Single Record

Full Details

Surname

WRIGHT

Forename

James

Day

27

Month

10

Year

1938

Age

23

Occupation

Mine/Quarry Name

Kinneil, Furnace Yard Pit

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

Kinniel Cannel & Coking Coal Co. Ltd

Location

Bo’ness

County

Linlithgowshire

Details of Event

27 October 1938: Accident In Pit - 21 Miners Injured at Bo'ness - Runaway Bogeys Smash - Twenty-one Bo'ness miners were injured, some of them seriously, in an alarming accident which occurred in a haulageway at Furnaceyard Pit, belonging to the Kinneil Coal Company, Ltd., at Bo'ness yesterday afternoon. Four of the five men most seriously injured were removed at once to the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh, and detained. They are:- John Bell, aged 18, Snab Row, Bo'ness, injured right hip; John Napier; aged 35, 30 Castleloan, Bo'ness, concussion, injured back and hands; Robert Irvine, aged 45, 63 Castleloan, bruised thigh and shock; and Richard Pickens, aged 18, 5 Snab Row, injured back. The fifth, James Wright (23), Snab Row, who sustained cuts to the head and bruises, was removed to his home after the accident, but a doctor who examined him about 8 o'clock last night found his condition at that time to be such as made his removal to the Infirmary advisable, and that course was consequently adopted. Two other men, James Kay, aged 53, of 32 Cadzow Avenue, and James Rooney, aged 38, 10 Furnace Row, who received injuries to the hands, were also removed to the Infirmary for treatment, but were allowed to go home last night. Another man also named James Rooney was among the injured. Steel Haulage Rope Breaks - The accident occurred when dayshift workers were being conveyed from the coal face to the surface. Thirty miners were ascending an incline to the pit bottom in 3 train of bogeys when the steel haulage rope snapped, with the result that the bogey careered backwards down the incline gathering great speed. The majority of the men realising the danger, jumped out of the bogeys on to the "pavement." but others did not have an opportunity to do so. The train of bogeys crashed into the trap doors at the foot of the haulage-way, the men still in the bogeys landing in a heap at the foot of the run. Four men in the last bogey, which was the first to receive the impact, had remarkable escapes from serious injury. Some of the men who jumped out were struck by the trailing hawser, and others received injuries from violent impact with the "pavement." The pit manager Mr James Thompson who was at the foot of the haulage-way at the time, was the first to go to the rescue of the injured men, and he quickly summoned to the scene the backshift miners who were on their way to work. In the darkness and on account of the steepness of-the incline, rescue work was extremely difficult, the only source of light being from the electric head lamps worn by the men. Stretchers were used to carry the more serious cases to the pit shaft and many of the others, in a faint and weakened condition from bruises and shock, had to be assisted by the rescuers. The patients, on reaching the pithead were taken into the dressing rooms at the pithead baths, where five doctors from Bo'ness and a squad of first-aid men rendered every possible assistance. Ambulances from Bo'ness and outlying parts were summoned and conveyed six of the seven cases mentioned to the Royal Infirmary while the other men were taken to their homes. One, Alexander Cafferty (51) 68 Castleloan, was carried home on a stretcher. "Going At Terrific Speed" - One of the injured miners, Sam Nicholson (50), Castleloan, who sustained a bruised back, said he was in the second hutch, and that they realised the danger immediately the rope broke. "There was No.difficulty in getting over the side of our hutch." he said and we flung ourselves out on to the "pavement." Five of us were found lying in a heap in the narrow passageway. Some men less fortunate, struck their heads on the steel girders, while others were struck and injured by the snapped rope. The haulageway is about 350 fathoms long and the bogeys were going at a terrific speed." The other miners who received injuries were:- George Pringle, senior (54), Wallacetown, Bo'ness, bruised ribs; George Pringle, junior ( 22), Wallacetown, injured right hand; James Blair (19), Wallacetown, broken nose; John Grant (39), 14 Lothian Street, Bo'ness, head injury; David Brown (25), 22 Furnace Row, scalp wound; John Burke (24), 56 East Castleloan, bruised back; James Rooney (43), 84 East Castleloan, bruised ribs; Sam Miller (40), 37 Clydesdale Street, Bo'ness, head injuries; Alexander Stanley, 28, 53 East Castleloan, lacerated right arm; Peter M'Gonegal (36), 10 Furnace Row, bruised left ankle and right arm; Robert Hamilton (38), 174 Main Street, Grangepans, bruised legs; and William Murray (40), 56 Castleloan, bruised hips. [Scotsman 28 October 1938] Bo'ness Pit Haulage Accident - Work Suspended During Official Inspection - To allow of an official inspection being made, work was suspended yesterday at Furnaceyard Pit, Bo'ness, where 21 miners were injured the day before as a result of the breaking of a haulage rope. Nearly 600 men were laid idle in consequence. Of the six injured men removed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, two - James Rooney (38) Furnace Row, and James Kay (53) Cadzow Avenue - have been brought back to their homes. Another, James Wright (23) Snab Row, who was injured on the head and sustained body bruises, was removed home after the accident, but a doctor who saw him later advised his removal to the Infirmary , and this was done. The men were yesterday stated to be making a satisfactory recovery, although anxiety is still felt for John Napier (35) Castleloan, and Richard Pickens (18), Snab Row, who are believed to be the most seriously injured. Two Stirlingshire miners - George Pringle, senior, and George Pringle, junior, of Wallacestone. near Falkirk, received treatment at the Falkirk Royal Infirmary before being conveyed home. Doctors speak highly of the work of members of the Kinneil ambulance corps and the squad of rescuers. The corps had only recently been reorganised. [Scotsman 29 October 1938] Colliery Mishap - Miners Out of Hospital - Two of the Bo'ness miners injured in the accident at the Furnaceyard Pit of Kinneil Coal Co., Ltd., on Thursday of last week, when the steel haulage rope drawing a train of bogies containing miners snapped - Robert Irvine (45), Castleloan, and Richard Pickens (18), Castleloan - have so far recovered from their injuries that they were discharged from Edinburgh Royal Infirmary yesterday and taken home by ambulance. Other miners still in the Infirmary, John Napier and James Wright, who both sustained fractures and cuts, are now stated to be out of danger. The damage to the haulage way has been repaired, and a full resumption of work made at Furnaceyard Pit. [Scotsman 1 November 1938]