A Rescue Officer Killed In A Colliery

Captain W. H. Ramsay, B.Sc., chief officer of the Northumberland and Durham Collieries Rescue Brigade, lost his life yesterday afternoon at Benwell Colliery, Newcastle, while experimenting with breathing apparatus in the mine.

The presence of bad air having been discovered, Captain Ramsay was invited to the colliery, and entered the mine accompanied by Superintendent Storey and a fireman named Francis, each equipped with breathing apparatus. A little while afterwards Superintendent Storey returned staggering and stated that captain Ramsay and Francis had been left behind. Assistance was hurried forward and the men were speedily reached, but Captain Ramsay was found to be dead. He was only 31 years of age and was unmarried, living with his mother at Jesmond. He served his apprenticeship with his father, the late Mr. J. A. Ramsay, who was a colliery manager, at Sherburn and Littletown collieries, and at Messrs. Joicey's Beamish Tanfield and West Pelton collieries. His science degree was obtained at the University of Durham. He had been assistant manager at West Pelton and Handen Hold Collieries for over three years, and was manager at South Tanfield from 1907 until the date of his appointment as chief officer of the Rescue Brigade in January, 1912.