HISTORY
MINING HISTORY
FATALITIES RELATED TO MINING
MINING HISTORY
FATALITIES RELATED TO MINING
MINING ACCIDENTS GENERALLY
Created by Gail Hussey Weir
February 2023
Created by Gail Hussey Weir
February 2023
This page will feature reports that speak generally of mining-related accidents as opposed to the "Accounts of Employee Fatalities" page that deals with the accidents that killed specific people. Having said that, I first present the June 1, 1907 accident that killed 24-year-old Charles Day of Old Shop, Trinity Bay, and badly injured and blinded 28-year-old George Churchill of Portugal Cove because it provides human-interest details and tells a more complete story of the accident and the people involved than any account that I have yet come across. (Bear in mind that this is not an official account of the accident, but one that was gathered by a newspaper reporter from family and friends of the victims, who were at the scene of the accident.)
Dynamite Blast Accident in Scotia No. 3 Mine, June 1, 1907
as reported in The Evening Telegram
with additional notes
as reported in The Evening Telegram
with additional notes
From Bown, 1907, p. 22, col. 2, top:
Magistrate O’Donnell informed the Minister of Justice on June 1 that Charles Day, 23, of Old Shop, Trinity Bay, had been killed, and George Churchill of Portugal Cove seriously injured when their drill ran into an unexploded charge of dynamite in the Scotia Mine.
From The Evening Telegram, June 3, 1907, p. 6, col. 1, top:
Killed at Bell Island.
A dreadful fatality happened at Bell Island on Saturday [June 1st] morning in No. 3 Slope of the Nova Scotia Steel Company’s mine. As a result of an explosion, one young man lies dead and another has his eyes sightless, his hands injured and is not expected to recover. The men were working in the slope with others drilling holes to blast out the iron ore, little thinking when they turned to in the morning that such a dreadful calamity awaited them. Charles Day, the unfortunate man who was killed, went to work for the first time Saturday morning. From his brother and J. Drover, who were also at work there, and who accompanied the remains to town to be taken home for interment, a Telegram reporter gleaned the following particulars of the accident: Day and Churchill were at work drilling. A steam drill was used and Day was not aware that he was working on an unexploded charge that had been put in on Tuesday last but which evidently did not go off. Suddenly the drill struck this dynamite and a large body of the ore came up with a terrific explosion and struck the two men. Day, who was stooping down, was struck on the head and killed almost instantly. Churchill was knocked down by tons of broken rock and his eyes almost knocked out, and his hands, breast, arms and legs terribly lacerated. The poor fellow’s sufferings since have been terrible, and were a heartrending sight to those who witnessed them. Two other men, including a brother of Day, the deceased, had a narrow escape, having only a few seconds before moving from the place. Some wild consternation raged in the mine, and an alarm was made that the whole mine was exploding. When the truth was learned, and the fears of the others quieted down, willing hands were at work assisting the two victims and doing whatever was possible…A message was hastily dispatched for the Company’s doctor who, on arriving, did what he could for Churchill, and had him conveyed to his residence, where his wounds were washed and bound up…The body of poor Day was put into a coffin and brought to Portugal Cove yesterday [June 2nd], and then taken to the railway station for conveyance by last evening’s express to Old Shop, Trinity Bay, where he belonged, by his two brothers, who also had been working on the mine there. J. Drover and others belonging to the same locality accompanied the remains and went out by the express…Day’s mother was a widow who had lost another son 5 years previously when the Reid schooner he worked on was lost at sea. Her two remaining sons worked at the Scotia Company mines…Day, the victim, was unmarried and was 24 years of age. George Churchill, the injured man, was 26 years of age and was married last year. The workmen who accompanied the remains of poor Day to town yesterday made bitter comments on the accident and they are of the opinion that the Company does not take sufficient pains to safe-guard the lives of their employees. We understand that a rigid enquiry will be made into the affair by the authorities. One of the men informed the Telegram that a boss of the Company had the spot where the explosion occurred, after the accident, enclosed and would not allow anybody to see the locality. As a preliminary to the Magisterial enquiry, Minister of Justice, Sir E.P. Morris, K.C., this morning sent Mr. T.A. Hall, Government Engineer, to Bell Island to visit the mine where the fatality occurred and investigate minutely the whole affair, including the condition of the mine. He will report to the Attorney General on his return.
From The Evening Telegram, June 4, 1907, p. 4, col. 3, btm:
Churchill Improving. The Government Engineer, Mr. Hall, returned this morning from Bell Island, where he held an enquiry into the fatal mining explosion. Churchill, the driller, is improving and last night was able to move one of his eye lids. He is quite sensible and talks all right. There is good hope of his recovery. He was able to give an intelligent account of the accident.
From The Evening Telegram, June 7, 1907, p. 4, col. 7, btm:
Churchill’s Condition. Mrs. Churchill, mother of Mrs. Collymore, arrived today from Portugal Cove. She states it is thought there that the poor fellow Churchill, who was injured at Bell Island by the dynamite explosion, won’t live. Mrs. Churchill’s husband is a relative of the victim. In contradiction to the above opinion, a message was received from Bell Island about 2:30 today stating that the unfortunate man is getting better except his eyes. It is very doubtful now if he will ever recover even the sight of one of his eyes.
and
Company Not to Blame. We understand that Mr. Hall, the Government Engineer, in his report of the accident at Bell Island in which one man was killed and another injured, holds that the Company is not to blame in the matter.
From The Evening Telegram, June 8, 1907, p. 4, col. 4, btm:
George Churchill’s Condition. Mr. J.H. Pike, who came from Bell Island today, says that George Churchill, who was injured in the recent explosion at Bell Island, is recovering and will probably have the sight of one of his eyes.
As a follow-up to the above, in the 1921 Census, George Churchill, 41, was living in Portugal Cove with his wife, Selina, and their six children, ranging in age from 5 months to 13 years. In the "occupation" section of the Census, there is simply the word, "Blind." At the time of the 1935 Census, the family was living in the Quidi Vidi to Nagles Hill area of St. John's and George's occupation was given as "farmer - blind." William George Churchill died in 1967 at about age 88 and is buried in St. Peter's Anglican Church Cemetery, Portugal Cove.
Magistrate O’Donnell informed the Minister of Justice on June 1 that Charles Day, 23, of Old Shop, Trinity Bay, had been killed, and George Churchill of Portugal Cove seriously injured when their drill ran into an unexploded charge of dynamite in the Scotia Mine.
From The Evening Telegram, June 3, 1907, p. 6, col. 1, top:
Killed at Bell Island.
A dreadful fatality happened at Bell Island on Saturday [June 1st] morning in No. 3 Slope of the Nova Scotia Steel Company’s mine. As a result of an explosion, one young man lies dead and another has his eyes sightless, his hands injured and is not expected to recover. The men were working in the slope with others drilling holes to blast out the iron ore, little thinking when they turned to in the morning that such a dreadful calamity awaited them. Charles Day, the unfortunate man who was killed, went to work for the first time Saturday morning. From his brother and J. Drover, who were also at work there, and who accompanied the remains to town to be taken home for interment, a Telegram reporter gleaned the following particulars of the accident: Day and Churchill were at work drilling. A steam drill was used and Day was not aware that he was working on an unexploded charge that had been put in on Tuesday last but which evidently did not go off. Suddenly the drill struck this dynamite and a large body of the ore came up with a terrific explosion and struck the two men. Day, who was stooping down, was struck on the head and killed almost instantly. Churchill was knocked down by tons of broken rock and his eyes almost knocked out, and his hands, breast, arms and legs terribly lacerated. The poor fellow’s sufferings since have been terrible, and were a heartrending sight to those who witnessed them. Two other men, including a brother of Day, the deceased, had a narrow escape, having only a few seconds before moving from the place. Some wild consternation raged in the mine, and an alarm was made that the whole mine was exploding. When the truth was learned, and the fears of the others quieted down, willing hands were at work assisting the two victims and doing whatever was possible…A message was hastily dispatched for the Company’s doctor who, on arriving, did what he could for Churchill, and had him conveyed to his residence, where his wounds were washed and bound up…The body of poor Day was put into a coffin and brought to Portugal Cove yesterday [June 2nd], and then taken to the railway station for conveyance by last evening’s express to Old Shop, Trinity Bay, where he belonged, by his two brothers, who also had been working on the mine there. J. Drover and others belonging to the same locality accompanied the remains and went out by the express…Day’s mother was a widow who had lost another son 5 years previously when the Reid schooner he worked on was lost at sea. Her two remaining sons worked at the Scotia Company mines…Day, the victim, was unmarried and was 24 years of age. George Churchill, the injured man, was 26 years of age and was married last year. The workmen who accompanied the remains of poor Day to town yesterday made bitter comments on the accident and they are of the opinion that the Company does not take sufficient pains to safe-guard the lives of their employees. We understand that a rigid enquiry will be made into the affair by the authorities. One of the men informed the Telegram that a boss of the Company had the spot where the explosion occurred, after the accident, enclosed and would not allow anybody to see the locality. As a preliminary to the Magisterial enquiry, Minister of Justice, Sir E.P. Morris, K.C., this morning sent Mr. T.A. Hall, Government Engineer, to Bell Island to visit the mine where the fatality occurred and investigate minutely the whole affair, including the condition of the mine. He will report to the Attorney General on his return.
From The Evening Telegram, June 4, 1907, p. 4, col. 3, btm:
Churchill Improving. The Government Engineer, Mr. Hall, returned this morning from Bell Island, where he held an enquiry into the fatal mining explosion. Churchill, the driller, is improving and last night was able to move one of his eye lids. He is quite sensible and talks all right. There is good hope of his recovery. He was able to give an intelligent account of the accident.
From The Evening Telegram, June 7, 1907, p. 4, col. 7, btm:
Churchill’s Condition. Mrs. Churchill, mother of Mrs. Collymore, arrived today from Portugal Cove. She states it is thought there that the poor fellow Churchill, who was injured at Bell Island by the dynamite explosion, won’t live. Mrs. Churchill’s husband is a relative of the victim. In contradiction to the above opinion, a message was received from Bell Island about 2:30 today stating that the unfortunate man is getting better except his eyes. It is very doubtful now if he will ever recover even the sight of one of his eyes.
and
Company Not to Blame. We understand that Mr. Hall, the Government Engineer, in his report of the accident at Bell Island in which one man was killed and another injured, holds that the Company is not to blame in the matter.
From The Evening Telegram, June 8, 1907, p. 4, col. 4, btm:
George Churchill’s Condition. Mr. J.H. Pike, who came from Bell Island today, says that George Churchill, who was injured in the recent explosion at Bell Island, is recovering and will probably have the sight of one of his eyes.
As a follow-up to the above, in the 1921 Census, George Churchill, 41, was living in Portugal Cove with his wife, Selina, and their six children, ranging in age from 5 months to 13 years. In the "occupation" section of the Census, there is simply the word, "Blind." At the time of the 1935 Census, the family was living in the Quidi Vidi to Nagles Hill area of St. John's and George's occupation was given as "farmer - blind." William George Churchill died in 1967 at about age 88 and is buried in St. Peter's Anglican Church Cemetery, Portugal Cove.
1908 "A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS"
by Addison Bown
in "Newspaper History of Bell Island," 1908, pp. 24-25
by Addison Bown
in "Newspaper History of Bell Island," 1908, pp. 24-25
The winter of 1908 was one of slaughter in the Wabana mines. For the period from Jan. 24 to Mar. 16, no less than ten fatalities occurred, and a staggering total of 74 accidents were recorded in two months. Most of the fatal accidents were caused by the powerful new explosive used by the Scotia Company known as Rippite. The most common cause of accidents was ‘miss-holes,’ or unexploded charges of dynamite which had failed to go off because of faulty connections or defective caps. Quite often they were bottom holes and became covered up by the ore broken off by the other holes. Drillers working there the next day ran into them with their machines or the hand shovellers, who were using picks at that time, set them off, both with disastrous results. The Wabana miners learned about miss-holes the hard way, at the cost of many lives.
The fatalities started on Jan. 24 when Edward Gaul, 19, of Topsail Road, was killed by an ore car. John Walsh of Conception Harbour [sic: Colliers] was killed on Feb. 23 [Feb. 22]. Then came the accident of Chas. Thomas of St. John’s, foreman of the Scotia Machine Shop, who had his arm amputated as a result of being caught in a moving belt, and died of his injuries. Richard Delaney, who was only 14 years old and the sole support of his widowed mother in Bay Roberts, was struck by a runaway car in No. 2 Scotia Slope and succumbed to his injuries. Then came the accident involving the deaths of Bulger, Deer, Moriarty. A trackman named James Murphy, 28, of Plate Cove, B.B., was reported missing for several days. His body was found under a fall of ground in No. 10 Room of No. 2 Dominion Mine on March 5 by workmen who were cleaning away the rock, and it was presumed that he was passing underneath when the roof gave way. Then on March 14 [sic: 16], a young man named Hunt [Bernard], who had been injured by an explosion on Feb. 23 [sic: 22] when John Walsh was killed, died at his home in Conception Harbour [sic: Colliers]. And the 10th fatality occurred on March 16 when Geo. Antle of Victoria Village had his eyes blown out by a dynamite explosion and succumbed to his injuries. The Companies’ Surgeries were filled at that time with maimed or badly injured miners, some with eyes blown out or hands blown off, and a public outcry arose to stop the slaughter. Letters of indignation appeared in the Press. Government Engineer, T.A. Hall, and Inspector Sullivan of the Nfld. Constabulary visited the Island on March 3 and conducted an inquiry into the explosions. They were blamed on the new type of dynamite called ‘Rippite.’ In looking over the list of fatal accidents, one cannot help noticing the youth of some of the victims. Boys were employed in the mines at that time at a very tender age. It was said in those years that the cemeteries around Conception Bay were filled with victims of mining accidents on Bell Island.
On Feb. 29, the most serious accident occurred when three men were killed in explosions due to miss-holes. They were using picks while working in the Scotia Slope half a mile under the bay and about 200 feet below the ocean floor. There were six men in the group: Martin Bulger, James Smart, Bernard Moriarty, Thomas Eveleigh, B. Corbett and Jordan Deer. Bulger, Moriarty and Deer died of injuries from the blast. Martin Bulger, who was the foreman, was the son of Mrs. Lucy Bulger, who conducted a public house in Portugal Cove in the days of the Conception Bay packet.
The fatalities started on Jan. 24 when Edward Gaul, 19, of Topsail Road, was killed by an ore car. John Walsh of Conception Harbour [sic: Colliers] was killed on Feb. 23 [Feb. 22]. Then came the accident of Chas. Thomas of St. John’s, foreman of the Scotia Machine Shop, who had his arm amputated as a result of being caught in a moving belt, and died of his injuries. Richard Delaney, who was only 14 years old and the sole support of his widowed mother in Bay Roberts, was struck by a runaway car in No. 2 Scotia Slope and succumbed to his injuries. Then came the accident involving the deaths of Bulger, Deer, Moriarty. A trackman named James Murphy, 28, of Plate Cove, B.B., was reported missing for several days. His body was found under a fall of ground in No. 10 Room of No. 2 Dominion Mine on March 5 by workmen who were cleaning away the rock, and it was presumed that he was passing underneath when the roof gave way. Then on March 14 [sic: 16], a young man named Hunt [Bernard], who had been injured by an explosion on Feb. 23 [sic: 22] when John Walsh was killed, died at his home in Conception Harbour [sic: Colliers]. And the 10th fatality occurred on March 16 when Geo. Antle of Victoria Village had his eyes blown out by a dynamite explosion and succumbed to his injuries. The Companies’ Surgeries were filled at that time with maimed or badly injured miners, some with eyes blown out or hands blown off, and a public outcry arose to stop the slaughter. Letters of indignation appeared in the Press. Government Engineer, T.A. Hall, and Inspector Sullivan of the Nfld. Constabulary visited the Island on March 3 and conducted an inquiry into the explosions. They were blamed on the new type of dynamite called ‘Rippite.’ In looking over the list of fatal accidents, one cannot help noticing the youth of some of the victims. Boys were employed in the mines at that time at a very tender age. It was said in those years that the cemeteries around Conception Bay were filled with victims of mining accidents on Bell Island.
On Feb. 29, the most serious accident occurred when three men were killed in explosions due to miss-holes. They were using picks while working in the Scotia Slope half a mile under the bay and about 200 feet below the ocean floor. There were six men in the group: Martin Bulger, James Smart, Bernard Moriarty, Thomas Eveleigh, B. Corbett and Jordan Deer. Bulger, Moriarty and Deer died of injuries from the blast. Martin Bulger, who was the foreman, was the son of Mrs. Lucy Bulger, who conducted a public house in Portugal Cove in the days of the Conception Bay packet.
METHANE GAS EXPLOSIONS
See also: Bowdring accident, April 28, 1938, also in No. 6 Slope.
From The Daily News, Dec. 15, 1954, p. 7: [I have photos of this.]
Tragedy in the Mines
Four Bell Island Miners suffered hand and facial burns Friday morning [Dec. 10th] as a result of an explosion of methane gas in No. 6 Slope.
The men are Peter Cantwell, Bell Island, James Mercer, Upper Island Cove, George Swain, Broad Cove, Bay-de-Verde, and Theodore Smale, who now resides on Bell Island but whose home town is Londonderry, Ireland.
Immediately following the accident, which occurred shortly after 9 o'clock, the men were rushed to the Company Surgery for treatment and later conveyed to the General Hospital in St. John's.
From The Daily News, Dec. 15, 1954, p. 7: [I have photos of this.]
Tragedy in the Mines
Four Bell Island Miners suffered hand and facial burns Friday morning [Dec. 10th] as a result of an explosion of methane gas in No. 6 Slope.
The men are Peter Cantwell, Bell Island, James Mercer, Upper Island Cove, George Swain, Broad Cove, Bay-de-Verde, and Theodore Smale, who now resides on Bell Island but whose home town is Londonderry, Ireland.
Immediately following the accident, which occurred shortly after 9 o'clock, the men were rushed to the Company Surgery for treatment and later conveyed to the General Hospital in St. John's.