Black Avalanche of New Cumnock

May 29 2009 by Lisa Boyle

IT HAPPENED almost 60 years ago.

But the Knockshinnoch pit disaster remains fresh in the memories of New Cumnock folk – and in mining communities throughout the country.

As the tragedy unfolded on a wet September evening in 1950, the world’s press descended on New Cumnock and a rescue bid was frantically pulled together.

Never has there been a pit disaster to compare in terms of human courage and human error with that which overwhelmed Knockshinnoch Castle Colliery that fateful night.

Black Avalanche was written by husband and wife team Mary and Arthur Selwood in 1960.

Now it has been re-released to remind a new generation what happened that night and make sure the 13 souls who lost their lives are never forgotten.

The book documents the events leading up to the disaster and how the greatest mine rescue in British history was executed.

After torrential rain saturated the East Ayrshire village, a field of peat collapsed and hurled a sea of liquid mud down a steep slope toward the pit bottom.

Six men near the shaft bottom escaped quickly, 116 were cut off from escape having scrambled to the safety of the West mine.

But 13 men were missing, their fate sealed.

Thousands of people descended on New Cumnock to help with the rescue operation and await news.

Remarkably, although they feared for their lives, the trapped men spent the following two days singing, reciting poetry, sleeping and praying.

Meanwhile, above the ground, a rescue plan was being prepared.

Bales of straw, and hay, trees and pit timber were hurtled into the giant crater in a desperate bid to stop moss, peat or water running into the giant hole and collapsing the land even more.

Salvus breathing apparatus came from all over the country to take to the trapped men, ensuring that the deadly firedamp gas which circled their only way out was passable.

The men were taken in the darkness, one by one, along a three mile line of rescuers back to their freedom and families.

The first man was brought out at 3.45pm on the Saturday afternoon, the last walked out at 1.30am on the Sunday morning.

A nightmare was over but a community – and an industry – was rocked to its very core.

John Dalziel, James Houston, Thomas Houston, William Howat, William Lee, James Love, John Murray, William McFarlane, John McLatchie, Samuel Rowan, John Smith, Daniel Strachan and John White did not survive the Black Avalanche but their names will never be forgotten.

*Black Avalanche, published by Amberley Books, is available now.