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 25 of 50 pages (2498 entries).

Surname Given Name(s) Year Countysort ascending Mine Cause
Hawes John 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Howatt Timothy 1873 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Devastating methane explosion
Johnson Peter 1957 Pictou County McBean Fall of coal
Kingou James 1873 Pictou County Acadia Fall of coal
Leshambre Pierre 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Lyall Matthew 1873 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Devastating methane explosion
MacDonald or Greenwood William A. 1933 Pictou County Milford Fall of stone
MacKenzie Frank 1909 Pictou County Albion Killed on balance by runaway box
MacLeod James 1903 Pictou County Acadia Died 15 February
Martin George 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
McDonald Colin 1873 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Devastating methane explosion
McInnis John 1880 Pictou County Foord pit Devastating methane explosion
McLellan James 1884 Pictou County Albion Struck by a rake
McRae Duncan 1873 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Devastating methane explosion
Muir Robert 1921 Pictou County Drummond No. 5 (Intercolonial No. 5) Fall of stone
Nearing Joseph 1880 Pictou County Foord pit Devastating methane explosion
Pembroke Michael 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Rector Ruben 1932 Pictou County Allan Shaft Fall of coal
Rogers Thomas 1880 Pictou County Foord pit Devastating methane explosion
Sampler Samuel Jr. 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Smillie Thomas 1941 Pictou County Allan Shaft Struck by a haulage rope
Stewart Alexander 1918 Pictou County Albion (Purvis slope) Coal box fell to the ground
Tomshaniski Samuel 1934 Pictou County Allan Shaft Fall of stone or coal from the roof
Wheatley Leonard 1952 Pictou County McGregor Methane explosion (localized); 1 of 19 killed
Zomoskie Peter 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Simpson John 1866 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines Colliery (Queen pit) Run over by wagons
McMullen Kenneth 1871 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines Colliery (Queen pit) Explosion of powder or fall of coal
Burchell John 1877 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess) Fell down shaft
Keigan Angus 1883 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess?) Run over by coal tub
Morrison Murdock 1890 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess?) Run over by empty trip
Finlayson John 1894 Cape Breton County Reserve Fall of coal, died 15 days later
Crowly Eli 1898 Cape Breton County Bridgeport Fall of roof stone
Campbell Alexander 1899 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1 Fall of loose coal from hung shot
McDonald John 1900 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 4 Fall of stone at head of deep
McDonald John Y. 1902 Cape Breton County Caledonia Fall of coal from face
Nearing Patrick 1903 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1 Fall of coal
Whiteway William 1903 Cape Breton County Reserve Methane explosion No.5 S level, French slope; died from burns 3 days later
Borden Alex 1905 Cape Breton County Caledonia Fall of coal from face
McVicar Allen 1906 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 2 Fall of stone from roof
Dericimn F. 1907 Cape Breton County Caledonia Fall of coal
McKenzie Archy 1907 Cape Breton County Reserve Fall of coal
McDonald J.A. 1908 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 3 Fall of stone
McDonald James 1907 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 2 and No. 9 Surface plant Boiler explosion; maybe 4th man killed in an explosion or is a separate explosion
Holley Edward 1909 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 6 Driving when box derailed, knocked out prop, roof fell, killing him
Carroll William 1910 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1 Jammed between coal hoppers at surface
McLellan James 1897 Cape Breton County Victoria Fall of coal from pillar
Child 1908 Cape Breton County Caledonia Polish child, age 2; killed by cars on the surface
Aexter Alex 1911 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines No. 3 (Florence) Explosion
Vitus Armond 1912 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 10 Fall of stone
Batchford David 1913 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1 Fall of stone

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