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1909, 14th April
MARGARET HALLIDAY
RAILWAY FATALITY AT KIRKCONNEL.
A painful sensation was caused in Kirkconnel on Wednesday evening
when it became known that Marion Halliday, a girl of fourteen, employed
as a coal-picker at Fauldhead colliery, had been run over by a railway
waggon and killed.
It appears that shortly before four o'clock the girl left her work
to get a vessel of water, and on her return crossed the railway track
in front of two waggons which were being shunted from the washerie
siding in the middle of the lyes. She did not notice their approach,
but had just crossed the line when the brakesman caught a glimpse
of her figure, and uttered a cry of warning. The unfortunate girl
was startled into moving back a step or two, and the waggon knocked
her down and one of the wheels passed over her body. The attention
of the pithead foreman, who was close at hand, was attracted by the
jarring, of the brakes, and he ran forward and extricated the girl
with all possible speed. It was then found that life was extinct,
death apparently having been instantaneous. Dr Dunlop attended, and
the body was removed to the house of Mr John Halliday, miner, 7 Nithside
Cottages, father of the deceased girl. None of her fellow-workers
were made aware of the accident at the time it occurred, but when
the sad news became known they gave token of their sympathy by subscribing
for a handsome permanent wreath to be placed on the grave and another
of natural flowers. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon, and
was largely attended.
Dumfries & Galloway Standard - 17/04/1909 / S / 6 / B - MM06
THE KIRKCONNEL FATALITY. — Sheriff Campion
and a jury on Thursday at Dumfries conducted an inquiry under the
Fatal Accidents Act into the circumstances attending the death of
Maggie Halliday, a girl of fourteen years of age, who resided at 7
Nithside Cottages, Kirkconnel, who was killed by being run over by
an empty coal waggon at Fauldhead Colliery on 14th April. The following
was the jury: Mr John Hunter, coal agent, Clearwood, Dumfries; Mr
J. S. Montgomery, bookseller, Dumfries; Mr Andrew Miller, coachbuilder,
Nith Place, Dumfries; Mr John Turner, fishmonger and game dealer,
high Street, Dumfries; Mr. Wm Erskine, gunsmith, Loreburn Street,
Dumfries; Mr. James D. Wilson, warehouseman, Friars’ Vennel,
Dumfries; and Mr John Kelly, clothier, 9 Rae Street, Dumfries. The
circumstances of the accident were narrated in the columns of the
“Standard” at the time. The girl was crossing the coal-washer
lye when she was knocked down by an empty coal waggon. A witness stated
that she appeared to trip and fall in front of the wheel. It was stated
that arrangements were now being made for the girls being able to
obtain water without crossing the railway. The jury returned a formal
verdict, and directed the fees should be given to the deceased’s
father.
Dumfries & Galloway Standard 08/05/1909 / S / 5 / A - MM06
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