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Full Details

Surname
LINDSAY
Forename
James
Day
03
Month
08
Year
1927
Age
Occupation
Miner
Mine/Quarry Name
Newcraighall
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Niddrie & Benhar Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Newcraighall
County
Edinburghshire
Details of Event
3 August 1927: Newcraighall Miner's Death – As a result of an accident on April 14 last in a Newcraighall pit, a miner, named James Lindsay, who resided at 4 Parkview, Newcraighall, died yesterday morning in Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Lindsay's skull was fractured. [Scotsman 4 August 1927] Information from the Inspectors of Mines - 1927: Falls of side: At Newcraighall Colliery, Edinburgh, on 14th April, a miner was undercutting a part of a longwall face which was projecting. The working was 4 ft. 9 in. high and the roof was known to be lipey, one lype being visible and running into the head of the coal. The man had two sprags set to the coal, and he apparently was so uncertain about holing further that he called a neighbouring workman to put his hand against the coal and tell him if it moved. His mate did so and gave the warning, but the miner, being on his knees was unable to get clear in time when the coal over-rode the sprags and pushed him violently against the pack behind and so injured him that he died four months later. The accident would have been avoided had he used a pinch bar when standing to the side, or had he fired a shot in the coal before he holed it so far. This is a case where the risk taken by the man was foolish and needless.