Protection Island mining disaster

Protection Island Mining Disaster

Date	September 10, 1918 (1918-09-10)
Location	Protection Island near Nanaimo British Columbia, Canada
Type	Mining accident
Cause	Hoising cable break, transport cab fall
Deaths	16

The Protection Island mining disaster killed 16 miners and occurred on Protection Island near Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. The disaster occurred at 7:10 a.m.^[1] on September 10, 1918 (1918-09-10) when the hoisting cable frayed on the cab that was lowering miners into the mine. Six other cabs of 16 miners each had preceded the cab which fell 300 feet (~100 m) into the mine. The bodies of the miners were mangled to the point where personal effects were used to identify the victims.^[2][3] It was later determined that salt water in the air had caused corrosion of the cable leading to the accident.^[1]

See also

• 1887 Nanaimo mine explosion
• List of coal mines and landmarks in the Nanaimo area

References

1. T.W. Paterson (2013-06-09). "Idyllic Protection Island belies a violent past".
2. "Sixteen Killed When Cage Falls In Nanaimo Mine". Manitoba Free Press. 2018-09-10.
3. "Open Collections".