Misc. Lanarkshire Accidents 1891-1900

This section contains newspaper reports on selected accidents in miscellaneous areas of Lanarkshire between 1891 and 1900 inclusive. Please check the indexes in the Accidents Section for reports by the Inspector of Mines and accidents in other areas.

19 January 1892

Motherwell – Fatal Colliery Accident – On Tuesday a miner named Samuel M'Culley, 50, residing in Watsonville, met with an accident while at work in the main coal seam of No 4 Pit Watsonville Colliery. A mass of coal came away from the working face, breaking his right thigh and severely bruising the other. He was attended by Dr Smith and afterwards removed to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary where the poor fellow succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday evening. [Hamilton Advertiser 23 January 1892]

27 January 1892

Man Found Dead In A Coal-Pit - Miners going down the shaft to work at a coal-pit near Maryhill, Glasgow, yesterday morning found at the bottom, a depth of 50 feet, the dead body of a man almost entirely divested of clothing, which was torn off by the sides of the shaft in the fall. Several papers found in the pockets of his clothes appear to indicate that deceased is George M’Conachie, a manufacturer's agent in Jamaica Street, but the body still remains unidentified. Suicide is suspected, as the shaft was all night carefully guarded by fencing and the gates locked. [Aberdeen Journal 28 January 1892]

11 July 1892

Miner Killed At Carmyle - Yesterday a miner named David Liddell, belonging to Cambuslang, was killed in No. 1 pit, Carmyle. He had been working at the face when a large portion of the roof came away, and he was buried under the mass. When extricated he was quite dead. Deceased was twenty-nine years of age, and leaves a widow and three children. [Scotsman 13 July 1892]

13 April 1894

Fatal Accident to a Miner – About 5 pm on Friday, George Whitten, aged 18, miner, Main Street, Cambuslang, and employed at Westburn Colliery, while sliding down the shaft fell to the bottom, a distance of 51 feet, and was killed. His remains were interred in Westburn Cemetery on Monday, the funeral was largely attended by the workmen of Westburn Colliery and the members of the Baptist Church, his parents being adherents to that church. Much sympathy is being expressed in all classes of the community for his bereaved relatives. [Hamilton Advertiser 21 April 1894]

16 April 1894

Fatal Colliery Accident – On Monday, John and Robert Mullen (cousins), Half Way, were at work taking out stoops in the main coal of Gilbertfield Colliery, No 2, when the roof fell, and both men were buried in about 12 tons of debris. John was alive when help arrived, but died before he could be relieved. Robert, who had only entered on work a few hours before, was on being rescued, taken to the Royal Infirmary. The body of John was taken home to his young wife, to whom he was married at the New Year. [Hamilton Advertiser 21 April 1894]

25 April 1894

Carluke - Shocking Fatality - On Wednesday afternoon a youth named Robert Ruthven, 17 years of age, residing at Scoularhall, Carluke, met with a shocking death at No. 2 Pit, occupied by Mr Archibald Russell, Law. He was engaged on the pithead, and was running on a hutch thinking the cage was there, but it had been belled away with the result that he fell right down the shaft from the ell coal seam, a distance of about 100 fathoms, falling into the sump, and was knocked to pieces. [Glasgow Herald 27 April 1894]

7 May 1894

Fatal Mining Accident – Early yesterday morning Edward Smith, night foreman in Mount Vernon Colliery, was instantaneously killed by a fall of rock. The deceased, who was between 50 and 60 years of age, resided in Tollcross and had been for many years in the employment of Dunn Bros. [Scotsman 9 May 1894]

6 December 1894

Colliery Accident At Cambuslang – Yesterday afternoon an accident occurred at Messrs Dunn Brothers' Wellshot Colliery, Cambuslang, whereby Mr George Canning, manager, was killed. The engineman states that the fly wheel shaft in the engine house broke, and the loaded cage began to descend the shaft with a fearful velocity, the cage containing the empty hutch being drawn up at a corresponding rate of speed. The manager, who was in the engine house at the moment, escaped by a side door to the rear, and the engineman by the door leading to the front. The cage came up at great speed, and was carried over the pit frame by the force of the descending cage, and fell to the rear of the engine house. A moment later the engineman went round, when Mr Canning was found lying dead. [Scotsman 7 December 1894]

29 December 1894

Fatal Accident at Haywood – James Campbell, labourer, Townfoot, Forth, met with a fatal accident while working at No 4 pithead, Haywood. Campbell was engaged as a runner and was in the act of running an empty hutch on to the rise side of the cage, but by some misunderstanding the cage was away from the shuts, and Campbell pushed the hutch over, and fell with it to the bottom of the pit. No one saw the accident and it was not till the hutch had been removed at the bottom that the workmen knew there was a body under it. Campbell was a stranger in the district and his friends are unknown. [Scotsman 1 January 1895]

March 1895

Colliery Accident – Yesterday afternoon as a squad of four men were stemming a hole with compressed powder at the new pit being sunk by Messrs Dunn Brothers at Kirkmuirhill, Newton, Cambuslang, an explosion took place, and two men were seriously injured. Both men were removed to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and one of them is reported to be in a serious condition. [Scotsman 26 March 1895]

NB With the exception of the implied date of 25 March 1895, this article fits the circumstances of the accident to Alexander Bell, age 22 who died in the Royal Infirmary on 26 March, 5 days after being burned in an accident.

29 March 1895

Fatal Pit Accident - This morning a miner named Patrick M’Ginley, residing at Camp Rows, was crushed to death in the main coal seam of Broomside Colliery, belonging to the Wishaw Coal Company, by a fall of coal from the roof. Another miner, named Timothy Brannan, residing in Park Street, who was working alongside M’Ginley, had one of his legs broken, and sustained severe internal injuries. Dr M'Donald attended, and ordered Brannan's removal to the Infirmary in the ambulance waggon. M'Ginley, who was a married man, had only recently recovered from injuries received in the same pit some time ago. [Motherwell Times 29 March 1895]

9 July 1895

Fatal Accident Inquiries in Glasgow - The first case dealt with was the death of Quinton Lawrie, employed as a brusher in Stonelaw Colliery, Rutherglen, which occurred there on the night of the 9th inst. Evidence was led to show that he had overstrained himself in trying to replace a hutch, and the jury brought in a verdict that death was caused through rupture of an internal organ. [Scotsman 31 July 1895]

26 July 1895

Accident in a Giffnock Mine - Considerable alarm prevailed yesterday in the village of Giffnock, near Glasgow, a rumour having spread that four men were entombed in a mine in the district.. From inquiry it appears that four men view employed in one of the shafts of the Orchard pit, belonging to Mr Robert Borland, and that about three o'clock in the afternoon an accident took place near where they were working. A portion of the roof at the bottom of the shaft fell down into a furnace, and shortly afterwards dense volumes of smoke spread into the workings. Three of the men made a rapid exit, but the fourth man, William Reynolds, failed to escape. Up till eleven o'clock last night nothing had been heard of him, notwithstanding repeated endeavours to ascertain if he was safe, and it is feared in the district that the unfortunate man has been overcome by the smoke. [Scotsman 27 July 1895]

5 October 1895

A man named John Cain, a pit bottomer, met his death in No 11 pit, Longriggend Colliery, Eastfield, on Saturday night. He was crossing the plates at the pit bottom, when the cage came down upon him and crushed him to death. [Scotsman 8 October 1895]

10 October 1895

Fatal Colliery Accident - Yesterday an accident occurred at Gillhead pit, Law, which caused the death of a man named James Forrest twenty-six years of age. Forrest was engaged brushing at the dyke, and a prop having been removed, a large piece of projecting stone came away, and striking him on the left side of the head, killed him instantaneously. [Scotsman 11 October 1895]

3 February 1896

Pit Accident At Mount Vernon - A sad accident involving the loss of two lives, occurred early yesterday morning, at Kenmuir colliery, near Mount Vernon, a few miles beyond the eastern boundary of Glasgow. The pit, which is owned by Messrs Dunn Brothers, 183 West George Street, Glasgow, is a new one. It is situated about a quarter of a mile from the Caledonian Railway Station at Mount Vernon and has already been sunk to a depth of between sixty and seventy fathoms. Considerable trouble has been experienced by the pit sinkers, on account of water, and two pumps have been in constant use withdrawing it. One of these pumps was stationary at the surface while the other, which was attached to the surface pump by means of carrying rods, could be placed in any part of the shaft. About twenty men have been employed in the sinking operations, and the night shift consisting of eight men, went on duty about midnight. John Martin the foreman sinker whose duty it was to prepare for the descent of the night staff, and Alexander Gray, the engineman, were earlier upon duty. They were standing together on the platform down the shaft to start the engine, when the hanging rods gave way about 60 feet from the surface, and the men were precipitated to the bottom of the shaft, a distance of about three hundred feet. Robert Miller, the foreman engineer, who was at the bottom of the shaft, had a miraculous escape from death. He was struck by a shower of falling stones but sustained comparatively little injury. When brought to the surface by a rescue party, who found him three hours after the accident clinging to a pipe to keep his head above the water which was rapidly rising in the shaft, he was at once taken to his home at Boghill, about a quarter of a mile off. Although suffering from wounds on the head and cuts on the hand, he is reported to be little the worse of the accident. Every effort was of course, speedily made to discover the fate of the two men so summarily launched into the depths of the pit. Four shifts of men at six hours shifts were put on by Mr Henry King, general manager to Messrs Dunn Brothers, but the bodies have not yet been recovered, and in the course of yesterday forenoon the water in the shaft had already risen 10 feet. There can be little doubt, however, but that both men are dead. Martin, who resided at Easterhouse, was about twenty five years of age, and leaves a widow and five children; Gray was about nineteen years of age, unmarried, and resided at Carmyle. [Scotsman 4 February 1896]

13 March 1896

Miner Killed - A miner, named Patrick M'Geachan, 45 years of age, residing at Old Camp Rows, Motherwell, was killed on Friday last while at work in the ell coal seam of Broomside Colliery, belonging to the Wishaw Coal Company. Mac-Geachan was engaged firing a shot when it exploded prematurely before he could get to a place of safety, and a piece of coal struck him on the side of the head and penetrated the brain. Death was instantaneous. [Motherwell Times 20 March 1896]

24 March 1896

Fatal Accident at the Logans Colliery - David Laird, pony driver, 45 years of age, who resided at the Logans Rows, was killed while at work in the main coal seam of No. 2 Pit, North Motherwell Colliery (Messrs Merry & Cunninghame's.) He was engaged driving a pony yoked to a train of hutches, and was sitting on a hutch, when a large stone fell from the roof and struck him, crushing him over the side of the hutch and causing instant death. Dr Jones was called, and his body was afterwards removed home. [Motherwell Times 27 March 1896]

13 April 1896

Fatal Accident Inquiry - Before Sheriff Davidson and a jury, on Wednesday, inquiries were made into the colliery accident to Francis Higgins, brusher, New Camp Rows, Motherwell who died on the 13th ult. from the effects of an explosion in No. 2 Watsonville Colliery, Motherwell The agent for the relatives sought to show that the accident was due to an explosion of fire-damp. The finding of the jury was that it was the result of an accident through an explosion of gunpowder. [Motherwell Times 29 May 1896]

29 May 1896

Fatal Accident At Newton - Yesterday James Ramsay, residing at Pitt Street, Newton, while working in Hallside colliery, belonging to Messrs James Dunlop & Co, (Limited), was instantaneously killed by a fall of stone from the roof. The deceased was unmarried. [Scotsman 30 May 1896]

31 August 1896

Hallside – Fatal Colliery Accident - Yesterday morning while a miner named William Russell, unmarried and residing in Hallside Village, was at work in the main coal seam in Messrs James Dunlop & Co.'s Hallside colliery, a fall of stone took place from the roof. On being extricated life was found to be extinct. [Scotsman 1 September 1896]

14 December 1896

Fatal Pit Accident at Carfin - A miner named John Boyle, 30 years of age, residing at Byersknowe Rows, Carfin, was crushed to death on Monday night while at work in the virtuewell coal seam of No. 3 Pit, Carfin Collieries, by a fall from the roof, weighing several tons, coming away and burying him underneath. Life was extinct when he was extricated. Dr Forrest, Motherwell, was summoned. Deceased was a married man with a family. [Motherwell Times 18 December 1896]

3 January 1897

Fatal Accident at Motherwell - An engineman named Alexander Lochead has met with his death under distressing circumstances at No. 1 Mossbank colliery, where he was employed. He had been engaged on the night shift, and when his partner went to relieve him in the morning he found Lochead lying under the fly-wheel quite dead. Deceased was thirty-six years of ago, and resided at Chapelhall. [Scotsman 8 January 1897]

15 January 1897

Fatal Colliery Accident – Yesterday James Robb, miner, residing in lodgings at Muir Street, Hamilton, was killed in No 4 Pit, Watson's Colliery, Motherwell, by being buried underneath a heavy “slide” from the roof, which occurred as he was stooping his place. Deceased belonged to Galston Ayrshire. [Scotsman 16 January 1897]

22 April 1897

Serious Pit Accident - A serious accident occured yesterday in No. 3 Pit, North Motherwell Colliery, whereby James Waller, miner, and John Izett, fireman, both residing at New Logans Rows, were severely injured. Izett and Waller, it appears, had been working along with some other men, and had their work nearly completed, when a fall came away from the roof, a heavy stone falling on the two men. Izett was severely bruised about the body and limbs, but his injuries are not dangerous. Waller, however, was severely crushed, and received such internal injuries that he was unable to be removed to the infirmary, and was taken home. His life is despaired of. Dr Jones, the work's doctor, was in attendance and dressed their injuries. Waller is a young unmarried man, and Izett is a widower. [Motherwell Times 23 April 1897]

Fatal Result of a Pit Accident - James Waller, miner, New Logan's Rows, who was severely crushed by a fall from the roof in No. 3 Pit, North Motherwell Colliery, has died from the effects of the injuries received. At the time of the accident no hope was entertained of his recovery. [Motherwell Times 30 April 1897]

19 May 1897

Serious Accident To A Screeman - A man named William Rock,sen., a screeman, 100 Eastfield Rows, was seriously injured while trimming a coal waggon standing under the coal scree at No. 1 Eastfield Colliery, belonging to James Nimmo & Co. A piece of coal weighing about a quarter of a hundredweight, fell upon him while he was in a kneeling posture, causing him to fall some eight feet to the ground, where he was picked up unconscious. Dr Manuel found two ribs of his right side broken, his right shoulder bruised, while there were severe cuts upon his forehead and face. He was conveyed home. [Glasgow Herald 20 May 1897]

23 June 1897

Miner Killed - A miner named Richard Menzies met his death in No. 1 pit. North Motherwell colliery yesterday. While in the main coal seam a large stone, weighing over three tons, fell from the roof and crushed him to death. He was thirty-four years of age, and resided in the New Logans. He leaves a widow and family. [Scotsman 24 June 1897]

5 August 1897

A young man named Gavin Marshall, aged 17, who resided in Montgomerie Place, Newton, died in the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, yesterday afternoon from injuries sustained in Hallside Colliery the previous day.[Scotsman 6 August 1897]

12 August 1897

Pit Accident At Calder - Yesterday afternoon a sad accident occurred in the Bank Pit, Calder colliery. A miner, named James Thorn, residing in Airdrie, was working along with his son at the face, when a serious fall took place from the roof. The result was that Thom's son, eighteen years of age, was killed, and the father was seriously injured, both his legs being fractured and his back injured. He was removed in the ambulance waggon to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. [Scotsman 13 August 1897]

28 December 1897

Fatal Colliery Accident – On Tuesday while a miner named John Mathieson, age 32, and residing at 30 Low Rows, Flemington, was at work in the ell coal seam at Dechmont Colliery, a fall took place from the roof whereby he sustained a severe fracture of the ribs. He was medically attended and removed in the ambulance waggon, but died while passing through Silverbanks.[Hamilton Advertiser January 1 1898]

22 April 1898

Serious Pit Accident - Early on Friday morning a serious accident occurred in No. 5 Pit, Shields Colliery, belonging to the Glasgow Iron Company, whereby John Brady (28), brusher, residing at Camp Rows, was severely injured. He had been at work in the virtuewell seam, when a stone weighing between three and four tons fell from the roof, a distance of eight feet, and, stricking him on the right hip, crushed him to the ground. When he was extricated, it was found that part of his bowels were protruding through an ugly wound. He was taken to the surface, where he was attended by Drs Robertson and M'Donald, and afterwards conveyed to the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, in an ambulance waggon. Brady succumbed to his injuries on Saturday. [Motherwell Times 29 April 1898]

10 September 1898

Motherwell Pit Explosion – Early on Saturday morning and explosion of gas occurred in No 1 Pit, Dalzell and Broomhouse Collieries, belonging to the Wishaw Company, whereby Robert Docherty, brusher, Knowetop, and John M'Guire, brusher, Clyde Place, Airbles Street, Motherwell, were severely burned about the face hands and arms. Both men were attended by Dr M'Donald, and afterwards removed home in the ambulance waggon. [Bellshill Speaker September 17 1898]

25 November 1898

Fatal Pit Accident – Hugh Kain, a miner, died in the Glasgow Royal Infirmary on Saturday from injuries sustained the precious evening by the fall of material from the roof of a pit at Wellshot Colliery, Cambuslang. [Scotsman 28 November 1898]

10 February 1899

Fatality in Pit – A miner named Joseph Wilson, 50 years of age, residing at Old Camp Rows, Motherwell, was instantaneously killed in Broomside Pit of the Wishaw Coal Company at Motherwell, by a heavy fall coming away from the roof. He was completely buried under the fall, and it took two and a half hours to extricate the body. During these operations a second fall came away, and the rescue party had a narrow escape. Deceased had his skull fractured and was otherwise terribly bruised. He was a married man and leaves a large family. [Bellshill Speaker February 18 1899]

21 March 1899

Pit Accident – A brusher named Andrew O'Hara, residing at Woodend Place Camp, Motherwell, was on Tuesday night severely injured whilst at working No 1 Pit, Camp Colliery. It appears that a shot had exploded unexpectedly and O'Hara was knocked down. When Dr Downs arrived he found that O'Hara had an arm and a rib fractured and otherwise bruised. He was taken to Glasgow Royal Infirmary. [Bellshill Speaker March 25 1899]

8 August 1899

Employment of Poles In Coal Mines - On Thursday a fatal accident inquiry at Hamilton, presided over by Sheriff Fyfe, into the death of Stanishlovas Ambroziviczus, miner, Roman Road, Motherwell, an extraordinary state of matters was disclosed. Deceased was a Russian Pole, who, from what had been gathered of his antecedents in this country, had been employed for a time at Carnbroe Ironworks, thereafter at Motherwell in a steel work. There, on the first morning after his employment, he met with an accident in connection with which he was confined in an hospital for three weeks. His next employment was at Glenclelland Colliery, belonging to Messrs Kerr & Mitchell, where, on 8th August, when descending the pit for the first time he met his death. He had been employed by another Pole, and, after he had taken his place on the lower deck of the cage, in listening to something which the other Pole was saying to him, he projected his head beyond the cage as it was starting on its descent and it was crushed between the plates and the upper deck, death being instantaneous. The Pole who employed him was shown to have no English beyond being able to say "Good morning", and other formalities of speech. At the close of the evidence, Mr R. Smillie, miner's agent, strongly commented on the danger not only to Poles themselves of such a state of matters, but also to their fellow-workmen. The jury, besides finding a verdict in accordance., with the evidence, put on record that in their opinion the space between the lower and upper decks of the cage was quite insufficient to enable a man of ordinary height to stand upright. They added that in their opinion, in such an occupation as coal mining, the fact that any workman was unable to understand orders of warnings addressed to him constituted a danger both to himself, his fellow-workmen and others.[Bellshill Speaker 16 September 1899]

25 December 1899

LONGRIGGEND. Fatal Pit Accident - On Monday morning Robert Ferguson, residing at Telegraph Road. Longriggend, met with his death as the result of a fire-damp explosion in No. 1 Pit, Longriggend Colliery, belonging to Messrs James Nimmo and Co. Ferguson was the roadsman for the pit, and it was his duty to examine the working places to ascertain if they were safe previous to the men commencing work. While prosecuting his duties about 5 a.m. in one of the sections where this dangerous gas had been frequently encountered, an explosion occurred, the concussion being so great that the permanent way was torn up for some distance. The body was not recovered until a space of nearly five hours had elapsed, the after-damp being so dense. The body was medically examined, and found to bear no bruises, and death was attributed to be due to the after-damp. Much sympathy is being expressed for deceased’s relatives. [Falkirk Herald 30 December 1899]

22 January 1900

Miner Killed At Cambuslang - Yesterday afternoon, while a miner, named Robert Rennie, 30 years of age, was working in Hallside Colliery, Newton, a large fall from the roof occurred. Before the unfortunate man could be extricated life was extinct. [Evening Telegraph 23 January 1900]

25 January 1900

Fatal Pit Accident - While William Thompson Kelly, miner, Flemington Street, and William Wilson, miner, Glencairn Street, Motherwell, were at work in the ell coal of No. 2 Pit, Dalziel Colliery, between eight and nine on Thursday morning of last week, a heavy fall came away from the roof, burying the men underneath. On being extricated, Kelly was found to be killed, and Wilson had his leg broken, and sustained other injuries. [Motherwell Times 2 February 1900]

30 May 1900

Craigneuk – Colliery Accident - On Wednesday forenoon, John Lingwood, 53, pithead worker, residing at High Ravenscraig Rows, Craigneuk, men with an accident at Clenclelland Colliery, belonging to Messrs Kerr and Mitchell. Lingwood was in the act of pinching a waggon loaded with dross beneath the scree, when his right shoulder got jammed between the buffer of two waggons. Dr Boag, who attended the injured man, found that his right arm was fractured, and ordered his removal to the Royal Infirmary. [Wishaw Press, June 2 1900]

4 July 1900

Fatal Pit Accident - On Wednesday about 12 o'clock a pony driver named Robert Davidson, 17 years of age, son of William Davidson, joiner, residing at 7 Dyer's Buildings, Coursington Road, was killed by a fall from the roof in the splint coal seam of No. 2 Pit Braidhurst Colliery, belonging to the Summerlee and Mossend Iron and Steel Company. Deceased was employed clearing away a fall which had taken place earlier in the day, when a stone weighing about 56 lbs. fell a distance of twelve feet and struck him on the head causing a compound fracture of the skull. Death was instantaneous. [Motherwell Times 6 July 1900]

8 November 1900

Forth – Fatal Accident – Andrew Stevenson, a brusher, employed at Climpy Colliery, and residing at Root Park, met with a very serious accident while employed at his work on Thursday morning. It is supposed his back was broken. Dr Reid, Forth,was in attendance and had him removed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where he died shortly after arrival. He leaves a wife and family. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser November 10 1900]

NB No death certificate for this name has been located

30 November 1900

Cambuslang - Colliery Accidents - Two brothers named Robert and David Robertson, Silverbanks, had a narrow escape in Kirkhill Colliery, Cambuslang, on Saturday. A shot was fired at a neighbouring place, and the Robertsons failed to get out of the way, and narrowly escaped being seriously injured by the flying coal. Dr Mackay, who attended, found one of the men scratched in various parts and the other man unhurt. - Early the same morning, a burning accident of a serious nature happened at Dechmont Colliery, Flemington, Cambuslang, to John Milligan, Patrick Milligan, Flemington; and John Morgan, residing at Colebrooke St, Cambuslang. The workmen, it is stated, were employed at the bottom when a shot was fired, severely burning the above named miners about the body and legs. On being attended to by Dr Macpherson, Cambuslang, they were removed home. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 8 December 1900]