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1915, 10th June
WILLIAM CAMPBELL BLAIR
and
DUNCAN BRODIE
COLLIERY EXPLOSION.
ALARMING ACCIDENT AT KIRKCONNEL.
TWO LIVES LOST.
The mining village of Kirkconnel was startled on Thursday morning
by news of a serious explosion which occurred in No. 3 Fauldhead Colliery,
and for a time considerable anxiety prevailed. Fortunately events
did not turn out as bad as was at first anticipated, although a miner
lost his life, another succumbed to his injuries, and a third was
injured, though fortunately but slightly.
The sad occurrence took place about 9 a.m. The Bankhead or No. 16
section, where the accident occurred, is situated about 600 yards
from the pit bottom, and lies in a south-easterly direction. About
fifty miners are engaged in the section, and at the intake end —
where the explosion occurred — there were two “places.”
One was being worked by Duncan Brodie and William Campbell Blair,
and the other by David Bryce and William Grierson. It was at the "place"
occupied by the former pair that the explosion occurred. They had
been working forward to a step or fault, and were taking out the coal
against the step when they must have loosened a gas feeder which ignited
and caused the explosion.
Mr David Bryce (42), who resides at 31 Nithside Terrace, states that
he descended the pit at 7 a.m. and proceeded to his working place
in Bankhead section. He commenced work with his mate, William Grierson,
and was working next place to Brodie and Blair. About 9 a.m. Thomas
Stevenson, an under-ground fireman who had charge of the section,
came into the place in the course of his round of inspection.
They were laying down a pair of turns. Suddenly they heard sort of
a hushing noise proceeding from the place occupied by Brodie and Blair,
and this was immediately followed by a great explosion of gas. The
three of them were thrown violently to the ground, and their lamps
went out. The air cloth — which conducts the air into the place
— hutches, and rails were torn out and thrown all around. They
immediately scrambled through the after-damp and managed to reach
the main haulage road where they got some fresh air. Stevenson then
secured a Davy lamp and they at once returned to where Brodie and
his mate were working. They heard a groan proceeding from Blair; but
they reached Brodie first, but found that he was dead. They then took
up Blair and assisted him to the haulage road. They then returned
for Brodie's body. It was very badly burned about the face, arms,
and upper parts of the body.
Bryce Stevenson and Grierson deserve the utmost credit for their promptness
in facing the terrible afterdamp to rescue their comrades. It was
fortunate that they were able to reach them in such quick time. There
is an abundant supply of pure air proceeding into the section.
The two men were brought out in such an expeditious manner that the
services of the Colliery Rescue Brigade, who were immediately summoned,
were not required. Many willing hands in the pit at once proceeded
to the scene of the disaster as soon as the news spread and Mr Wilson,
manager, and Mr Wilcox, under manager, arrived as the men reached
the haulage road.
The body of Brodie and the two injured were taken to the surface with
all possible haste, and Dr Dunlop, Sanquhar, and Nurse Rodger were
early on the scene.
Blair was conveyed to Dumfries Infirmary with the train at one o’clock,
and he succumbed to his injuries at 12.45 yesterday. Grierson was
conveyed to his house at Polveoch Terrace.
The other men in the section were able to escape by the return course
of the air, and none of them was any the worse.
There are over 100 miners in the pit on the day shift, and it is strange
to say that many of them did not know of the occurrence until a considerable
time afterwards. One man, however, who was working a considerable
distance away, says that the concussion of the explosion knocked him
deaf for some time.
The sad affair cast a gloom over the village.
During the forenoon Mr and Mrs McConnel visited the colliery, and
Mr Samson, managing director, and Mr McNaughton, manager of Gateside
Colliery, was also on the scene ready to assist if required.
Duncan Brodie was 36 years of age and was unmarried, and resided with
Mr David Baillie, 13 Nithside Terrace. He was a native of Lugar, and
came to work at Kirkconnel six months ago. He was an exceptionally
well-behaved and steady young man, and was held in high esteem in
both Lugar and Kirkconnel. He was at one time a prominent football
player, and assisted Lugar Boswell and latterly Thornhill. He was
engaged to be married shortly, and the sympathy of the district is
extended to his bereaved friends. His body was conveyed to Lugar on
Thursday evening.
William Campbell Blair was also a native of Lugar, and was 24 years
of age and unmarried, and resided with Mr Baillie. He has been working
in Kirkconnel for almost a year, and his mother resides in Lugar.
William Grierson (24), who is fortunately not seriously injured, received
several burns about the body, and is suffering from shock. He deserves
great credit for returning to the scene of the disaster to assist
in the rescue after the terrible ordeal through which he passed. He
is a native of Kirkconnel, and is married and resides at 20 Polveoch
Terrace.
Thomas Stevenson, the fireman, is a well-known figure in Kirkconnel.
He is suffering from shock, and the effects of the afterdamp.
Fortunately, David Bryce escaped without any injury, but he is naturally
upset after the trying ordeal he underwent.
Dumfries & Galloway Standard
12/06/1915 / S / 4 / E - MM11_12
16/06/1915 / W / 4 / E - MM11_12A
KIRKCONNEL EXPLOSION
FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS
The remains of the two victims of the Kirkconnel Colliery explosion
- Duncan Brodie and William Campbell Blair – were interred in
Auchinleck Cemetery on Saturday. The bodies were conveyed to their
respective homes in Lugar; Brodie on Thursday night, and Blair on
Friday night. The funeral procession was an exceedingly large one
and representative of all classes of the Lugar, Cumnock, and Auchinleck
districts, where they were well-known and held in high respect. As
the cortege wended its way through Cumnock, many expressions of deep
sympathy were shown, and at Auchinleck the mourners were augmented
by large numbers of miners and others. A most impressive service was
conducted at the grave. The Sanquhar and Kirkconnel Collieries were
represented by Mr Wallace and Mr J. A. Harris; and Mr Wilson, manager,
and Mr Wilcox, under manager of Fauldhead Colliery, were also present.
A large number of Kirkconnel men also travelled to Auchinleck to pay
their last respects to their late comrades.
Dumfries & Galloway Standard 16/06/1915 / W / 4 / E - MM11
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