New Search

Return to Search Results

Full Details

Surname
McGOWAN
Forename
Anthony (Injured)
Day
03
Month
02
Year
1922
Age
Occupation
Oncostman
Mine/Quarry Name
Philpstoun, No.1 Mine
Mineral Worked
Oil Shale
Owner
James Ross & Co., Philpstoun Oil Works Ltd
Location
Philpstoun
County
Linlithgowshire
Details of Event
3 February 1922: Shale Mine Explosion – Burning Injuries To Six Men - Six men, James Burns (oversman), George Black, Anthony M'Gowan, John Scott, jun.; John Sneddon (all oncostmen), and George Mitchell, miner, sustained burning injuries as the result of an explosion of gas in No.1 shale mine, Philpstoun, yesterday. An accumulation of gas had been discovered by the firemen in the section in which Mitchell worked. The oversman and the oncostmen and Mitchell proceeded to clear the gas out of the place, and when in the act of erecting a brattice cloth, so as to divert a current of air into the place and clear the gas out, the explosion occurred. As safety lamps were used by the men, it is not clear how the gas came to be ignited but it is thought that the ignition may have been due to a spark from a pick used in putting up the timber required in the erection of the brattice cloth. The injuries of M'Gowan, Scott, and Mitchell were such that they had to be removed to the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. [Scotsman 21 January 1922] NB George Hall Mitchell died 3 February 1922