This monument is the oldest and tallest
outside of a cemetery in Nova Scotia.
Officially unveiled 22 October 1891
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Links to Relevant Websiteshttp://www.rootsweb.com/~nspictou/minewest.htm The Drummond Colliery Disaster 1873 Newspaper clipping, 17 May 1873 http://www.rootsweb.com/~nspictou/mine_drum_pw.htm |
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Drummond Colliery Explosion 13 May 1873
Nova Scotia Department of Mines Report http://www.mininghistory.ns.ca/nsdm/dm187306.htm ... I arrived at the Drummond Colliery about 2p.m. on the 13th inst. and found dense volumes of smoke issuing from the natural exits of the mine, precluding the possibility of saving life by means of those exits. Hearing that cries for help had been heard from the pumping pit, Mr. Hudson and I went there. On our arrival we found one man, (James Dunstan) being hauled up in a bucket by manual power. After which, other two were drawn up. Then four volunteers descended to prepare the way for larger gangs of men to search for any who might yet be alive in the mine. Mr. Hudson and I had determined to explore the pit with the hopes of saving life, and were waiting for our safety lamps and the report of the volunteer Burns as to the state of the bottom of the pit, when, as Burns was being drawn up, one of the most terrific explosions I have ever seen took place casting up the man and the bucket and overthrowing the gin and parts about the pit. The plan of the workings which we were studying at the time, was torn in our hands by the falling debris. After witnessing this explosion and the subsequent ones, I became convinced that every soul in the mine was lost, and to pursue further investigation in the mine was utterly useless. I then consulted with the other mining engineers present, as to the best and quickest mode of recovering the bodies, extinguishing the fire, and saving property. We, with one consent, determined to inundate the mine, which we attempted to accomplish by diverting the neighbouring brooks and applying every available volume of water. After further consultation, it was determined, that the most effectual means of checking the fire, was by closing all the downcast approaches to the mine which carried air to the flames. This we commenced to do after telegraphing to the Government Inspector of Mines for his authority... "overthrowing the gin" — "gin" means engine, a word that then was used as a general term meaning any kind of machine. Here, "overthrowing the gin" means the hoist or winch was severely damaged. |
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Historical Images of Westville A superb online collection of 92 historical scenes of Westville, mostly old postcards, including a dozen views of the Drummond Colliery. http://www.westville.ca/postcard/ Westville http://www.tourismpictoucounty.com/pages/westville.html Photograph: Drummond Colliery, Westville http://www.cambriapublishing.com/gallery/mines/westville1.html Photograph: Pit pony and miner in a mine in Nova Scotia, August 1946 The last working pit pony was brought out of the Drummond Coal Company colliery at Westville, Nova Scotia, in 1978. http://www.archives.ca/05/0516/05_man_made/display/05160508_e.html Coal in Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, 1995 http://www.gov.ns.ca/natr/meb/is/is08.htm |
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