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Full Details

Surname
KENNEDY
Forename
Joseph
Day
28
Month
01
Year
1906
Age
23
Occupation
Mine/Quarry Name
Polmaise, Nos 1 & 2 Pits
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Archibald Russell Ltd
Location
Stirling
County
Stirlingshire
Details of Event
They were allowed to enter workings which had not been previously inspected by a fireman, and they walked into an accumulation of firedamp which ignited at their naked lights. Gas explosion. 2 killed. An inquiry into the fatal accident at Polmaise 1 and 2 Colliery took place at Stirling on Tuesday before Sheriff Buntine and a jury. The inquiry was into the deaths of the two young men named Joseph Kennedy and Thomas Laird, who were killed by an explosion of fire~damp in Polmaise Colliery on Sunday 28 January. Several witnesses were examined and gave evidence similar to what was published in the 'Observer' last week. No safety lamps were used in this pit it was stated, so far as the men's working places were concerned, but as this was a new place they were going to inspect, Laird was provided with a safety lamp. Besides killing the men, the force of the explosion wrecked wagons, overthrew bogies and tore up rails. A verdict of accidental death was returned in both cases. (Stirling Observer).