Deceased Brethren
Samuel Hudson was a coal miner who died on 3 May 1887, aged 33, while attempting to rescue other miners following the Esplanade No. 1 coal mine explosion in Nanaimo. He was a member of Ashlar Lodge No. 3.
Samuel Hudson’s grave is in Bowen Road Cemetery.
Samuel Hudson grave, Bowen Road Cemetery
The GPS location of Brother Samuel Hudson’s grave is:
N 49⁰ 10.190′ W 123⁰ 57.285′
The inscription on the tombstone reads:
“ERECTED BY HIS MASONIC BRETHREN
In Memory of
Samuel Hudson
aged 37 years
Who died 3 May 1887
In [illegible] attempt to rescue Coal Miners
after the dreadful [illegible]
In No. 1 Shaft, Nanaimo”
We found this entry in the Ashlar Lodge No. 3 Minute Book on 3 August 1898:
“Bro. Hudson’s grave being in a neglected condition it was moved, seconded and carried that Bro. [illegible] see it attended to at the [illegible] of the Lodge….”
Here are some links to media stories and other information sources on the mine explosion in which Samuel Hudson died.
- Dictionary of Canadian Biography – Samuel H. Myers (note: Samuel Myers was a coal miner and union organizer who died in the Nanaimo mine explosion on 3 May 1887)
- Nanaimo News Bulletin, 1 May 2012
- List of the fatalities in Nanaimo coal mines 1874-1899. Note: PDF
The location of the 1887 Esplanade Mine explosion at Esplanade and Milton Street, in Nanaimo’s south end, where Samuel Hudson died is now marked with a commemorative display.
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