Coal Mining Fatalities

This database contains 2497 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 (2497 entries).

Surname Given Name(s) Yearsort ascending County Mine Cause
Small John D. 1900 Pictou County Albion Fall of coal
Young Michael 1900 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess) Run over by trip while trying to get on it
Baker Thomas 1900 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Derailed rake
Lowther William 1900 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Leg broken in fall of stone at working face
Cargig William 1900 Cumberland Springhill No. 3 Fell on pick handles
Milley John 1900 Cumberland Springhill No. 3 Struck and run over by rake on main slope
MacPherson Gilbert 1900 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Body wound on drum of a hoist
McKinnon John 1900 Cape Breton County Caledonia Killed by falling roof stone while driving
Williamson Samuel 1899 Pictou County Albion Chainrunner, struck in neck by snapped chain
Doyle John, Sr. 1899 Cape Breton County Caledonia Afterdamp from methane explosion; 1 of 11 killed
Doyle John, Jr. 1899 Cape Breton County Caledonia Afterdamp from methane explosion; 1 of 11 killed
Grant Albert or Arthur 1899 Cape Breton County Caledonia Afterdamp from methane explosion; 1 of 11 killed
Johnstone Thomas 1899 Cape Breton County Caledonia Afterdamp from methane explosion; 1 of 11 killed
Martin Donald 1899 Cape Breton County Caledonia Afterdamp from methane explosion; 1 of 11 killed
McAulay Malcolm 1899 Cape Breton County Caledonia Afterdamp from methane explosion; 1 of 11 killed
McCormick or McCormack Stephen 1899 Cape Breton County Caledonia Afterdamp from methane explosion; 1 of 11 killed
McDonald Alexander 1899 Cape Breton County Caledonia Afterdamp from methane explosion; 1 of 11 killed
McDonald Neil 1899 Cape Breton County Caledonia Afterdamp from methane explosion; 1 of 11 killed
McDougall Roderick or Rory 1899 Cape Breton County Caledonia Afterdamp from methane explosion; 1 of 11 killed
Simpson William 1899 Cape Breton County Caledonia Afterdamp from methane explosion; 1 of 11 killed
Campbell Alexander 1899 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1 Fall of loose coal from hung shot
Gillis John D. 1899 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1 Fell out of cage when descending shaft
McDonald John 1899 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1 Fall of stone at face of room
Evans George 1899 Cape Breton County Reserve Fall of coal from face of room
Morrison John 1899 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess) Fall of coal whilst holing in pillar
Willis William 1899 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess) Fall of roof stone whilst driving
MacIntosh William 1899 Pictou County Six-Foot Seam (became Acadia No.3) Caught, crushed by revolving drum on hoist
Hilliar Joseph 1899 Cape Breton County Caledonia
Grant Dougald 1899 Pictou County Vale Methane explosion by naked light
McKay Donald 1898 Pictou County Albion Fall from roof of working face
Wilson David 1898 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Struck by falling roof prop
Crowly Eli 1898 Cape Breton County Bridgeport Fall of roof stone
Simpson Robert 1898 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Fall of coal while drawing pillar
Hilliar Joseph 1898 Cape Breton County Caledonia Fall of coal from face of room
Breen Michael 1898 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Rock fall
McNeil Fred 1898 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1 Fall of loose coal
McIntosh Dan 1898 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess?) Fell under trip trying to get on for a ride
Boran John 1898 Cumberland Springhill No. 3 slope Fall of stone from roof in workplace
Darroch or Darrah Andrew 1898 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Rock fall
Fraser William K. 1898 Cumberland Springhill Surface Cause not recorded
LeFavour Emile 1898 Cumberland Joggins No. 3 slope Struck by cage loaded with box of stone
Spencer William 1897 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1 Burned by compressed powder
Lund John 1897 Cape Breton County Reserve Caught between coal box and pillar
Boutilier John 1897 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess?) Fall of roof stone
McPherson James 1897 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess?) Struck by falling piece of coal while hauling
Ferguson James 1897 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 slope Fall of roof while opening No. 1 slope
Burrows John 1897 Cumberland Springhill No. 3 Fall of roof stone on new balance no. 9
Cunningham William M. 1897 Cumberland Springhill No. 3 Fall of rock on mail level
Chapman George 1897 Cumberland Springhill Surface Cause not recorded
McDougall Peter 1897 Cape Breton County Victoria Killed on balance, run over by cuddy

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