MineArchiveBlairadam Colliery roof fall, 1908
At about four in the morning of 13 February 1908, in No. 2 pit of Blairadam Colliery on the west side of Kelty, at least twelve yards of a hard freestone roof fell without warning onto an electric coal-cutting machine in the Dunfermline Splint seam. Its machineman and two assistants were killed. The pit had been idle the day before, and only six men were below.
| Date | 13 February 1908 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Blairadam Colliery |
| Region | Fife |
| Type | Collapse / Roof Fall |
| Fatalities | 3 (3: Joseph M'Callum, machineman (50 in the Scotsman, 30 in NMRS), and his assistants Daniel Cairney (31) and Robert Park (24).) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A long stretch of the freestone roof, about three feet thick and said to be the hardest of its kind, fell suddenly over the face where the coal-cutter was working; the cause was a mystery to the men who examined it.
What happened
Two brushers on the level road heard what sounded like a heavy fall a few minutes after four. With the pit inspector they went along the section and found the machine silent and the face in darkness; beyond the fallen roof only the head and shoulders of Daniel Cairney could be seen, and all three men were dead, suffocation having contributed.
Rescue & recovery
Relief work began at once to recover the bodies from under the fall.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- Joseph M'Callum, the machineman, was 50. (disputed) 1
- Joseph McCallum, the machineman, was 30. (disputed) 3
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- Early on 13 February 1908 a fall of roof in No. 2 pit, Blairadam Colliery, Kelty, killed three men at a coal-cutting machine. 1,2,3
- At least twelve yards of roof, about three feet thick, fell. 1
- The freestone roof was said to be the hardest of its kind and almost impervious to an ordinary tool. 1
- Joseph M'Callum, the machineman, was 50. (disputed) 1
- Joseph McCallum, the machineman, was 30. (disputed) 3
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Coal Cutter (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s cause: “…to be the hardest of its kind, fell suddenly over the face where the coal-cutter was working; the cause was a mystery to the men who examined it.” - Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…four in the morning of 13 February 1908, in No. 2 pit of Blairadam Colliery on the west side of Kelty, at least twelve yards of a hard freestone…” - Level (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “Two brushers on the level road heard what sounded like a heavy fall a few minutes after four.…” - Ripping (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s narrative: “Two brushers on the level road heard what sounded like a heavy fall a few minutes…”
Sources
- (secondary) Accidents 1901-1914 (Scottish Mining Website) — Scottish Mining Website
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Blairadam, No.2 Pit, 1908 (Cairney) — Northern Mine Research Society
- (primary) NMRS Coal Mining Accidents and Deaths: Blairadam, No.2 Pit, 1908 (McCallum) — Northern Mine Research Society
Record created: 13 October 2026 · Last researched: 13 October 2026