Renfrewshire Accidents

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

c1791

Skeleton Found In Coal Pit – On Saturday last, a skeleton was found in the old workings of a pit at Lochlibo, parish of Neilston, and was interred in the Neilston churchyard. It appears that about 52 years ago, the water of the loch broke into the pit, when seven men were unfortunately drowned. The working of the coal was in consequence abandoned, and it was only a few months ago that the aperture through which the water of the loch had entered the pit was closed up, and the water pumped out. In clearing the old workings of the pit, last week, the above skeleton was found, together with a pair of shoes and a few buttons. The skeleton is supposed to be that of a young man – one of the seven drowned 52 years ago. The remains of the other six unfortunate individuals are expected shortly to be discovered. [Glasgow Citizen, quoted in Scotsman 23 September 1843]

1 February 1804

Last Wednesday se'nnight, a coal pit in the neighbourhood of Renfrew, Scotland, was discovered to be on fire. Six unfortunate men were working underground at the time. It is uncertain whether the accident was occasioned by the explosion of gun-powder or foul air. The fire continued to burn for nearly two days, at which time the mouth of the pit was covered up, in expectation of smothering the flame. No person, on Saturday, had ventured to go down, to bring up the bodies of the poor men. [The Times 7 February 1804]

4 September 1804

On Tuesday se'ennight, one of the proprietors of the Renfrew colliery, descended with three others into a pit which had not been worked for some time, to ascertain whether it had been wrought out. After reaching the bottom, they had not proceeded far, when they smelt the firedamp, which in a short time went off, and drove them in different directions, singing their clothes and hair. Fortunately, however, they sustained no other injury. [Caledonian Mercury 15 September 1804]

5 January 1805

Last week, while three men were descending a coal pit, in a bucket, at Quarrelton, near Paisley, the rope broke, and they fell to the bottom. Two of them died instantly, the other about two hours after. [Caledonian Mercury 5 January 1805]

22 April 1805

A most dreadful accident happened on Monday morning, at the Hurlet coal work, near Paisley. About nine o'clock, while the men were at work, the inflammable air in the pit took fire. Four men were blown from the bottom of the pit into the air, their bodies torn in pieces, and the mangled parts scattered about in all directions. One of them was found at the distance of 300 yards from the mouth of the pit. There is every reason to fear that other thirteen, who were below, have all been killed. The father of one of the sufferers went down, in the hope of saving them, but was instantly suffocated by the foul air. A horse at the mouth of the pit was killed, and the whole machinery blown to atoms. [Caledonian Mercury 25 April 1805]

We are sorry to learn, that the thirteen colliers stated in our last to have been in the pit at Hurlet, when the explosion took place, have been all found dead. A subscription has been begun in Glasgow, for the relief of the families of the unfortunate sufferers. [Caledonian Mercury 27 April 1805]

The following burials are listed under April 22 1805 in OPR Abbey Parish (final figure is mortcloth money):
George Scot, Hurlet,Age 35, 3s 10d
John Gibie, Hurlet, Age 60, 2s 10d
Andrew son to John Gibie, Hurlet, Age 22, 1s 6d
John son to Andrew Gibbie, Hurlet, Age 25, 5s 10d
(illegible) Paton, son, Hurlet, Age 12, 0s 4d
(illegible) Morison, son, Hurlet, Age 13, 1s 4d

12 September 1821

On the morning of Wednesday last, a young man was descending a coal pit at New Nutshill [sic], near Hurlet, and on attempting to enter the first seam, or bed of coal, he failed, and unfortunately fell to the bottom, a depth of 20 fathoms, by which he was so much injured that he died in six hours afterwards. [Edinburgh Advertiser 18 September 1821]

18 January 1828

Dreadful Accident – On Friday the 18th curt., a dreadful accident occurred at Waterloo coal pit Hurlet. Three men, one of them an elderly person, the other two in the prime of life, were ascending the shaft in a bucket, when, in consequence of the rope giving way, they were precipitated to a depth of 20 fathoms, and killed on the spot. [Edinburgh Advertiser 29 January 1828]

17 August 1832

Explosion of Fire Damp and Loss of Lives – One of those appalling subterranean occurrences, which the invaluable invention of Sir Humphrey Davy has now happily rendered so rare among the coal-mines throughout the country, took place on Friday last at the little village of Nitshill, contiguous to Hurlet Works, near Glasgow, about 6 miles from town. The pit in which the circumstance happened is the property of Mr Dove and is known by the name of the Wellington Pit. The miners detected the indications of an accumulation of the vapour, and about 2 in the afternoon, they intimated the circumstance to the overseer, as a reason for not wishing to continue their labours any longer. The inhabitants of Barrhead and Neilston, both near, were resigning themselves to the mirth of their Reform Jubilee; and the overseer taxed the poor colliers with what would have amounted to nothing more than a desire to disinter themselves to seek an afternoon's refreshment in the light of day. He treated their fears with a bravado; and lighting a common lamp, ordered the miners to descend the shaft along with him, which they did, the number being five men and two boys. On reaching the vapour , it exploded with tremendous violence, shaking the earth for a great distance, and making the clusters of cottages tremble to the foundations. While many hurried to the scene of the accident, others, anticipating the worst, posted off on horseback for the assistance of medical men. The whole seven were soon raised to the mouth of the pit, all bearing dreadful marks of the shock. Medical practitioners were on the spot with all possible speed, and every exertion was made to alleviate the sufferers. Abraham Thomson, a young man, and John Watson, a boy, died that night, and little or no hope is entertained of the recovery of one or two others. The fate of Thomson was characterised by almost unparalleled horror. When extricated from the shaft insensible, his flesh was reduced to one unvaried pulpy mass, severing from the bones by its own weight. He was conveyed home to his disconsolate wife, to whom he had been united but six short months, when his body was wrapped in cotton, and otherwise treated. In the evening, while his wife was presenting him with a drink, in his frenzy he upset the candle, which in its fall ignited the cotton around his body, rendered doubly combustible by the presence of some medical emollient, and enveloped him in flames. The poor wretch's tortures were increased ten-fold. Stung to madness, he gathered his sinking energies into one fearful effort, sprung from his bed, darted to the door, and thence to the middle of the road, gave a convulsive leap from the ground, which prostrated him with violence, and in about three minutes – expired [Scottish Guardian – quoted in The Times 24 August 1832]

12 August 1839

We regret to state that on Monday afternoon a dreadful accident occurred at Househillwood Colliery, near Barrhead, belonging to Mr Galloway, Paisley, by which nine person (seven men and two boys) lost their lives. The names of the sufferers are: John Hassan, Philip Hassan, John Gallacher, John Reilly, Robert Johnstone, Edward Doherty, James Leggatt, and two boys of the name of Campbell. A boy named Patrick O'Neill, has also received some very severe contusions on the head, but not such, we believe, as to endanger his life; and one John Smith, who, although buried for a short period below the rubbish, has suffered no material injury. The occurrence took place about by about a foot and a half of “till” falling from the roof of one of the rooms in the pit upon the above mentioned individuals, who were all sitting near each other, conversing, it is supposed, with two of their friends who had come to see them there, both of whom have unfortunately lost their lives. We understand that this room, where the “till” fell, has not been wrought in the last four or five months, and, of course, no danger was apprehended, especially since one of the men killed and another of the miners had inspected it only a few minutes before the fatal occurrence took place. This melancholy accident has shed a deep gloom over Nitshill; although a number of coal pits are situated in the neighbourhood, no accident anything like this has occurred to a great number of years [Scotsman 17 August 1839]

The following burials are listed under August 13 1839 in OPR Abbey Parish:
Robert Johnston, Miner, residence, Nitshill, born, Glasgow, Accident at Coal Pit, age 26
John Reily, Miner, residence Nitshill, born Ireland, Accident at Coal Pit, age 20
John Hasson, Miner, residence Nitshill, born Abbey, Accident at Coal Pit, age 28
Philip Hasson, Miner, residence Nitshill, born Abbey, Accident at Coal Pit, age 27

17 November 1845

Explosion at the Victoria Pit. - In the early part of this week, one of the colliers at the Victoria Pit, at Househill, having, contrary to express orders, entered into a forbidden portion of this pit, an explosion of fire-damp ensued, occasioning the death of the unfortunate man, and of so serious a character, that the very stoops of the pit ignited, and the interior has continued to burn throughout the week. The unfortunate man was extricated with difficulty ; but he was one mass of charred flesh. The pit was then closed, and in all likelihood must for some time remain so, for the purpose of aiding the extinction of the fire.- Renfrewshire Advertiser. [Glasgow Herald 17 November 1845]

7 July 1852

Fatal Coal-Pit Accident at Nitshill.- The Victoria Pit here has just been the scene of another sad catastrophe, involving the loss of a very valuable life. The fatality resulted under the following circumstances :- In consequence of the late and former dreadful explosions in the under-ground spaces - making altogether, it is said, an area of about a hundred acres - the shaft of this pit, which, like a tremendous piece of ordnance, served as the tube for the fierce emission of the exploded elements, the wooden frame-work forming the sides of the shaft came of necessity to be in a very shattered condition. The raising of coal, therefore became suspended, and the damage done in the shaft was undergoing repair. For this purpose a scaffolding, with two or three men provided with tools suited to the work, was lowered down to the depth of the injured part. Mr. Tin, the underground manager was meanwhile pursuing his all-important duties below in regard to ventilation, &c., which he thoroughly understood, scientifically, as well as by long practical experience. About one o'clock p.m., on Wednesday, the manager signalled that he wished to ascend, when a cage was lowered for that purpose. Along with two men and a boy, he got on the cage, which was scarcely moved from the bottom, and yet sixty fathoms below the men at work upon the scaffold, in the other side of the shaft, when the sound as of something falling from above was heard by the parties. Mr Tin called out, "mind yourselves, lads, for I hear something falling," The men, more favoured by the circumstances of their position, did mind themselves but their kind monitor could not, and was the moment thereafter struck to death. The cages contain three hutches in the depth, the men being in one of the lower, and Mr. Tin on the top one. An iron instrument, used as a sort of gauge, had fallen from the scaffold above, through an opening in the mid-walling and, in a descent of sixty fathoms, had attained a momentum which destroyed at once the life of a highly valuable and excellent man. Mr. Tin has left a widow and family to mourn an irreparable loss. [Glasgow Herald 12 July 1852]
NB Mine Inspector's report gives this man's name as Joseph Finn

15 May 1858

Fatal Accident at Inkerman, Renfrewshire – On Saturday a fatal accident occurred at one of Messrs Merry & Cunninghames iron pits situated near Inkerman. It would appear that while a miner, named M'Murray, was engaged at his work, a large quantity of ironstone fell from the roof upon him. Several hours elapsed before the poor fellow was extricated, when it was found that he was crushed almost to a jelly. The body was removed to Millarston near Paisley, where the deceased resided. Several miners who were in the pit had a narrow escape when the ironstone fell [ Herald May 17 1858]

17 May 1858

Another Miner Killed - On Monday another fatal accident occurred to a miner in this district. The unfortunate man in this case was named Matthew Boyle. He was employed in an iron pit between Linwood and Johnstone, the property of Messrs Dixon & Co. , and was crushed to death by the falling of a portion of ironstone upon him. Deceased left a widow and one child. [Hamilton Advertiser May 22 1858]

NB No death certificate for this name has been located

25 July 1860

Serious Coal Pit Explosion near Johnstone – Yesterday morning, shortly after six o'clock a serious explosion took place in the Benstone coal Pit, situated near Johnstone, the property of Ludovic Houston Esq of Johnstone Castle. It would appear that shortly after six o'clock, Henry Alexander, a miner, accompanied by three boys named respectively George Hodgart, Johnstone Barr, and James Killin, was proceeding to his working in the pit. In passing a unused working, one of the lights of the party ignited the fire-damp, and the consequence was an immediate explosion. The whole party were severely burned, and the lad Hodgart was, in addition, so seriously injured, that he was removed to the Infirmary here. He had sustained, in addition to serious burns on the face and upper extremities, a dislocation of the left hip joint, a fracture of the left foreleg, and a severe compound fracture of the right foreleg. He remains at present in a very dangerous state. [Herald, July 26 1860]

29 December 1866

Fatal Pit Accident - About one o'clock on Saturday morning, Andrew Stewart, labourer, residing at Hurlet, was killed by falling down the shank of the coal, lime, and alum ore pit at Hurlet, occupied by Messrs John Wilson & Sons. The deceased was running an empty truck on to the cage, when he in some way or other ran it into the shank when the cage was at the bottom, and went headlong down with it. His skull was fractured and death was almost instantaneous. The deceased was 32 years of age, and a married man. [Glasgow Herald 31 December 1866]

29 August 1883

Paisley – Fatal Accident - William Stevenson, a miner, was killed yesterday afternoon by a large stone, weighing about three tons, falling upon him while he was engaged in blasting operations in the pit at Messrs Robert Brown & Son's fireclay works, Millarston. [Scotsman 30 August 1883]

3 September 1888

Accident in A Coal Pit – A miner named Walter Chalmers residing at Bishopton, Renfrewshire, was admitted to Paisley Infirmary on Monday suffering from severe injuries to the body and legs sustained through a stone weighing 2 cwt falling on him while taking out coal in Blackstoun Colliery. [Scotsman 5 September 1888]

21 March 1913

Fatal Mining Accident at Pollokshaws - A Pole named Peter Youfkufkif, twenty-nine years of age, residing at 92 Govan Street, Glasgow, was killed at Giffnock colliery, near Pollokshaws, last night. He was working in the mine, when a portion of the roof fell in, and he was suffocated. [Scotsman 22 March 1913]

7 August 1913

Fatal Accident at Giffnock Colliery - A fatal accident occurred yesterday afternoon at Giffnock colliery, near Pollokshaws. A young miner named Alexander Smith, who lived at 51 John Street, Glasgow, was working at the coal cutting machine when he was caught in the wheels and terribly mutilated, both legs being torn off. He was conveyed to the Victoria Infirmary, where he died shortly after admission. [Scotsman 8 August 1913]

11 September 1913

Three Men Injured By an Explosion.—Three men were injured by an explosion in Giffnock colliery, near Pollokshaws, last night. Two of them - George White a brusher, Pollokshaws, and William Marshall, coal cutting attendant, Surrey Street, Glasgow - were badly scorched on the hands and face, and had to be removed to the Victoria Infirmary. The third man - James M'Lachlan, Pollokshaws - who was burned about the arms, was able to proceed home. [Scotsman 12 September 1913]

16 November 1921

Fatal Scalding Accident at Giffnock colliery - At Giffnock colliery, in the eastern district of Renfrewshire , yesterday morning, a lad named William Cairns, employed as an ash wheeler, lost his life. While he was engaged at his work a plate of one of the. boilers burst, and the escaping steam scalded him to death. The lad was the son of Thomas Cairns, Coustonholm Road, Pollokshaws, the checkweighman at the colliery.[Scotsman 17 November 1921]

6 October 1922

Man Killed at Giffnock Colliery - A fatal accident occurred in Giffnock colliery yesterday afternoon, to a miner named Duncan M'Ewan, who resided at 28 Rosendale Road, Pollokshaws. He was engaged at his work when a stone weighing about half a ton fell upon him. [Scotsman 7 October 1922]