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Full Details

Surname
WILSON
Forename
William
Day
20
Month
12
Year
1922
Age
49
Occupation
Fireman
Mine/Quarry Name
Deans, No.5 Mine
Mineral Worked
Oil Shale
Owner
Pumpherston Oil Co. Ltd
Location
Deans
County
Linlithgowshire
Details of Event
20 December 1922: Explosion In A West Lothian Shale Miner – Two Men Killed - Considerable alarm was created yesterday morning by an explosion in the Deans shale mine, belonging to Scottish Oils (Limited.). The mine, situated only a short distance from the village of Deans, and when the news spread that an explosion had taken place, there was a period of anxious suspense in the village. Immediate steps were taken to save the lives of the men who were in the mine on the day shift. With promptitude the greater number of men were brought to the surface. A message was dispatched for the rescue brigade, and this revealed to the anxious group gathered near the mine that something serious had transpired underground. Two dead bodies were found in the workings. They were identified as John Maconochie -who filled the position of leading roadman, and who resided at 2 South Street, Livingstone - a married man with three children; and William Wilson - a mine fireman residing at 9 Dean Street Livingstone, who was engaged as a shale miner – also a married man, having nine of a family, all of whom are young. Another workman, William Morrison, residing at North Road, Livingstone, a shale miner, was found lying severely injured. He was taken to the surface, and his injuries attended to, and was afterwards removed to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Both the manager, Mr James Trivney, and the under-manager, Mr Edward Towe, were in the mine, but both were rescued. The rescue party also came upon a number of men who were gassed, and these were conveyed to the pit bottom, and later brought to the surface. About 60 men were rescued, and of these about a dozen were gassed, but showed signs of recovery. The accident was due to an explosion of gas in the west side section of the mine. Gas explosions are not of frequent occurrence in the shale field, and this was one of the most serious that has been reported for several years. [Scotsman 21 December 1922]