| 1899, 18th August
JAMES BONE
COAL PIT FATALITY AT KIRKCONNEL.
A sad accident occurred at Fauldhead Coal Pit, Kirkconnel on Friday,
which resulted in the death of James Bone, one of the colliers employed
by Mr James I. McConnel, Burnfoot. About four o'clock that afternoon
Bone was working along with a companion, James Jackson, when the latter
went to the bottom of the pit with a hutch of coal. On returning after
about twenty minutes' absence he found his unfortunate companion lying
face downwards with a large stone which had fallen from the roof on
his head. He raised the alarm, and the stone was removed, when Bone
was found to be dead, the heavy block, which was estimated to weigh
ten or twelve cwts., having caused severe injuries to his head. Dr
Jackson, Sanquhar, on being called in, found that death was due to
compound fracture of their skull. The body was removed to the house
of the victim's mother, with whom he resided in Kirkconnel. Deceased,
who was, unmarried, was thirty years of age, and has several brothers
also in the employment of Mr McConnel.
Dumfries & Galloway Standard 23/08/1899 / W / 5 / C -
MM02
THE KIRKCONNEL COLLIERY FATALITY.
A public inquiry was held at Dumfries today by Sheriff Campion and
a jury regarding a fatal accident to James Bone, collier, Kirkconnel
village, who was killed on 18th inst. by the fall of a block of sandstone
while he was at work in Fauldhead Pit. The evidence showed that the
accident was one which could not have been foreseen. There was not
enough room to prop the stone but it was not considered dangerous
at the time. James Jackson, the fellow-workman of the deceased, who
had gone to the pit bottom with a loaded hutch when the accident occurred,
stated that there was not much of the coal taken out from below the
stone. Various estimates were given of the weight of the stone; but
that of James Russell, under-manager, who put it at from 12 cwts.
to 14 cwts. was accepted as most probably the correct one. Only a
part of it had been exposed in the working; and it is assumed that
its weight had brought away part of the coal below. The stone struck
Bone on the head, causing compound fracture of the skull and instant
death. The jury returned a formal verdict, and voted their fees to
the mother of the deceased.
Dumfries & Galloway Standard 30/08/1899 / W / 5 / E - MM02A
THE KIRKCONNEL MINING FATALITY.
(Extended from second edition of Wednesday.) A public enquiry was
held at Dumfries on Wednesday regarding the fatal accident at Fauldhead
Coal-pit at Kirkconnel, on 18th August, when James Bone was killed
by the fall of a block of freestone from the roof of the portion of
the pit in which he was at work. Sheriff Campion was on the bench,
and the following jury was empanelled: Mr John Hutchison, Dunbar Terrace;
Mr Samuel Davidson, music-seller, Bank Street; Mr John Hughes, grocer,
Loreburn Street; Mr James McBurnie, cabinetmaker, Friars' Vennel;
Mr John Farrow, coal agent; Mr Joseph C. McKie, painter, Queensberry
Street; and Mr Francis S. McGregor, spirit merchant, Queensberry Street.
Mr Phyn, P.-F., conducted the leading examination of the witnesses,
and they were cross-examined by Mr Ronaldson, inspector of mines and
factories, Glasgow. Mr Wm. Bone, brother of the deceased, attended
on behalf of the relatives; and Mr McConnel, lessee of the mine, was
also present.
James Jackson, collier, stated that deceased and he went on duty with
the night shift at two o'clock, and were working together. About a
quarter-past four witness went with a full hutch to the pit bottom,
and would be absent for about a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes.
Deceased was going to fill another hutch, and was digging a little
coal down to complete the load. Some stone had fallen at the place
while the morning shift were on duty, but it had been "redd up" before
they went in, and he saw no indication of danger.
When witness returned from the pit bottom he found Bone lying at the
place where he had left him, and a large stone, which had come from
the roof, lying on his head. He thought the stone would weigh about
two or three cwts. Witness called to James Melvin, who alarmed others
of the men; and with their assistance the stone was removed. Bone
was quite dead, and had been so when witness discovered him. - By
Mr Ronaldson: witness did not think Bone could during his absence
have taken out any coal which had been supporting the stone that fell.
The stone which had fallen in the morning came out between the building
and the coal face. Five feet six inches was probably the correct distance
from the building supporting the roof of the coal face at the time
of the accident. He observed a "clay back," from which stone had previously
fallen; and it was from this same "clay back" that the stone fell
which caused the accident. There was not much of the coal taken out
before the accident. Mr Ronaldson: Wasn't there about two feet and
a half from the stone that fell to the front of the coal face? - Witness:
I did not pay much attention to the amount of coal; but there was
not much room for props. There were props set further along. - Mr
Ronaldson: You think there was no room for props being set up below
the stone which fell? - Witness: I would not have put them up; but
Bone was the man working at that particular part, and it was for him
to judge.
James Melvin, who had been at work some eight yards distant, did not
hear the fall of the stone, but was called to the spot by Jackson,
and saw at once that Bone was dead. The stone, he said, was resting
upon his side. There was not much of it on top of him, but it had
apparently hit him. The stone might weigh half-a-ton.
James Russell, under manager, was sent for immediately after the accident.
He estimated the weight of the stone at twelve or fourteen cwts.;
and the Sheriff observed that this was probably the most correct estimate,
as witness had paid more attention to the weight and measurements
than the others. Mr Russell said he had visited the place at eleven
o'clock in the forenoon and saw nothing to suggest danger at that
time. A stone had previously fallen from a place outside of that in
which Bone was working, but immediately adjoining it; but it had been
"redd up," and the coal was in a plumb line for this man to commence
his work when he came in. - By Mr Ronaldson: The stone was 3 feet
6 inches in length, 2 feet 2 inches in breadth, and 16 inches thick.
There was a continuation of it, about three feet long, which had broken
of, but it was a thin part running out to a narrow wedge. He noticed
that there was a clay back from which this stone had fallen. It was
not exposed by the previous fall of stone. - Mr Ronaldson: The miners
had taken away all stone from below the stone which caused the accident?
Witness: Yes. - Mr Ronaldson: So that nobody could see at that time
what like the roof was? - Witness: No. There were six or seven props
lying touching the stone which caused the accident; but witness could
not tell whether the man had been using some of them to lever up the
stone or not. He could not from the appearance judge whether or not
it had been propped. - By the P.-F.: Apparently the man's skull was
fractured. Dr Jackson said he could not have felt pain, because it
had been so sudden.
Thomas Lennox, fireman at the pit, stated that he made his official
visit of inspection in the afternoon. About twenty minutes to four
o'clock he passed the place where Bone and Jackson were working. He
saw the face of the stone which afterwards fell, but the coal was
all below it. He did not suppose there were six inches of the stone
below the coal bare when he passed. He said to Bone that he was all
right that day he thought. He, however, put up his hammer and pointed
out some bits of thin "plies" some distance off. Bone said there was
no fear of them. This stone would run about sixteen inches, he thought.
These "plies" were all above that again. He considered the place as
safe as it could be made by man's hands. - Mr Phyn: You did not think
there was any danger of an accident from the stone that did afterwards
fall? - Witness. I did not. If the same man had had any fear he would
not have wrought it, for he was very particular in putting up wood
to make himself secure. - By Mr Ronaldson: Little bits might have
fallen from the "plies" of which he had spoken, to hurt a finger,
but they could have done no more harm. - Mr Ronaldson said the face
of the stone which fell stood two feet and a half back from the coal
face; and asked if he thought that during the half-hour or forty minutes
that elapsed after his visit to the miners had taken of that two feet
and a half of coal and cleared it away? - Witness: I am certain they
took it off. It was not there when I went back. They had filled one
hutch and taken it away and had another full. There was no room for
props below the stone when he saw it. If the stone had stood up until
once Bone had got his coal out he would have put props in below it
then.
Constable Leslie, Kirkconnel, stated that he had examined the head
of the deceased and found a large bone fractured on the right side,
at the back of the ear, a bruise on top of the head, and a large cut
above the left ear. Dr Jackson, who was sent for, told him that the
cause of death was compound fracture of the skull.
The jury returned a formal verdict in accordance with the evidence,
and directed that their fees should be given to the mother.
Dumfries & Galloway Standard 02/09/1899 / S / 6 / G -
MM02B
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