SPRINGHILL - “If things had gone differently my name would be right by Henry’s.”
It’s a sobering thought as Harold Brine motions to the cenotaphs naming the miners killed by their workplace in Springhill. More than 440 men. Some died alone as a matter of routine working beneath the soil, while larger groups were claimed in 1891, 1956 and 1958.
Brine was part of a group of 12 who were trapped almost 60 years ago when the earth heaved upwards in a phenomenon known as a bump. As rescuers refused to give up hope for six days before reaching Brine and his colleagues, and again three days after that when another seven were freed, the community was coming to terms with the loss of 75 men.
When Harold was asked to participate in this year’s Miners Memorial Day service, he said it was an honour.
“It’s great for memories. It’s fantastic to hold on to it,” Brine said.
That 60th anniversary, which will comes Oct. 23, saw resurgence in attendance at the Miners Memorial Day service this year. School children and Scouts were among the dignitaries and family members who came out on the anniversary of the death of William Davis in 1925. The father of nine, who previously worked in Springhill, was killed during a strike action outside New Waterford. Returning home from getting a bottle of milk, Davis was shot by company police when they fired into a crowd of protestors who opposed the mine company for cutting of access to the company store, electricity and water. His death became a symbol to miners, and June 11 was declared Davis Day, or Miners Memorial Day.
This years’ service saw the attendance of Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil and the three leading party candidates in the by-election for Cumberland South: Liberal nominee Scott Lockhart, the NDP’s Larry Duchesne and Progressive Conservative Tory Rushton.
Because of the toll mining had on the community, each year organizers prepare an honour roll of miners lost based on the year of their passing. This year miners who were killed in a year ending in the number eight were remembered and, being the anniversary year of a disaster, a total of 99 miners were remembered during the service, while all were remembered during the wreath laying.
Twitter: @ADNchris
