One tiny spark

It was sixty years ago today that an explosion ripped through a Fife pit A pit that produced 1,100 tons every day

Today marks the 60th anniversary of one of the worst pit disasters in Scotland.

The tight-knit Scottish mining community was plunged into sorrow when an explosion tore through a face at the Lindsay Colliery in Kelty, killing nine miners.

At the time the blast was described as one survivor as being “like an atomic bomb”.

An inquiry into the tragedy found the explosion had been caused by a worker striking a match to have an illegal smoke while working deep underground.

It ignited firedamp – a flammable gas found in mines – and the resultant coal dust explosion continued along the main gate, injuring another 11.

Nearly 180 men were working underground on the night of December 13-14 1957 when the explosion happened.

Around 29 men were in the Glassee seam at the pit – 13 in number three unit under the charge of deputy Robert Cook and overman William Masterton, both of whom were killed and 16 in number four unit, in the charge of deputy Robert Smith.

At around 3.30am preparations were being made for the day shift when disaster struck and the miners were hit by hot air and dirt and choking black smoke. There was no fire.

Men in the Mynheer development didn’t hear anything but were told something had happened.

Selflessly and in the great tradition of the mining fraternity, some of them immediately set off to see if they could rescue their comrades.

However, many were beaten back because of the fumes and dust. Their way was also blocked by twisted girders and burst water pipes. Production had started at the Lindsay in 1875.

The colliery had a vertical shaft and two surface miners.

When the explosion happened, 1,100 tons of coal was being extracted per day.

Two did manage to enter the return airway and reach the face, where they saw the bodies of three of their colleagues before they were forced back.

Others who rushed to the aid of their stricken friends were also beaten back by the terrible conditions.

Sadly one, Davy Scott, was overcome and became the ninth victim of the disaster. Gallantry medals were given to several rescuers and a mines rescue team found all nine men who had been unaccounted for.

And about 10 yards beyond a coal cutter they also discovered a whole unsmoked cigarette lying on the ground at the foot of a prop.

Further inspections the following day found spent matches and cigarette butts “in abundance”.

The inquiry dismissed electricity, shot firing and frictional sparking at the coal cutter as possible caused of the ignition.

The picture drawn from the evidence was of a small volume of firedamp was emitted and someone then struck a match, igniting the gas.

One survivor was James Hutchison from Cowdenbeath, who lost the tip of a finger and injured his knee.

He recounted in The Courier of December 16 1957 that the eight men who died were working at the top end of the section, while he was at the bottom.

“The blast was like an atomic bomb and we were all thrown to the ground. “It was almost impossible to breathe. “We crawled 300 yards to the haulage way, gasping and choking all the time.

“In the haulage way we met Dave Scott and some other men.

“He went in and had a look at the coal face and came back to tell us ‘You’ll need rescue men from Cowdenbeath’.

“It was some time later when I learned Dave was dead.”

Some 400 tons came from the Glassee seam where the disaster happened.

In total the pit employed 790 men below ground and 170 surface workers. It was worked in three shifts.

The pit was no stranger to accidents – in 1930 one man was killed in an ignition, while in 1955 two were injured in an ignition of firedamp.

It eventually closed in 1965 and was officially abandoned in 1967.