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Full Details

Surname
ANDERSON
Forename
George
Day
21
Month
06
Year
1938
Age
Occupation
Colliery repairer
Mine/Quarry Name
Glencraig, No.1 Pit
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Wilson's & Clyde Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Lochgelly
County
Fifeshire
Details of Event
21 June 1938: Fife Mining Fatality - Survivor Fined For Breach of Rules - A fatal accident which occurred recently in, Glencraig Colliery, had a sequel at Dunfermline Sheriff Court yesterday, when George Anderson, colliery repairer, 4 Balbedie Terrace, Lochore, pleaded guilty to a contravention of the Coal Mines Act. He admitted that on June 21 he travelled on foot on the haulage road in Robertson's Mine in that colliery while the haulage was in motion, the haulage being worked by mechanical power. The Procurator-Fiscal (Mr H.J. Waugh) said that this was a very steep incline, about 500 yards long. The men did not usually walk up it, even when the haulage was not running. They waited till the close of the shift, and were hauled up in men bogies. On this occasion accused and a man named Connelly arrived at the foot of the mine about half an hour before the haulage stopped. Connelly took it into his head to walk up, and Anderson followed him. When they were near the top a race of hutches broke away and came down. Connelly was killed, but Anderson escaped without injury. An agent for accused said that Connelly told Anderson he had a pick at the top of the mine, and that he would like to get it before the shift finished. He did not know whether the Sheriff would think it necessary to impose a penalty, because, of the two men concerned, one was dead and the other had had an experience he would never forget. Sheriff-Substitute F.A. Umpherston imposed a fine of £2, with the alternative of 20 days imprisonment. [Scotsman 5 July 1938]