Mine rescue teams consisted of miners called Draegermen and were highly trained units in Cumberland area mines. Once a mine accident was reported, a team or teams of six men were sent to the scene. Their first stop was at the lamp house to check the number of metal discs left there by miners working that shift. After locating the area of the accident, they checked the gas, dust and safety of conditions. They used self-contained breathing equipment to then locate and remove any living miners. Because of their masks, all communication was done by hand and by bell or horn. Each member of the mine rescue team had a specific job to do. The captain was responsible for everything done in the rescue, while the number two man tested for gas using lamps or a canary that would collapse warning the men of dangerous air. Number three and number four men would carry the stretcher while number five man was the vice-captain. The sixth man was usually left at the base of operations to send messages.

Speed was an essential part of mine rescue; both the miner and rescuer could run out of air at any given time. In the case of an explosion, ventilation of the shafts had to be done as quickly as possible. The mine rescue teams had to undergo many hours of training above ground before they were able to enter the mines. The team worked under 35 minute time limit to leave the surface, examine the mine, put out little fires, repair a bad roof, locate living men and bring them to the surface. Mine rescue competitions perfected the skills of the brave Draegermen.

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Copies of the following books used to research this article are available for use and/or purchase at the Cumberland Museum:


One Hundred Spirited Years: A History of Cumberland
D.E. Isenor, E.G. Stephens, D.E. Watson

The Friendly Port: A History of Union Bay 1880-1960
Janet Glover-Geidt

Cumberland Heritage: A Selected History of People, Buildings, Institutions & Sites 1888-1950
Jennifer Nell Barr

Voices from Bevan
Betty Annand

Land of Plenty: A History of the Comox District
D.E. Isenor, W.N. McInnis, E.G. Stephens, D.E. Watson