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 40 of 50 pages (2498 entries).

Surname Given Name(s)sort descending Year County Mine Cause
Smeyers Pierre 1925 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1B Fall of stone
Leshambre Pierre 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Balzoni Pietro 1934 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 16 Fall of stone
Pyke Pleaman 1956 Cumberland Springhill No. 4 On bankhead, Electricity-fired coal dust explosion
Fraser Preston 1913 Pictou County Vale Fall of coal
McEwan R. 1921 Cape Breton County Florence Explosion of methane
MacPherson R. 1869 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Crushed by coal tubs
Broderick R. 1907 Cape Breton County Sydney No. 4 (Scotia) Struck by runaway box down main slope; 1 of 3 killed
Rocker R. 1906 Cape Breton County International Fall of stone from roof
Gilhomes R. D. 1917 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 7 Run over by trip of cars
Clarke Ralph 1956 Cumberland Springhill No. 4 Electricity-fired coal dust explosion
Aylward Ralph 1958 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Terrific, devastating bump
Strople Ralph 1907 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 2 Fall of coal
Carter Ralston 1935 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Struck by full car on back slope
McDonald Ranald or Ronald 1911 Inverness Inverness Fall of coal; head crushed
House Randolph Brian 1992 Pictou County Westray Devastating methane and coal dust explosion
Gallant Raymond 1928 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 16 Killed by rake
Tabor Raymond 1958 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Terrific, devastating bump
Collogani Redolph 1913 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 12 Jammed between boxes
Carter Reed 1891 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 & No. 2 Gas and coal dust explosion
MacNeil Reginald A. 1979 Cape Breton County DEVCO No. 26 Methane explosion, sparked by coal shearer hitting stone; 1 of 12 killed
Drolet Remi Joseph 1992 Pictou County Westray Devastating methane and coal dust explosion
Penny Reuben 1917 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 12 Methane and blasting powder explosion
Jewer Rich. 1915 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 12 Shunter, killed by car on surface
Lawlor Richard 1914 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 2 Runaway box
Murphy Richard 1891 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 & No. 2 Gas and coal dust explosion
Butts Richard 1917 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 12 Methane and blasting powder explosion
White Richard 1962 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 26 Haulage
Miller Richard 1917 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 12 Methane and blasting powder explosion
Dixon Richard 1938 Cape Breton County Princess Broken cable on riding rake; 1 of 21 killed
Wynn Richard 1909 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 3 Pick boy; Run over by full box
Gardiner Richard 1950 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1B Haulage
Chase Richard 1918 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 9 Caught between shaft and car
Piggot Richard 1917 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Fall of coal
Skinner Richard 1925 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1B Fall of stone
Costigan Richard 1892 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 Struck by timber lowered down slope
Morrison Richard 1938 Cape Breton County Princess Broken cable on riding rake; 1 of 21 killed
Ashworth Richard 1907 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 2 Fall of coal
Fowler Richard 1943 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Crushed while working on screens
Ellis Richard 1956 Cumberland Springhill No. 4 Electricity-fired coal dust explosion
Clark Richard 1935 Pictou County Allan Shaft Shot blew back exploding methane and coal dust; 1 of 7 killed
Dawson Richard 1891 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 & No. 2 Gas and coal dust explosion
Ferguson Robenich 1903 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines Colliery; Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Fall of stone
Howlett Robert 1903 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines Colliery; Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Fall of stone fractured skull
Dunbar Robert 1873 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Devastating methane explosion
Strathie Robert 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Arkley Robert 1909 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 3 Hip dislocated by fall, died in hospital after 2 days
Fraser Robert 1909 Inverness Inverness Fall of roof coal; bled to death from injuries
Bigney Robert 1881 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 Rope broke on cage
Gilliam Robert date unknown Inverness Inverness cause not recorded

Pages