Pacific Coast Colliery – Doomed Miners' Day in Court (Part 3)

Of all the coal mining disasters in Vancouver Island’s history that of the Pacific Coast Coal Mine in South Wellington stands out on two counts.

First, that it was caused not by the usual suspects, gas, explosion or cave-in, but by flooding.

Second, that, for once in an industry that all but accepted dangerous workings conditions and their consequences as the cost of doing business, criminal charges were laid.

Someone had screwed up.

19 men had died.

Someone had to pay.

That’s next week in the Chronicles.

*        *        *        *        *