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Full Details

Surname
MOONEY
Forename
William
Day
13
Month
04
Year
1909
Age
15
Occupation
Mine/Quarry Name
Polmaise, Nos 3 & 4 Pits
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Archibald Russell Ltd
Location
Fallin
County
Stirlingshire
Details of Event
Steam valve explosion. On Saturday afternoon (13 March 1909) a young lad was killed at Fallin Colliery under most peculiar circumstances. James Arnott and James Thomson, Winding Enginemen, Bandeath Cottages, were engaged tightening the nuts of iron bolts on the steam valve on one of the boilers at No 3 and 4 Pits, Polmaise Colliery, Fallin, when part of the valve case blew out. Both men were knocked to the ground and severely scalded about the face and chest and a young lad, William Mooney (15), Pithead Worker, residing at Fallin, who was standing a few feet away watching the men doing their work, was hurled to the ground. It is not known whether he was struck by a piece of metal or was knocked down by the force of the explosion, but when picked up he was unconscious and was bleeding from a wound on the head. He was attended to by Dr McInnes, who ordered his removal to Stirling Royal Infirmary, where he died the following afternoon without having regained consciousness, death being due to fracture of the skull. Arnott and Thornson were able to go home, where they were attended to. (Stirling Observer).