Glen Alton Probe; Mine Manager’s Widow’s Evidence

Northern Advocate, 29 November 1939, Page 6

Glen Alton Probe; Mine Manager’s Widow’s Evidence

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”] HUNTLY, This Day.

The Royal Commission set up to inquire into the Glen Alton Mine tragedy on September 24, when 11 men lost their lives, heard five of the .32 witnesses called up before them. The chariman (Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M.) has associated with him Messrs J. C. Brown, J. Dowgray, T. O. Bishop and A. McLagan. A dramatic turn in the proceedings was given with the testimony of Mrs Mary Jane Blackburn, wife of the mine manager, who was among the dead. Mrs Blackburn said her husband left homo at about 9 a.m. on Sunday. September 24, and said ho was “just going to have a look round the mine, but wouldn't be very long.”

Message From Husband

Some time later she heard a telephone mssage from her husband, who said “For God's sake go over and get Thomas (the mine engineer) and get him to start the fan at once, as there are two deputies lost in the mine and I can't find them.”

She went to Thomas’ house and gave his son the mesage. "I went home and sat by the phone,” she continued.

“John. Mr Thomas’ son, went straight away to find his father.

“I had told him there was something serious at the mine.

“The next message I got was from Mr Cole. “He said: ‘Start fan.’ “There was a distinct break between each word.

"Then he said: ‘Carbon monoxide gas.’

Said He Had Started Fan

‘T went over to the railway and called Mr Thomas, who was just leaving with Mr Marshall. “I told Mr Thomas I had a message from Mr Cole that there was carbon monoxide in the mine, and he said he had started the fan.”

Mr Taylor: Did you go back to the telephone again? Mrs Blackburn: Yes. I stood there and I hadn’ been there long before I had a message from Mr Blackburn and he said—

Mrs Blackburn broke down and Mr Paterson adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes.

Last Message

Upon the resumption, Mr Taylor asked Mrs Blackburn what was the last message she received from her husband.

Mrs Blackburn: Ho said, ‘Have you got Watlie Cole out I am going back to get the others. My God it is awful.’ “That was the last I heard from him.

“I don’t know whether he heard me, because there was no answer. I just put the receiver up. In reply to a question from Mr Paterson as to a slight conflict between husband's first mossag and what she had said In the commission, Mrs Blackburn replied that, as the first statement was made immediately after the tragedy, she would saj r he said: “For God’s sake tell Thomas to get the fan going as there are men trapped in the mine.’’