Film ID: VLVAOQ0UBVYGILSZS11XLB1VE7Q9 Media URN: … The coal was won by “grunching”, blasting off the solid. As the men remained trapped underground, rescue teams began to try and reach them before they were engulfed by the encroaching sludge or they were overcome by the rapidly deteriorating air quality and gas. 3 Dook just above its junction with the Belt Level Througher, about two miles from the shaft at 11.05 p.m. At 11.15 p.m., a brigade of three men, W. Shaw and R M. Boland of Kames Colliery and three men from the Coatbridge Rescue Station were sent into the affected area. At 8.30 p.m., Mr. Dock, the Superintendent received a call from Dempster, the day shift overman. June. Knockshinnock Castle Colliery, New Cumnock, 1950 Smoking, which had been allowed at the mine was prohibited and only permitted explosives could be used. In the Stooping Section, Henry Casagranda thought there had been an explosion and so with Bradford and Cook, he joined Queen and Hannah in the Belt Level. The main ventilating current passed down the Companion Dook, through Casagranda’s Level and up the No.2 Dook. Robert John Stark Lowe aged 53 years, collier. Film ID: VLVAOQ0UBVYGILSZS11XLB1VE7Q9 Media URN: … He also arranged for the Six Feet Regulator to be knocked down. Meanwhile, Brady, accompanied by one workman, tried to enter the section by the intake airway but was topped by dust and fumes about 30 feet below the junction at the innermost end of the Pony Level and had to return. The disaster was an international media event. KAMES. 19th November, 1957. 70 kB . Please see below for the locations of categorisation information and instructions. The disaster was an international media event and one of the worst disasters in Scotland’s mining history, yet somehow 116 men were rescued on the third day in one of the most remarkable rescues ever attempted. They were stooped by fumes about 150 feet from the top and returned to the end of the Level. The explosives used were “Unigel Eq.S” an sometimes, in the bottom of the seam, Polar Ammon Gelignite was used. Another 116 miners found themselves cut off from the pit bottom. Near the Bench, Brady who was with Scott Davidson and two others, found Bennie and his pony lost in fumes and dust.

British troops blowing up mines at beaches. Beyond the booster fan the air split to the Six Feet and Nine Feet Seams, the latter being split again to provide ventilation for the No.2 Thirty Inch Section. To be classified as a disaster, an accident or explosion at a mine has to claim at least ten lives. James Boston Marshall aged 69 years, repairer. The explosion occurred during the afternoon shift on Tuesday 19th November. At the time of the explosion there was a daily output of 650 tons of which 400 tons came from the West Mine area. At the time of the disaster, Knockshinnoch employed approximately 700 men.

Families waiting around the pit after mine disaster in Birmingham, USA.