George Norris Bertram
Role: Head surveyor
Date of birth: 07 Mar 1890
Date of death: 03 Jun 1917
Cause of death: Carbon monoxide poisoning
Age at death: 27
George Norris Bertram was the head surveyor at the No. 6 mine. He and four others were inspecting the mine when they died of carbon monoxide poisoning. Often a by-product of gas explosions, carbon monoxide is virtually undetectable until it is too late, making carbon monoxide detection devices essential to mine work. In the 19th and early 20th century canaries were sometimes used for this purpose. However, accidents such as the one that claimed the lives of George and his colleagues still occurred.
George was buried in the Cumberland cemetery in block 4-21, and the inscription on his grave reads: "In memory of George Norris Bertram b. Mar 7 1890 d. June 3 1917 Asleep with Jesus".