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
Nacas Wentzell 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Sherider Wentzell 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Poloski 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
Hunter Wesley 1954 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Bump; 1 of 5 killed
Thorne Wesley 1959 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 16 Haulage
Reynolds Wesley 1958 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Terrific, devastating bump
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
Andrews Wilfred 1913 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 6 Fall of stone
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
Atwood Wilfred 1969 Cape Breton County DEVCO No. 12 Caught on cutting drum of Anderton Shearer
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
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
Fanning Willard 1943 Pictou County Albion Fall of coal from face
Carter Willard 1891 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 & No. 2 Gas and coal dust explosion
Hurley William 1913 Cumberland Lawson Tube of boiler burst
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
MacKenzie William 1903 Pictou County Albion Jumped from moving train in mine yard
Smith William 1958 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Terrific, devastating bump
Carrigan William 1891 Cumberland Springhill No. 1 & No. 2 Gas and coal dust explosion
Cyr William 1920 Pictou County Drummond No. 5 (Intercolonial No. 5) Run over by an empty box
Murdock William 1880 Pictou County Foord pit Devastating methane explosion
Lowther William 1900 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Leg broken in fall of stone at working face
Large William 1942 Cape Breton County Princess Fall of stone
Willis William 1899 Cape Breton County Sydney Mines (Princess) Fall of roof stone whilst driving
Cargig William 1900 Cumberland Springhill No. 3 Fell on pick handles
Power William 1920 Pictou County Allan Shaft Fall of coal
Hubert William 1940 Pictou County Drummond mine (Intercolonial) Caught between 2 rail cars on surface
Jones William 1956 Cumberland Springhill No. 4 On bankhead, Electricity-fired coal dust explosion
Gadd William 1917 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 12 Methane and blasting powder explosion
Blake William 1952 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 20 Methane explosion; 1 of 7 killed
Driscol or Driscoll William 1926 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 1B Slipped from car, wheels passed over him
Stevenson William 1958 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Terrific, devastating bump
Andrews William 1873 Cape Breton County Gowrie Fall of coal
McKenzie William 1908 Inverness Port Hood Explosion on No. 3 level south; 1 of 10 killed
Bonar William 1952 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 20 Methane explosion; 1 of 7 killed
Hyde William 1887 Pictou County Vale Caught beneath a roof fall while timbering; 1 of 2 killed
Myers William 1918 Pictou County Allan Shaft Devastating methane explosion
Desmond William 1952 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 20 Methane explosion; 1 of 7 killed
Ince William 1938 Pictou County Acadia No. 7 (Moss mine) Caught by fall of rock
Frew William 1906 Pictou County English Slopes (abandoned) Methane exploded when boy lit match while playing near old slope opening; 1 of 2 killed
Kelloway William 1965 Cape Breton County Dominion No. 20 Haulage: Struck by box
Forrest William 1944 Cumberland Springhill No. 2 Fall of stone

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