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Full Details

Surname
RILEY
Forename
Thomas
Day
14
Month
05
Year
1939
Age
Occupation
Mine/Quarry Name
Rosehall, No.14 Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Robert Addie & Sons Collieries Ltd
Location
Coatbridge
County
Lanarkshire
Details of Event
14 May 1939; Pit Accident – Lanarkshire Miner Killed - Four miners were injured, one of them fatally, in an accident at No.14 Rosehall Mine, Whifflet, Lanarkshire, early yesterday morning. The dead man was Louis Smith, 26, 1 Stewart Street, Mossend. The injured are James Henderson, 24, Glebe Street, Bellshill; John Miller, 23, Hamilton Road, Bellshill; and Thomas Riley, 21, Newland Street, Whifflet. The accident occurred just before 7am. The men were descending the mine to start work when the haulage chain broke and struck them. Fortunately they were on a level part of the road, otherwise many others would have been injured by the hutches. Smith was thrown on top of a full hutch of coal standing nearby. When the rescue party reached him he was unconscious, and suffering from severe face and neck injuries. George Rankine, Main Street, Bellshill, one of the rescue party said "we were going to our work when we heard a terrific crack and instantly the chain lashed around us. Smith received a terrible blow." The men were carried up the mine on stretchers. Riley who is suffering from head injuries said he was walking between Henderson and Smith when accident happened. Smith and Henderson who were seriously injured, were removed to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, where Smith died late last night. Work was suspended in this part of the Colliery for the day. On inquiry at the Royal Infirmary last night it was stated that Henderson was "very ill ". [Scotsman 15 May 1939] Miners employed at No.14 Rosehall Mine, Whifflet, near Bellshill, did not go to work yesterday as a tribute to their dead colleague Louis Smith of Stewart St Mossend who was fatally injured in an accident at the mine on Sunday. Smith died in Glasgow Royal Infirmary. It was stated at the Infirmary yesterday that there was no change in the condition of James Henderson, 24, of Glebe St Bellshill, who was also injured. Henderson is suffering from severe leg, body, and face injuries. [Scotsman 15 May 1939]