Dumfriesshire Accidents

This section contains newspaper reports on accidents in Dumfriesshire. Please check the indexes in the Accidents Section for reports by the Inspector of Mines and accidents in other areas.

17 December 1844

Hawick - Shocking Accident - A melancholy accident occurred on Tuesday week at Rowanburn, one of the Duke of Buccleuch's coalpits , Canonbie. The particulars are briefly as follow :- John Scott , hind at Deanburnhaugh, on the estate of Hoscoat, having occasion to go to the coals, he was accompanied for the first time by his son, a lad about fifteen years of age. On reaching the pit, a little before daybreak , the young lad leaped from the cart, and being cold , it is supposed he was making for a fire which was blazing a little distance from where the carts halted, and not being aware that the mouth of the pit intervened, he ran headlong into the fearful chasm. Some persons who observed the direction the youth was going, called out to take care, but it was too late, he was already on the verge of the abyss , and his motion was too quick to be suddenly restrained; another instant , and he was a mangled corpse. The feelings of the parent who was thus so awfully deprived of a beloved son, may be conceived, but cannot be described. - Kelso Chronicle [Scotsman 21 December 1844]

21 August 1897

Fatal Accident At Sanquhar – Archibald Wilson, a fireman engaged at Gateside Colliery, Sanquhar, was instantaneously killed on Saturday by a fall of stone from the roof of the pit. [Scotsman 23 August 1897]

19 July 1913

Fatal accident at Kirkconnel - An accident occurred in Kirkconnel Collieries on Saturday at No. 4 Pit, when William Wright, miner (30), of Kellobank, was fatally injured, and another miner, Samuel Lock, received a slight hurt. The men were working together, and had fixed two shots. One shot went off, and, thinking the other had not been ignited, they went into the face. The shot went immediately off, and Wright was killed instantaneously. [Scotsman 21 July 1913]

10 June 1915

Fatal Colliery Explosion At Kirkconnel – A serious explosion of gas occurred in the Bankhead section of No 3 Fauld Head Colliery, Kirkconnel yesterday forenoon, whereby one miner - Duncan Brodie, aged 36 - was killed and another man - William Campbell Blair, aged 24 - was seriously burned. Another miner - William Grierson - was also burned about the face and arms, but his condition is not serious. Fortunately the other men in the section managed to make good their escape by way of the return air course. Brodie and Blair were natives of Lugar, and had been working in Kirkconnel a considerable time. [Scotsman 11 June 1915]

NB William Campbell Blair died 11 June 1915

22 February 1916

Fatal Colliery Accident at Sanquhar - Yesterday afternoon James Harris, miner, 132 High Street, Sanquhar, was killed in Gateside colliery, Sanquhar, the property of Sanquhar and Kirkconnel Collieries. He was engaged drawing chocks in a long wall section when a large stone fell from the roof, crushing him to the ground. Death was instantaneous. . He leaves a widow and five children. [Scotsman 23 February 1916]

5 July 1919

Fatal Mining accident at Sanquhar - By the full of a stone from the roof in the Tower Mine of Sanquhar and Kirkconnel Collieries, John M'Quot lost his life on Saturday, and J. Elliot and G. Robertson were injured. M'Quot was 21 years of age, and was married only a week ago. He served in the Army for four years. [Scotsman 8 July 1919]

2 March 1920

Sanquhar Miner Suffocated - William Murray, miner, who resided at Chawick Mill village, met his death yesterday from suffocation. He was working in the Tower Mine of the Sanquhar and Kirkconnel Collieries (Ltd.), and was overcome by the fumes from a round of shots which had been fired. He leaves a widow and four young children. [Scotsman 3 March 1920]

25 April 1921

Kirkconnel Miner Killed - William Gallacher (18) who resided with his parents in Back Street, Kirkconnel, was killed while engaged digging coal at an outcrop in East Side Glen. A large stone, estimated at 5 cwts., fell on the top of him and dislocated his neck. [Scotsman 26 April 1921]

16 October 1923

Miners Severely Burned at Sanquhar - Yesterday three miners, Peter Haddow (32), Thomas Crichton (18), and Robert Scott (15), all residing in Sanquhar, sustained severe injuries in the Connelbush section of Gateside Colliery, Sanquhar, through the ignition of blasting powder. They were in the act of repairing a wrecked rake of empty hutches, when it appears that either one of their lamps or a spark had ignited some powder, which caused it to explode. Haddow and Crichton were badly burned about the body, arms, and head. All three were conveyed to Dumfries Royal Infirmary. The powder which ignited was in sealed cans, but it is stated that probably one of them had been squeezed or burst by the wreck of the hutches. [Scotsman 17 October 1923]

NB Thomas Crichton, age 18, died 18th October 1923 in Dumfries Infirmary.

4 February 1924

Killed by a Falling Tree.—David Lorimer, a workman employed by the Sanquhar and Kirkconnel Collieries (Ltd.), was yesterday engaged cutting down a tree in the Pit Glen, Gateside, when part of it broke away, and, striking the man, killed him almost instantaneously. Lorimer was 44 years of age, and resided at Crawick Mill Village. He leaves a widow and eight of a family. [Scotsman 5 February 1924]

18 June 1925

Shot-Firing Accident at Kirkconnel - Yesterday afternoon, James Brown, Riverside , Kirkconnel, was seriously injured while engaged at the coal face in Fauldhead Colliery. He had charged a shot, which, apparently, hung fire, and after waiting some time he returned to the face, when the charge went off. He received the full force of the explosion, and suffered terrible injuries. His left hand was blown off, and his face and head were seriously injured. His condition is critical. [Scotsman 19 June 1925]

James Brown died 20 June 1925 in Dumfries Infirmary

30 August 1927

Young Miner Killed at Kirkconnel - A distressing accident occurred in Fauldhead Colliery, Kirkconnel, yesterday, whereby Andrew Burns, aged 19, who resided at Eliock Place, Kellobank, lost his life. He was employed as an underground haulage man, and while his haulage was in motion he got caught by the rope, was whirled round the drum, and sustained a fractured skull, besides terrible body injuries. He died on the way to the surface. [Scotsman 31 August 1927]

17 November 1927

Sanquhar Colliery Accident - An alarming accident occurred yesterday afternoon at a new drift which had just been completed to ventilate a section of Gateside Colliery, Sanquhar. The drift is exceptionally steep, and the entrance is close to Crawick Mill village. Four men were working down that incline, and the colliery manager, Mr M'Naughton was along with them. Suddenly a hutch loaded with bricks dashed down on top of the men without warning, and Jas. M'Arthur, who resides at Crawick Mill, received the full force of the impact. He was conveyed to Dumfries Infirmary, suffering from a fractured skull, and is in a critical condition. The manager was also injured but not so seriously, and the others, who had a fortunate escape, suffer from shock. [Scotsman 18 November 1927]

The Sanquhar Mining Accident - James M'Arthur (47), one of the injured men in the accident at Gateside Colliery, Sanquhar, on Thursday afternoon, has died in Dumfries Infirmary. Mr Macnaughton, the manager, is more seriously injured than was at first thought. James Parks, the builder, sustained a severe bruise on the left breast, and only one man of the four escaped serious injury—viz. Robert Graham, builder. The men were engaged building an arch in a newly constructed air shaft which dips to the extent of three feet in four, and they were struck by a loaded hutch. [Scotsman 19 November 1927]

10 December 1927

Mining Fatality at Kirkconnel – In No 3 Fauldhead Colliery, Kirkconnel, on Saturday, Peter Earle (50), a widower, who resided at Kingsway, was killed instantaneously. Deceased was engaged in repair work when, without warning, a stone weighing almost three tons fell from the roof and crushed him. The stone was one known among miners as "potlids," much dreaded because of their deceptive ring when being tested. In the same colliery Adam Lorimer, Kellsbank, was crushed between a rake of hutches and sustained injuries on the legs. Charles Wilson, minor, Kelloholm, also sustained injuries to his hand. All those accidents occurred about the same time, but in different parts of the colliery. [Scotsman 12 December 1927]

17 October 1929

Miner Killed At Sanquhar - A distressing fatality, occurred in the Connelbush section of Gateside colliery, Sanquhar, yesterday, resulting in the death of James Boyd, aged 45, a miner, who resided at Kelloholm, Kirkconnel . He was engaged along with another miner, James Carnochan, in filling a hutch at the coal face, when without warning, a fall of stone came away from the roof. Boyd received the full force of the fall on his head, and sustained terrible injuries from which he died immediately. Fortunately, Carnochan escaped without injury. [Scotsman 18 October 1929]

5 April 1930

Crushed By Stone – Two Miners Killed At Kirkconnel After Giving Warning - In the early hours of Saturday two men, David Little (49), residing at 22 Colliery Buildings, Kirkconnel , and Charles Wood (40), of 8 M'Connel Street, Kelloholm, met a terrible death through being crushed by a gigantic rock which fell without any warning on top of them. Two pit surveyors who stood alongside the unfortunate men a few seconds before the tragedy occurred had a miraculous escape from the same fate. The two miners were working on night shift, and were engaged in "brushing " the roof of a main haulage road in number 3 pit, Fauldhouse Collieries , Kirkconnel, when they noticed a huge stone which appeared to them to be in danger of falling. While they were making an examination two surveyors came along the road. The miners called the latter's attention to the rock and advised them not to pass under it, but rather to take a side passage which would lead them back on to the main road on the other side of the stone some 20 yards ahead. The surveyors, fortunately, took the advice and thereby escaped the terrible fate which overtook the very men who had given them the warning. As they emerged from this side passage a moment or so after leaving Little and Wood they were struck dumb with horror to observe that the rock about which they had been warned had actually fallen. It had made no noise in doing so, and the unfortunate men were lying beneath it, having been killed instantaneously. It was obvious from their positions that they had been in the act of propping up the stone with wooden poles when the accident occurred. Both were terribly mutilated, as the weight of the rock was estimated at over three tons, and measured some 14 feet in length. Directly the surveyors realised what had happened, they raised the alarm, and men came hurrying from their work nearby, among them being the mate of the dead miners who had gone to the "road end" to ascertain the time. It was with great difficulty that Little and Wood were extricated, and it was obvious to their fellow workers that they had been killed outright. Their bodies were carried to the ambulance room in the colliery offices, and later taken to their respective homes. . Both men were married, and leave widows and families. [Scotsman 7 April 1930]

2 September 1930

Sanquhar Miner Injured - Robert Lorimer (aged 21), a miner, residing in Crawick village, sustained serious head injuries in Gateside Colliery, Sanquhar, yesterday afternoon. He was engaged near the coal face when a large stone weighing 15 cwts. broke away from the roof, and part of it struck him on the head and arms. He was conveyed to Dumfries Infirmary, and his condition was last night stated to be serious [Scotsman 3 September 1930]

NB Robert Lorimer died 2 September 1930 in Dumfries Infirmary

27 July 1931

Kirkconnel Colliery Fatality - Yesterday afternoon a distressing fatality occurred in No. 1 Fauldhead Colliery, Kirkconnel, whereby Robert Stewart, aged 60 who resided in Main Street, was killed by a fall of stone from the roof. He was engaged as a repairer, and was working on the haulage road in the Laggery Mine, when the stone came away, and. striking him on thei head, crushed him against a loaded hutch. Death was instantaneous. After the accident the miners ceased work for the day. [Scotsman 28 July 1931]

10 November 1931

Miner Crushed By The Pit Cage - When the miners in Fauldhead Colliery, Kirkconnel , were about to ascend the pit yesterday afternoon, a painful sensation was created in the pit-bottom when a rake of hutches came rushing in, having run away. A man named Cunningham miner,Kellaholm, was among the crowd, and he dashed under the shaft. A cage was descending at the time conveying sixteen men for the afternoon shift, and Cunningham was caught. Someone touched the bell in a frantic effort to stop the cage. Its speed slackened, but it gripped him, and when extricated it was discovered that he was alive, having had a miraculous escape. Hopes are entertained of his recovery. [Scotsman 11 November 1931]

2 May 1932

Fatal Pit Accident At Kirkconnel - A distressing fatality occurred in No. 1 Fauldhead Colliery. Kirkconnel, yesterday afternoon, when James Duncan, miner, 28 years of age, who resided at Kellobank, ,was killed at the coal face. He was loading a hutch with coal when, without warning, a stone fell from the roof, struck him on the head, and killed him instantaneously. Duncan is survived by a widow and five young children. [Scotsman 3 May 1932]

5 October 1932

Fatal Colliery Accident At Kirkconnel - While engaged producing coal in Fauldhead Colliery , Kirkconnel, yesterday, Charles Ferguson (53), who resided at Kingsway, was struck on the head by a falling stone and killed instantaneously. He was a prominent junior footballer. His brother William plays half-back for Chelsea; another brother is the left winger of Ayr United, and another brother, James, formerly played for Chelsea and Queen's Park Rangers. [Scotsman 6 October 1932]

26 November 1932

Kirkconnel Miner Dies In Pit - Joseph Stitt, a well-known Kirkconnel resident, met his death under tragic circumstances in Fauldhead Colliery on Saturday. He was engaged at the coal face with his workmate, William Kyle, and the latter had occasion to go to the lye to secure an empty hutch. On returning he found Stitt lying prostrate on tho ground, and on examination discovered that he was dead. Death was later pronounced to be due to- heart failure. Deceased leaves a widow and four young children. [Scotsman 28 November 1932]

25 September 1934

Kirkconnel Pit Fatality - While engaged at the coal face at No. 1 Fauldhead Colliery, Kirkconnel, yesterday afternoon, James Dargavel (50), who resided at Kirkconnel, was buried by a fall of stone which broke away without warning. He sustained severe internal injuries, and after receiving medical attention, was conveyed to Dumfries Royal Infirmary in a critical condition. He succumbed to his injuries about 8 o'clock last night. [Scotsman 26 September 1934]

Court Appreciation of Effort To Save Miner - At the close of a fatal accident inquiry at Dumfries yesterday, before Sheriff Johnston and a jury, into the death of James Dargavel, a miner, of 82 Main Street, Kirkconnel, who was killed by a fall of stone in the pit at Kirkconnel, Mr David Robertson, miners' agent, expressed to the jury the appreciation of the community of the efforts of David Menzies, Eliock Place, Sanquhar, and J. P. Kyle, of 24 St Conal's Square, Kirkconnel, who tried to save Dargavel's life. The jury returned a formal verdict, expressed their appreciation of the efforts made by the two men, and requested that the jury fees should be handed to them as a token of appreciation. [Scotsman 11 October 1934]

11 April 1935

Kirkconnel Miners Idle Through Misunderstanding - The whole of the morning shift of miners employed at Fauldhead Collieries, Kirkconnel , were idle yesterday in unusual circumstances. Nearly eight hundred men are employed, and they proceeded to their work as usual, but when they were congregated at the pithead a story got abroad that a fatality had occurred during the night, It was seen that something was amiss, and the old mining custom of every man ceasing work when a comrade is fatally injured is still recognised. The men accordingly left the colliery and returned to their homes, only to learn afterwards that while a young miner had been injured nothing of a serious nature had occurred. This lad, John Gilchrist (21), Nithside Cottages, sustained body bruises through a steel prop falling on him. The loss of the day's output seriously handicapped the management, because the demand for coal is exceptionally good. The loss was partially recovered by many men going out on the afternoon shift. [Scotsman 12 April 1935]

28 May 1935

Fatality At A Sanquhar Colliery - James Elliot; aged 37, who resided at Anderson Street, Kelloholm, was killed in an accident at Gateside Pit, Sanquhar, yesterday. He was employed as an engineer at the pit, and was repairing the dross elevator. The chain which carries the dross buckets slipped and crashed into the dross hole, taking Elliot with it. His neck was fractured, and death was instantaneous. He leaves a widow and two young children. [Scotsman 29 May 1935]

11 June 1935

Kirkconnel Miner Killed - Robert Allan, a young haulageman, employed at Fauldhead Colliery, Kirkconnel, died yesterday in tragic circumstances. He was on the haulage road by himself, and was jammed between a rake of hutches and a standing tree. On being discovered, it was found that his neck was broken, and he died before reaching the surface. He was 22 years of age,and unmarried. All the men in the colliery ceased work after the accident. [Scotsman 12 June 1935]

18 June 1935

Kirkconnel Miner Killed - While engaged on repair work in No. 1 Fauldhead Colliery, Kirkconnel, yesterday, Henry M'Ghee, aged 33, who resided at New Street was fatally injured by a fall of stone. His neck was broken, and he sustained other body injuries. This is the second fatal accident in Fauldhead Colliery within a week, and the employees followed their usual custom of returning home as a token of respect for their unfortunate comrade. [Scotsman 19 June 1935]

8 October 1935

Kirkconnel Colliery Fatality - James Walker (25), who resided at 7 Polveoch Terrace, Kirkconnel, was fatally injured by a fall of stone in No. 1 Fauldhead Colliery, Kirkconnel. Walker had left his working place to take a meal, and on returning for his coat was crushed by a large stone. He sustained severe injuries, and died an hour after being admitted to Dumfries Infirmary. [Scotsman 9 October 1935]

11 October 1935

Fatal Accident in Sanquhar Pit - Alan Macfadzean, aged 33, was killed by a roof fall in the Whitehill Section of Gateside pit, Sanquhar, yesterday. He had fired his last shot for the day and was returning to the face to fill his last hutch of coal when a stone fell and struck him. Death was instantaneous. He leaves a widow and three young children. [Scotsman 12 October 1935]

6 March 1936

Miner's Fatal Seizure - James Gray (62), who resided at 6 Riverside Terrace, Kirkconnel, had a seizure at Fauldhead Colliery yesterday morning, and died at his home later in the day. Deceased, a well-known figure in Kirkconnel, was one of the founders of the Trade Union movement in the district He was a former member of the old Kirkconnel Parish Council and of the Kirkconnel School Management Committee. [Scotsman 7 March 1936]

23 June 1936

Kirkconnel Miner Killed - Peter Black (17), miner, who resided with his parents at 3 New Buildings, Kirkconnel, was fatally injured by a fall of stone from the roof at No. 3 Fauldhead Colliery, Kirkconnel, last night. Along with Robert Queen, a workmate. Black was employed in the Kello Mine section of the pit, working on the haulage. He left his workmate to go along the haulage road, and when he failed to return. Queen went in search of him and discovered him lying on the main haulage road underneath a large stone. He at once summoned assistance, but it was found that the youth was dead. [Scotsman 24 June 1936]

31 August 1936

Pit Fatality At Kirkconnel - Thomas Parker (69), who resided at 67 Kingsway, Kellobank, near Sanquhar, was instantaneously killed in Fauldhead Colliery, Kirkconnel, yesterday afternoon, by a large stone which fell from the roof of the roadway where he was at work. Deceased is survived by his widow and a grown-up family of six. He served during the war with the 6th Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, and was awarded the Military Medal. He was well known in Junior football circles, being attached to Kello Rovers. [Scotsman 1 September 1936]

19 June 1937

At Gateside Colliery, Sanquhar on Saturday forenoon, John Thirlwell, aged 26, who resided at Church Road, Sanquhar, was fatally injured by a fall of stone. He was working in Whitehill section of the colliery, at the coalface, and a large stone fell from the roof and knocked him to the ground. His neck was broken, and he died within a few minutes. The men employed at the colliery are to remain idle to-day as a mark of respect to their late comrade. [Scotsman 21 June 1937]