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Full Details

Surname
McCULLOCH
Forename
Alexander
Day
18
Month
02
Year
1941
Age
66
Occupation
winding engineman
Mine/Quarry Name
Stane
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Shotts Iron Co. Ltd
Location
Shotts
County
Lanarkshire
Details of Event
18 February 1941: DYING MAN SAVES THREE LIVES - SCOTTISH PIT CAGE CRASH AVERTED - The presence of mind of a winding engineman in his dying moments saved the lives of three young miners at Stane Colliery, Shotts. Workers were descending the pit shaft when Alexander M'Culloch (66), the engineman, of 301 Bogside Road, Newmains, collapsed. Before he died he put in the lever which stopped the cage in mid-shaft. Three young miners - David Hamilton (18), John Hughes (18), and Robert Young (17)-- who were in the cage at the time, were left suspended for about 15 minutes, while inquiry was made at the engine house to ascertain what was wrong. M'Culloch was found lying dead, and a hurried search had to be made to secure another engineman to bring the youths to the surface. [Dundee Courier 19 February 1941]