New Search

Return to Search Results

Full Details

Surname
SKELDING
Forename
Edward
Day
06
Month
06
Year
1919
Age
Occupation
Miner
Mine/Quarry Name
Lindsay
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Fife Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Kelty
County
Fifeshire
Details of Event
6 June 1919: Disastrous Fife Colliery Fire - £40,000 Damages - 500 Miners Idle - Damage estimated at £40,000 was caused by fire at the Lindsay Collieries, Kelty, belonging to the Fife Coal Company, last night The fire originated in the engine-house of the screening plant, and spread quickly over the whole woodwork of the two shafts comprising the colliery, destroying all the surface structures and winding apparatus. There was a shift of men to the number of 150 employed underground. Those in the lower seam had, fortunately, an outlet at Aitken Pit, half-a-mile away, and they were brought out safely by six o'clock. Great anxiety was, however, felt for the safety of four men who were engaged in opening the upper seam. There was no outlet for them unless by way of the shaft, which passage had been closed by the destruction of the winding apparatus. When the fire began to subside a number of workmen started to improvise machinery for getting them up. A winch was fitted up and a kettle was lowered, by which the men were drawn to the surface. There was great cheering from thousands of persons who had gathered at the colliery as the men appeared. The four men who had such a trying experience were Robert Moodie and his two sons, John and David, residing at Lord Street, Kirkcaldy, and Edward Skelding, Foulford Road, Kirkcaldy. Mr Augustus Carlow, managing director, Fife Coal Company, and Messrs H. Rowan and Charles C. Reid, agents of the company, superintended the rescue operations. Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline Fire Brigades were on the scene, and lent effective assistance. Between 400 and 500 are thrown out of work. [Scotsman 7 June 1919]