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 47 of 50 pages (2498 entries).

Surname Given Name(s)sort descending Year County Mine Cause
Conway Wayne Michael 1992 Pictou County Westray Devastating methane and coal dust explosion
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
Sherider Wentzell 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Poloski Wentzell 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Nacas 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
Theriault Wilfred 1916 Cape Breton County Sydney No. 4 (Scotia) Killed by shot blowing through pillar
White Wilfred 1930 Cumberland Victoria No. 2 Gas explosion; 1 of 7 killed
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
Andrews Wilfred 1913 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 6 Fall of stone
Seward Wilfred 1961 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 26 Haulage
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
Dixon William 1918 Cape Breton County Jubilee, Sydney Mines Runaway trip
Cann William 1942 Cape Breton County Princess Struck by trip
Lewis William 1880 Pictou County Foord pit Devastating methane explosion
Reid William 1929 Pictou County McGregor Struck on head by falling jackhammer; died 5 weeks later
Carroll William 1910 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1 Jammed between coal hoppers at surface
Mirtan William 1872 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Powder explosion
Spencer William 1897 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1 Burned by compressed powder
Whiteway William 1903 Cape Breton County Reserve Methane explosion No.5 S level, French slope; died from burns 3 days later
McNamara William 1877 Cape Breton County Lingan Explosion of boiler; 1 of 3 killed
Gillespie William 1913 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Caught between box at 4700 bottom
Aldrid William 1907 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess) Fatally injured while riding in empty trip
Hyde William 1891 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 & No. 2 Gas and coal dust explosion
Roach William 1861 Pictou County Bye pit Methane explosion
McLutchy William 1890 Cape Breton County Reserve Fall of stone from roof, died 5 weeks later
McSephney William 1955 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Killed by haulage
Burke William 1866 Cape Breton County Caledonia Fall of picks in shaft
Carmichael William 1891 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 & No. 2 Gas and coal dust explosion
O'Brien William 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Kent William 1891 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 & No. 2 Gas and coal dust explosion
Fletcher William 1883 Cumberland Springhill Killed by fracture of brake bolt
Whittle William 1956 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Fall of stone
Carrigan William 1891 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 & No. 2 Gas and coal dust explosion
Cooke William 1979 Cape Breton County DEVCO No. 26 Methane explosion, sparked by coal shearer hitting stone; 1 of 12 killed
MacIntosh William 1899 Pictou County Six-Foot Seam (became Acadia No.3) Caught, crushed by revolving drum on hoist
Vokey William 1934 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 2 Loose coal from face
Hutchinson William 1916 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 12 Killed by cage
Hendricken William 1873 Pictou County Vale Crushed by coal tubs
Peters William 1918 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 11 Killed by main drive-chain on bank, on surface

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