Newspaper Transcription MM09

1914, 21st February

JOHN BLACK

EXPLOSION AT KIRKCONNEL.

FIREMAN KILLED.

A distressing fatality occurred at No. 1 Fauldhead Colliery, Kirkconnel, on Saturday morning, whereby John Black (50), residing in Main Street, was suffocated with afterdamp, following an explosion. Black, who was an experienced and careful miner, filled the important position of a fireman, whose duty it is to look after the safety of the workings and the miners. He was engaged in this capacity in the Eastside section of the old pit, and had descended the shaft with another fireman, Thomas Love, to examine the places prior to the men going down. Each had separate sections, and they parted armed with safety lamps to examine the places that were going to be worked during the day. What occurred to Black is a mystery; but when Love was proceeding with his duties he heard a report of an explosion a considerable distance away. When he arrived back at the fireman's station he found that Black was not there, and fearing there was something wrong, he at once reported the circumstances to Mr Arch. Wilson, manager, and Mr John Farquhar, under manager. Mr Farquhar went to Black's section, and Mr Wilson left for the pithead and made hurried arrangements for the rescue brigade to proceed to the scene of the accident. Meantime Mr Farquhar had found that an explosion of gas had occurred, and although almost overcome with the after-damp, managed to make a survey of the section, but without finding the missing man. On Mr Wilson returning to the section he dispatched Mr Farquhar to the pithead to conduct the rescue party, and, accompanied by Messrs John Jackson, Thomas Lennox, and Alexander Paterson, all certificated firemen, made a search. Progress was difficult and dangerous owing to the presence of the large quantity of damp and lack of fresh air. They however, ………. the body out of the danger zone. Meantime the rescue party had arrived on the scene armed with all appliances to combat the damp, under the leadership of Mr McCormick, instructor, Kilmarnock, who arrive, by motor; but their services were not required. Artificial respiration and the oxygen pump were applied to the body, but without avail, and when the pit bottom was reached Dr Dunlop made an examination and pronounced life extinct. Black went to his section before 5 a.m., and almost four hours elapsed from the time the explosion occurred until the body was found. Dr Dunlop stated that death would occur about 7 a.m. at the latest. Those engaged in the search deserve the utmost praise for the manner in which they stuck to their dangerous work of rescue, and several suffered from the effects of the damp, particularly Mr Wilson, who was almost overcome and had to be assisted home. How the explosion occurred and what caused it cannot be ascertained, as the unfortunate fireman was the only person in the section. During the day Mr Borland, inspector of mines, visited the colliery; but was unable to explain the occurrence. The fatality caused a painful sensation in the district. Black was a native of Kirkconnel, and was held in high esteem among his fellow-workmen. He leaves a widow and large family. Fortunately, the presence of fire in large quantities seldom occurs in any of the Sanquhar and Kirkconnel Collieries’ pits, and this is the first instance of an explosion in No. 1 pit. Had the occurrence taken place while the miners were at work the consequences would have been still more serious.

Dumfries & Galloway Standard 25/02/1914 / W / 5 / D - MM09