MineArchiveBenarty Pit firedamp explosion, 1899
Early on Monday 22 May 1899 firedamp exploded in a heading of Benarty Pit, near Kelty, where two men had been repairing a roadway overnight. Joseph Hamilton was killed outright and Michael Casey died within a day; the fireman James Morton, his leg broken, crawled a hundred yards towards safety.
| Date | 22 May 1899 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Benarty Colliery |
| Region | Fife |
| Primary type | Explosion |
| Associated types | Rescue |
| Fatalities | 2 (Two: Joseph Hamilton (28), miner, of Millar's Buildings, Kelty, killed outright; and Michael Casey (40), roadman, of Lochore, who died of his burns within twenty-four hours.) |
| Injuries | James Morton, the fireman, was burned and his left leg was broken. |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
Firedamp that had gathered over the weekend stoppage in a heading being driven to the outcrop was ignited, when Casey went to the top of the heading; whether he was carrying a naked light could not be established.
Contributing factors
Firedamp was rare in Fife and naked lights were customary even at Benarty, where gas appeared now and then; the men carried safety lamps but were working with naked lights. The new shaft had only one outlet, and the heading was being driven to make the statutory second one.
What happened
The Lochore and Capledrae Cannel Coal Company's new shaft, sunk about a year before beside the old day mine at the foot of Benarty Hill, had only one outlet, so three restricted shifts worked it while a heading was driven to the outcrop. Hamilton and Casey went down at ten on the Sunday night to repair the road to the heading, and the fireman Morton joined them about half past five. Morton warned Casey not to go to the face of the heading in case gas had gathered; Casey said there was none, and as he reached the top of the heading the gas exploded.
Hamilton was found ten yards from the seat of the explosion with few burns. Casey, badly burned, groped his way to the shaft and signalled until he was drawn up, his shirt burnt off his body.
Rescue & recovery
A rescue party including the oversman John Duncan went down and found Morton more than 100 yards from the explosion, having crawled there on hands and knees with a broken leg. The afterdamp kept them from Hamilton until the air cleared. Casey was taken to the Dunfermline Cottage Hospital.
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- An explosion of firedamp at Benarty Colliery on the morning of Monday 22 May 1899 killed Joseph Hamilton outright and badly injured Michael Cassey and the fireman James Morton. 1
- Hamilton was killed outright and Casey died within twenty-four hours; Morton was also very seriously injured. 2
- Morton warned Casey not to go to the face of the heading for fear of gas; Casey said there was none, and the explosion followed as he reached it. 2,1
- The shaft had only one outlet, so the men employed at one time were limited to twenty while a headway was driven to the outcrop for a second. 2
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Afterdamp (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s rescue and recovery: “…having crawled there on hands and knees with a broken leg. The afterdamp kept them from Hamilton until the air cleared. Casey was taken to…” - Firedamp (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the summary: “Early on Monday 22 May 1899 firedamp exploded in a heading of Benarty Pit, near Kelty, where two men had…” - Fireman (contextual relationship)
Named twice in this record, first in the summary: “…was killed outright and Michael Casey died within a day; the fireman James Morton, his leg broken, crawled a hundred yards towards safety.” - Naked Light (contextual relationship)
Named 3 times in this record, first in the cause: “…when Casey went to the top of the heading; whether he was carrying a naked light could not be established.” - Overman (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s rescue and recovery: “A rescue party including the oversman John Duncan went down and found Morton more than 100 yards from the…”
Photographs & further reading
This page doesn't try to reproduce everything — these are the best original sources found for this disaster.
The colliery's history page, with the Dunfermline Press report of the 1899 explosion and its managers and seams.
View sourceTranscribed newspaper reports, including the Glasgow Herald's account of the Benarty explosion of 22 May 1899.
View sourceSources
- (secondary) Accidents to 1914 - Scottish Mining Website — Scottish Mining Website
- (secondary) Fife Pits: Benarty Pit & Mines — Fife Pits
Record created: 30 September 2026 · Last researched: 1 October 2026