Newspaper Transcription MM08 

1913, 19th July

WILLIAM JAMES COULTER WRIGHT

PIT FATALITY AT KIRKCONNEL.

MINER'S TRAGIC DEATH.

A distressing mining fatality occurred at Fauldhead coal pit, Kirkconnel early on Saturday morning, the victim being William James Coulter Wright, thirty-five years of age, a miner, residing at 25 Kellobank, Kirkconnel. The accident was caused by the unexpected explosion of a charge of blasting powder in No. 4 pit of the Sanquhar and Kirkconnel Colliery Company. It appears that Wright, along with Samuel Lock, forty-five years of age, miner, Kellobank, was working at the coal face. Having drilled two shot holes in the coal face they charged them with gelignite cartridges for the purpose of dislodging the coal. Lights were applied to the fuses, but Wright was under the impression that his had not ignited. The two miners waited some distance away until Lock's charge should do its work, and after the explosion had taken place they returned to the coal face. Wright, who walked in front, proceeded forward in order to light his fuse, when the shot went off with a loud report, and he was thrown to the ground by the falling debris. Lock, who was some distance behind, escaped serious injury by ducking behind a coal hutch although he was wounded on the left side by pieces of coal. He immediately rushed to the assistance of his fellow workman, and extricated him in a seriously injured condition from the surrounding mass of coal. He then went for assistance and James McCrone, underground pit fireman, and Charles Wilson, miner, conveyed him to the pit head in a hutch, but by the time they reached the top, the unfortunate man, whose face was badly shattered, had breathed his last. The body was examined by Dr James Dunlop, Kirkconnel, and it was afterwards conveyed home. The sad affair created a profound sensation among the villagers and on Saturday the men employed in the Elise pit refrained from going to work. Deceased was a native of Lugar, Cumnock, He is survived by a widow and four young children to whom the sympathy of the district is extended in their tragic bereavement. The interment took place to Kirkconnel New Churchyard on Monday afternoon, and was largely attended by the miners and general public. As the cortege wended its way through the village there were many manifestations of sorrow.

Dumfries & Galloway Standard 23/07/1913 / W / 4 / F- MM08