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Full Details

Surname
McARDLE
Forename
Robert
Day
20
Month
01
Year
1912
Age
40
Occupation
Fireman
Mine/Quarry Name
Cobbinshaw, No.3 Mine
Mineral Worked
Oil Shale
Owner
Tarbrax Oil Co. Ltd
Location
Tarbrax
County
Edinburghshire
Details of Event
McArdle, with Scanton and another man, was engaged in stopping the mouth of a mine which was giving off gas. They were working with safety lamps, and were fully aware of its presence. When the stopping was within 2 feet of the roof it seems possible that an unbonnetted safety lamp was put into a strong current of air, which was playing on the stopping, and this forced the flame, perhaps lengthened by firedamp, through the gauze of the lamp, and ignited the gas. The lamps used at this mine were not provided with bonnets. The result of the explosion which followed the ignition of gas was to blow out the stopping with such force that the large stones in it struck and killed these two men, and injured the other one. 2 killed.