Dundee’s Lost Tales – The mining disaster of 1908
The disaster of 1908 was possibly the worst mining accident of the last century
Mining is dangerous work.
In November 2004, an accident claimed two lives at Slater Coal mine. Thankfully major accidents in the Dundee area are few and far between.
The disaster of 1908 was possibly the worst mining accident of the last century. Over 70 men lost their lives on that unlucky thirteenth day of February.
At about 9am, at the Glencoe Colliery (Northfield), a methane gas explosion triggered an underground fire and several smaller explosions. While some miners tried desperately to control the flames, a second major explosion followed.
Throughout the night, many rescue attempts were carried out. However, the mine inspector, along with his rescue team, could not get within 30 metres of the fire. On Friday morning, a team of 26 men went underground in another attempt to save the trapped miners.
After an hour, the final blow was delivered. A powerful explosion rocked the mine, blowing the cage over 133 metres from the bottom of the shaft right through the head gear. Despite the pressure and immediacy of the situation, the crowd acted swiftly.
Using a boatswain’s chain and a bucket system, surface teams managed to rescue eight miners. However, the sheer intensity of the fire prevented any further rescue attempts. Frantic meetings between mine officials and the mine commissioner were held. Hesitantly, they faced reality. The entombed miners had to be abandoned. Those who lost their lives that day have been commemorated with a monument at the Dundee Cemetery.
At the end of that decade, the Dundee and District Courier edged their columns in black as a sign of mourning for the deaths of both King Edward VII and the miners.
