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 47 of 50 pages (2497 entries).

Surname Given Name(s)sort descending Year County Mine Cause
MacLeod Wellington 1921 Pictou County Albion Suffocated by methane under coal fall
Stephens Wendall 1928 Cape Breton County Dominion 1A Caught in conveyor in boiler room
Poloski Wentzell 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Nacas Wentzell 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Sherider Wentzell 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Schima or Schimo Wenzel 1917 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 12 Methane and blasting powder explosion
Reynolds Wesley 1958 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Terrific, devastating bump
Thorne Wesley 1959 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 16 Haulage
Hunter Wesley 1954 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Bump; 1 of 5 killed
Hunter Whylie or Wylie 1958 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Terrific, devastating bump
Hayman Wilbert 1921 Pictou County McGregor Fall of coal
McDonald Wilfred 1952 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 18 Haulage, surface
White Wilfred 1930 Cumberland Victoria No. 2 Gas explosion; 1 of 7 killed
Seward Wilfred 1961 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 26 Haulage
Theriault Wilfred 1916 Cape Breton County Sydney No. 4 (Scotia) Killed by shot blowing through pillar
Andrews Wilfred 1913 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 6 Fall of stone
Horne Wilfred 1942 Pictou County Drummond No. 5 (Intercolonial No. 5) Fall of stone
Atwood Wilfred 1969 Cape Breton County DEVCO No. 12 Caught on cutting drum of Anderton Shearer
Stewart Wilkie 1903 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines Colliery; Nova Scotia Steel & Coal Tally boy, age 14; jammed between tub and tipple at pit head
Carter Willard 1891 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 & No. 2 Gas and coal dust explosion
Fanning Willard 1943 Pictou County Albion Fall of coal from face
Stevens William 1910 Cumberland Chignecto Explosion
Spencer William 1897 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1 Burned by compressed powder
Paterson William 1912 Cape Breton County Princess Fall of coal
Parsons William 1917 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 12 Methane and blasting powder explosion
Morrison William 1913 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 8 Struck by box
Burke William 1930 Cumberland Victoria No. 2 Gas explosion; 1 of 7 killed
McLellan William 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Turnbull William 1958 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Terrific, devastating bump
McNamara William 1877 Cape Breton County Lingan Explosion of boiler; 1 of 3 killed
McLutchy William 1890 Cape Breton County Reserve Fall of stone from roof, died 5 weeks later
Hall William 1937 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 5 Run over by full box
Burke William 1866 Cape Breton County Caledonia Fall of picks in shaft
Wright William 1933 Pictou County Allan Shaft Asphixiated by methane gas
Blake William 1952 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 20 Methane explosion; 1 of 7 killed
McLeod William 1952 Pictou County McGregor Methane explosion (localized); 1 of 19 killed
Gillespie William 1913 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Caught between box at 4700 bottom
Muller William 1912 Pictou County Allan Shaft Fall of top coal at face of pillar
McSephney William 1955 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Killed by haulage
Hamilton William 1950 Pictou County Albion Fall of coal
Cann William 1942 Cape Breton County Princess Struck by trip
Bonar William 1952 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 20 Methane explosion; 1 of 7 killed
Colburn William 1910 Pictou County Albion Fall of coal
McDonald William 1887 Cumberland Springhill Fall of coal from face
Desmond William 1952 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 20 Methane explosion; 1 of 7 killed
Kelloway William 1965 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 20 Haulage: Struck by box
Lettuce William 1958 Cape Breton County Tomson Explosion
Whittle William 1956 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Fall of stone
Hannaham or Hanrahan William 1883 Pictou County Vale Drawbar broke, crash of runaway slope rake
Turnbull William 1873 Pictou County Vale Under a falling derrick

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