a disused road in which gas had accumulated. Both men were overcome, and Hunter never regained consciousness. The jury, in returning a formal verdict, expressed, admiration of the brave attempts made by several workmen to rescue Hunter and his companion.[Scotsman 10 December 1915]