Fact #132101
When:
Short story:
The last and worst of three disasters, an underground earthquake, strikes the Springhill coal mine in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, Canada, killing 75 miners and devastating the town. The incident will inspire Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger to write the song Springhill Mining Disaster, which will be recorded by Martin Carthy, The Dubliners, Peter, Paul And Mary, Julie Felix, Barbara Dickson, U2 and others.
Full article:
Martin Carthy : Probably the most terrifying of industrial accidents is the mine disaster. In 1958 in Springhill, Nova Scotia, there was an accident in one of the deep pits. After being trapped underground for eight days, five of them without water, a handful of the miners were finally rescued. This ballad was written shortly afterwards by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger.
(Source : sleeve notes to the 1965 LP Martin Carthy)
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(Source : sleeve notes to the 1965 LP Martin Carthy)