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Full Details

Surname
HUTCHISON
Forename
Henry
Day
24
Month
03
Year
1931
Age
Occupation
Miner
Mine/Quarry Name
Glencraig, No.1 Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Wilson's & Clyde Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Lochgelly
County
Fifeshire
Details of Event
24 March 1931: Glencraig Colliery Roof Fall - Cowdenbeath Man Killed - Henry Hutchison, Parker's Place, Cowdenbeath, was killed, and another man, James Binnie, Jnr, North Glencraig, had a narrow escape in an accident which occurred in Glencraig Colliery on Tuesday night. The two men were employed on the back shift and were working together when there was a heavy fall from the roof. Hutchison was pinned under a huge mass of stone and coal, and it is believed he was killed outright. Binnie was within inches, but had a miraculous escape, and called for assistance. A large number of miners answered Binnie's call and worked feverishly for half an hour. When Hutchison was extricated however, life was found to be extinct. In consequence of the accident the night shift workers did not go on duty on Tuesday night. The accident happened shortly before the back shift was due to finish work. The colliery belongs to Messrs Wilsons & Clyde Coal Co. Ltd. [Dunfermline Journal 28 March 1931] Killed At Work - The last case [at Fatal Accident Inquiry] concerned the death of Henry Hutchison, miner, 4 Parker's Place, Cowdenbeath, who was killed on 24th March in the underground workings of No 1 Pit, Glencraig Colliery, by a fall from the roof of his working place. James Logan Merilees, miner, 71 Garry Park, North Glencraig, said he was quite close to the deceased when the fall took place. A lipe was visible in the roof beforehand, and they had special propping which was considered sufficient. They had no warning of what was going to happen. He and another workman narrowly escaped being caught. James Binnie, miner, 61 North Glencraig, also said there was sufficient propping to guard against a roof fall. Peter Henderson, underground fireman, 51 Garry Park, North Glencraig, said he visited the scene of the accident about three hours previously. Everything was in order. He tapped the roof, and the props were in the specified distance. There was a lipe in the roof which could be easily seen. In his opinion it was a surge in the roof which caused the stone to fall. The jury returned a formal verdict. [Dunfermline Journal 19 May 1931]