#cowdenbeath

SWORD LORD OF THE GOBLIN HORD

BLACK KNIGHT OF THE DWARVEN CAVERNS

On 26th August 1901 the Donibristle Mining Disaster happened in the Fife coalfield.

Two men David Campbell and Alexander Smith were following a coal seam and unfortunately they had tunnelled so much that they broke through to the underneath of a peat bog. At 1.40pm tons of peat slurry from Mossmorran Moss and adjoining workings flowed into the mine workings killing both men and another two men working in the lower levels. Six others were trapped and two rescue parties were formed - one party of four led by Thomas Rattray was never seen again.

The next day, rescuers lowered on ropes down a shaft succeeded in freeing 5 of the trapped men. While searching for the sixth man Alexander Bauld, two of these rescuers, John Jones and John Sheddon were trapped as the moss once more flowed in. These men were rescued on the 29th by Robert Law, miner, Cowdenbeath.

A memorial cairn was unveiled in 1991 in Cowdenbeath with the names of the men lost.

Thomas Rattray, 54, oversman David Campbell, 54, fireman Alexander Smith, 48 oncostman Geo. Herd Hutchison, 50, miner William Hynd, 52, pit bottomer Jas. Bowman McDonald, 32, incline bottomer Andrew Paterson, 40 ostler William Forsyth, 20 wheeler.

At the time there were numerous ballads written regarding the disaster, but this one has stood the test of time and was written by James R Murray of Cowdenbeath.

On the twenty-sixth of August, our fatal moss gave way. Although we did our level best, its course we couldn’t stay. Ten precious lives there were at stake,”Who’ll save them?” was the cry; “We’ll bring them to the surface, or along with them we’ll die.”

There was Rattery and McDonald, Hynd and Paterson. Too well they knew the danger and the risk they had to run. They never stopped to count the cost; “We’ll save them,”was the cry; “We’ll bring them to the surface or along with them we’ll die.”

They stepped upon the cage, they were ready for the fray. They all meant business as they belled themselves away. Soon they reached the bottom, far from the light of day, And went to search the workings, and Tom Rattery led the way.

They lost their lives, God help them. Ah, yes it was a fact, Someone put in a stopping and they never did get back. Was that not another blunder? My God, it was a sin. To put a stopping where they did, it closed our heroes in,

We never shall forget them, though they have lost their lives, So let us pay attention to their children and their wives. It simply is our duty now, and let us all beware. Their fathers died a noble death and left them in our care.

The cost of coal………..

https://bit.ly/3d6ZkDk

Hearts owner Ann Budge is continuing to speak to clubs about her reconstruction plans