Newspaper Transcription MM20 & MM21

1924, 11th April

JOHN MAINS

and

THOMAS TARVIT

KIRKCONNEL MINING FATALITIES

Two Men Killed at Fauldhead Pit

A most distressing accident occurred in No. 1 Fauldhead Pit, Kirkconnel, about midnight on Friday, resulting in two miners losing their lives — one Thomas Tarvit, 50 years of age, who resided at the Model Lodging-house, being killed outright, and the other, John Mains, about 60 years of age, who resided at the Hostel, Kellobank, dying in Dumfries Royal Infirmary on Sunday as a result of the injuries he had received. The sad occurrence took place at the time of changing shifts, when the two deceased miners and another man, John Mackay, were proceeding to their work, being on the night shift. Mackay and Tarvit were engaged as brushers, and Mains was going in the same direction to attend to a pump. Having a considerable distance to travel, they got an empty hutch, which Mackay pushed, while the other two got inside for the purpose of getting wheeled in. It appears that on reaching an incline sprags, or what are termed “snibbles, were put into the wheels for the purpose of keeping the hutch under control.
Apparently these either broke or fell out, as the hutch gained speed and soon got out of control, but Mackay gallantly held on until, unfortunately, his head struck the roof and his cap and lamp fell off his head. The hutch then gathered momentum and ran away at an alarming rate, until it reached a point where a level road branches off. It dashed off the rails, and when assistance reached the unfortunate occupants it, was found that Tarvit had received a severe knock on the head and was beyond human aid. Mains was alive, but had unfortunately sustained a severe blow on the temple. He was ultimately conveyed to Dumfries Royal Infirmary, where he died on Sunday.
The tragic occurrence caused great sorrow over the whole mining district, as both men had come and gone about Kirkconnel for very many years, and, being good workmen, were always assured of employment. Just before proceeding to work, Tarvit intimated that this would be his last shift for some time, as he intended going off on one of his periodical wanderings. He was in the habit of spending a part of each year working on farms in Galloway.

Dumfries & Galloway Standard 16/04/1924 / W / 9 / C - MM20 & MM21