Coal Mining Fatalities

This database contains 2498 known Nova Scotia coal mining fatalities. Names, dates, places, mines, and causes of death have been painstakingly compiled. Despite this, it is by no means a complete list. Fatalities occurred before records were kept; descriptions of incidents and those involved were lost along with coal company records. Official recording of multiple deaths may have missed some names; in some cases, names are misspelled. However, this is likely the most complete list that exists. Please contact us if you know names to add.

Displaying page 28 of 50 pages (2498 entries).

Surname Given Name(s)sort descending Year County Mine Cause
Boran John 1898 Cumberland Springhill No. 3 slope Fall of stone from roof in workplace
Nearing John 1877 Cape Breton County Lingan Explosion of boiler; 1 of 3 killed
Matlock John 1937 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 16 Fall of stone
Emery John 1873 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Devastating methane explosion
McLeod John 1902 Cape Breton County Reserve Fall of coal from pillar
Nicholson John 1883 Pictou County Vale Drawbar broke, crash of runaway slope rake
Pendergrast John 1928 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 12 Fall of stone
Boutilier John 1897 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess?) Fall of roof stone
Murphy John 1915 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 5 Fall of stone
Martin John 1935 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 10 Fall of stone
Bennett John 1873 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Devastating methane explosion
Bonar John 1877 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess) Fall of stone
Ralph John 1937 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 2 Fall of coal
McDonald John 1890 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess?) Run over by empty trip, died next day
Capstick John 1960 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 26 Fall of stone
Newman John 1917 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 12 Methane and blasting powder explosion
Hayden John 1891 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 & No. 2 Gas and coal dust explosion
Burchell John 1877 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess) Fell down shaft
Curry John 1917 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 12 Methane and blasting powder explosion
McDonald John 1900 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 4 Fall of stone at head of deep
Simpson John 1866 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines Colliery (Queen pit) Run over by wagons
Murphy John 1928 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 2 Crushed by runaway box
Milley John 1900 Cumberland Springhill No. 3 Struck and run over by rake on main slope
Mazur John 1931 Pictou County Allan Shaft Fall of Coal
Hunter John 1891 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 & No. 2 Gas and coal dust explosion
McDonald John 1913 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 10 Fall of stone
Morrison John 1947 Cape Breton County Greener Fall of roof
Cann John 1891 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess?) Killed by cage when descending pit
McDonald John 1950 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 4 Fall of coal
Cherpack John 1944 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1B Runaway trip; 1 of 3 killed
McCuish John 1903 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 2 Fall of stone from roof
Beaver John 1954 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 25 Fall of stone; 1 of 2 killed
Hickey John 1936 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 2 Fall of stone
Roberts John 1880 Pictou County Foord pit Devastating methane explosion
Patten John 1941 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 11 Runaway trip
Horn John 1900 Cape Breton County Reserve Fall of coal whilst drawing pillars; 1 of 2 killed
Blue John 1881 Cumberland Springhill Struck by cage
Fitzner John 1927 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 16 Fall of stone
Carnichael John 1891 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 & No. 2 Gas and coal dust explosion
McDonald John 1928 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 24 Fall of coal
Campbell John 1938 Cape Breton County Princess Broken cable on riding rake; 1 of 21 killed
Frye John 1914 Pictou County Albion Riding a coal trip that derailed
McDonald John 1903 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 2 Caught between cage and pulleys
McAulay John 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
McInnis John 1908 Cape Breton County International Fall of stone
Wilkes John 1902 Pictou County Marsh Dynamite explosion in office; frozen sticks put near heat to thaw; 1 of 3 killed
Mitchell John 1891 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 & No. 2 Gas and coal dust explosion
Josso John 1891 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess?) Fall of coal in room
Kroput John 1914 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1 Fall of stone
McDonald John 1943 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 16 Fall of stone

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