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Full Details

Surname
McDOWALL
Forename
John
Day
12
Month
01
Year
1938
Age
Occupation
Mine/Quarry Name
Fauldhead
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Bairds & Scottish Steel Ltd
Location
Kirkconnel
County
Dumfriesshire
Details of Event
12 January 1938: Kirkconnel Miners' Escape - Cut off by Fall of Coal ; Rescued After Six Hours Work - Two Kirkconnel miners had an alarming experience yesterday morning, when a large fall of roof blocked the roadway in the pit, and they were entombed for six hours. The men – William Brown, Main Street, and John M'Dowall, Elliock Place - were doing repair work in Cairnmine section of Fauldhead Colliery when the roof of the main roadway collapsed a few yards behind them, cutting off their escape. The other men working in the section went to their assistance, but were unaware how the trapped men had fared. The fall was nearly 15 feet high, and it was found necessary to cut a passage through solid coal to reach the men. The wall of coal was not thick, but the work was dangerous owing to the state of the roof. After six hours work the men were reached and extricated from their perilous position, safe and uninjured, but badly shaken. [Scotsman 13 January 1938]