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Full Details

Surname
SMALL
Forename
Francis (Injured)
Day
05
Month
06
Year
1917
Age
Occupation
Mine/Quarry Name
Swinhill, No.5 Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Darngavil Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Larkhall
County
Lanarkshire
Details of Event
5 June 1917: Dalserf – Distressing Colliery Accident – On Tuesday afternoon, a serious accident occurred at No.5 Swinhill Colliery, belonging to the Darngavil Coal Coy. It appears that four men were being lowered by hand winch down the shaft to dismantle some machinery, when about 11 fathoms from the surface, something seems to have snapped with the result that all the men were precipitated to the bottom, a distance of 24 fathoms. The men were extricated with all speed and medically attended by Dr Morrison, Larkhall. John Small, 38, Swinhill Rows, received serious injuries to back, loin and suffered from internal injuries; Alex Boyd, 24, Swinhill Rows, received compound fracture to right tibia, injury to back and contused wound right eye and brow. Both these men were removed to Royal Infirmary, where Small succumbed to his injuries at 7.40 the same evening. Francis Small, Swinhill Rows and Hugh Sellars, Swinhill Rows, received injuries to back and ankles, and were able to be removed home. [Hamilton Advertiser 9 June 1917]