Clackmannanshire Accidents post-1855

14 October 1856

Fatal Coat-Pit Accident. - On the morning of Tuesday last, John Snaddon, a boy about fourteen years of age, lost his life in No. 1 Holton Pit of the Alloa Colliery, under the following circumstances - The deceased acted as a driver of one of the ponies in the underground workings, and it would appear about nine o'clock, the breakfast hour, he had ascended the shaft along with the pit-bottomer, for the purpose of taking down breakfast for one of the workmen, which he learned, on coming to the surface, had been previously sent down. It is a rule in the colliery not to lower any of the workmen unless the pit-bottomer is at his post, but as the engineman was about to raise the underground oversman from the upper seam in the pit to the surface, and as he was advised by the pit-bottomer to lower the deceased at same time in the cage which would descend, the boy stepped on the cage and the engine was set in motion. The engine was stopped on the ascending cage reaching the upper seam, to allow the oversman to step on to it, the descending cage, of course, coming to a stand at same time. The engine was set in motion in a few seconds again, until the ascending cage reached the pit-mouth, when the descending one would at same time reach the bottom. In about ten minutes afterwards, the boy was discovered lying at the pit-bottom, with the cage resting upon him, and, on its being raised, life was found to be extinct. It was at once apparent that the boy had fallen down the shaft; and it is supposed that this must have happened when the engine was stopped, the boy imagining that the cage had reached the bottom of the pit and had walked over the side, or that he had lost his balance. In all likelihood he fell a depth of about forty fathoms. He was all right in the cage as it passed the upper seam. The boy's body presented very few external marks of injury. [Glasgow Herald 22 October 1856]

24 August 1861

Alloa – Colliery Accidents – On Friday forenoon, Andrew Hunter, a miner in the employment of the Alloa Coal Company, met with his death while working in No 1 pit, situated at New Sauchie. At the moment of the unfortunate accident, Hunter was employed blasting the coal, and part of the roof falling in, crushed him so severely that death ensued almost instantaneously. - On Friday afternoon, William Harrower, a miner, residing at Holton, New Sauchie, met with an accident while working in Jellyhorn coal pit. Part of the roof fell upon him, whereby he was bruised on the thighs, feet, and head, but the injuries are believed not to be of a serious nature. [Alloa Advertiser, quoted in Scotsman 26 August 1861]

11 March 1862

Fatal Coal Pit Accident – Two Lives Lost - On Tuesday afternoon, an accident, which resulted in the loss of two lives, and by which several others were endangered, occurred in the coal pit at Devonside, near Tillicoultry, known as the west pit. While the pitmen were prosecuting their labours, a mass of rock, weighing about 2 tons, fell from the roof of the working upon two of them, named respectively William Allan and John Cook, both belonging to the village of Coalsnaughton. Some of their fellow workmen were so near when it fell, that their escape may be considered miraculous. The bodies of the unfortunate men were so much crushed as to be almost unrecognisable. Both have left widows and young children [Dunfermline Press – quoted in Herald March 14 1862]

18 June 1862

Alloa Fatal Coal Pit Accident – On Wednesday forenoon, a miner named John Condy Paterson, while at work in one of the Kennet Pits, near Clackmannan, was instantly deprived of life, by a stone falling from the roof upon his head. The deceased was in his 20th year and leaves a widowed mother who was dependant upon him for support [Herald June 20 1862]

21 October 1862

Alloa - Fatal Coal Pit Accident - On Tuesday morning, while a boy belonging to Kincardine, named Malcolm Mitchell, aged 12 years, was working in pit No. 2, Kennet Colliery, along with his father and an older brother, at large block of stone fell from the roof, killing him instantaneously. [Glasgow Herald 24 October 1862]

30 December 1872

Fatal Coal Pit Accident Near Alloa - On Saturday a miner named William Love, while stepping from a hutch at the second shaft of a pit, missed his footing and fell to the bottom, a depth of 20 fathoms. He died from the injuries he had sustained in a few hours afterwards. Deceased was 28 years of age and unmarried [Herald 1 January 1873]

3 July 1879

Alloa – Fatal Pit Accident. - Early yesterday morning, a lad named Archibald Bennet, aged 14, residing at New Sauchie, was killed at No, 2 Holson Pit, belonging to the Alloa Coal Company. Bennet was employed in the underground workings driving a pony for bringing hutches on a line of rails to and from the bottom of the shaft, and between two of these hutches, laden with coal, he was found quite dead. An examination of the body showed that death had been caused by dislocation of the neck , and severe bruises about the head. [Scotsman 4 July 1879]

20 December 1882

Tillicoultry – Fatal Accident in a Coal Mine - On Wednesday afternoon a miner, named Robert Allan residing in Devonside, Tillicoultry, was instantaneously killed in Bessie Glen Coal Mine, belonging to the Alloa and Tillicoultry Colliery Company. A large stone from the roof fell upon him while he was engaged in keeping the hutches in position on the rails as they were being drawn to the pit mouth by an engine. The deceased has left a widow and six children. [Scotsman 22nd December 1882]

13 February 1890

Alloa - Fatal Result of a Pit Accident - Yesterday morning William Paterson, miner, New Sauchie, died in Alloa Hospital from the effects of an accident sustained in No. 2 Holton Pit, belonging to Alloa Colliery, about a fortnight ago. While holing a large piece of coal fell upon him from the roof and hurt him internally. He was upwards of 50 years of age, and has left a widow and grown-up family.[Glasgow Herald 24 February 1890]

2 April 1900

Alloa - Fatal Mining Accident - Thomas Stansbury (36), miner, died in the Clackmannanshire County (Accident) Hospital from wounds received in the course of his employment at Furnacebank Pit on Monday. [Glasgow Herald 6 April 1900]

16 January 1903

Fatal Accident At Alloa - A miner named Andrew Drummond, residing in Green Square, Alva, and in the employment of the Alloa Coal Company, was fatally injured while working at the coal face in the underground workings of Furnacebank Pit, Devon Colliery. A fall of coal overwhelmed him, and when relieved he only lived a few minutes. Drummond leaves a widow and family in Alva. [Scotsman 19 January 1903]

2 December 1922

Man Killed In Alloa Pit - A miner named David Hutton, residing at The Square, Clackmannan, was engaged on Saturday morning at his usual employment in the underground workings of Whinhall Pit, No. 2, belonging to the Alloa Coal Company (Ltd.), when a large stone fell from the roof, and killed him almost instantaneously. The deceased was about 30 years of ago, and unmarried. [Scotsman 4 December 1922]

12 June 1923

Pit Accident Near Clackmannan. - A miner named William Hall, residing at Clackmannan , met with a serious accident in the underground: workings of Brucefield Pit near Clackmannan. While engaged at the face a heavy stone fell from the roof upon him, causing serious internal injuries. He was removed to the County Accidents Hospital at Alloa. [Scotsman 13 June 1923]

25 February 1924

Clackmannan Pit Accident - William M'Gough (32), a stone-miner, residing at The Square, Clackmannan , had a narrow escape on Friday night in the underground workings of Tullygarth Pit, While engaged brushing a road in the Hopehill section of the pit, a stone weighing 6 cwts. fell upon him from the roof. He was immediately rescued b y some of his colleagues, but it was found that he had been seriously injured about the back and upper part of his body. He was removed to Alloa Hospital. [Scotsman 25 February 1924]

23 January 1925

Clackmannanshire Miner Killed - A miner named Robert Hunter (22), married, residing at Ramsay Street, Coalsnaughton, met with a fatal accident in the underground workings of the Devon Colliery, belonging to the Alloa Coal Company. He was knocked down and seriously injured by a runaway hutch, and died on the way to the County Accidents Hospital. He leaves a widow and child. [The Scotsman 26 January 1925]

February 1925

Accident to Alloa Miner - While engaged in the underground workings at Tullygarth Colliery, near Clackmannan, an Alloa miner named Edward Young, 32, was knocked to the ground by a large stone from the roof. When assistance was forthcoming, it was found that the unfortunate man had been seriously injured about the lower part of the body. Dr Hetherington, Clackmannan, who was soon on the spot, ordered the man's removal to the County Accidents Hospital. [The Scotsman 9 February 1925]

2 June 1927

Alloa Pit Accident - Miner Killed -  Two Injured - While three miners were engaged at the “face” in one of the sections of the underground workings of Devon Colliery near Alloa, belonging to the Alloa Coal Company Ltd, yesterday afternoon, they were overwhelmed by a heavy fall from the roof. When assistance arrived and the men were extricated, it was found that John Mitchell, Devon Village, was dead. James Wright, Devonbank House, was seriously injured and had to be removed to the County Accidents Hospital. The other man, named Paterson, escaped with slight injuries, and was conveyed to his home in Greenfield Street, Alloa. [Scotsman 3 June 1927]

21 August 1929

Tillicoultry Miner Killed - A fatality occurred at Devon colliery about 7 pm. on Wednesday evening. It appears that a miner named Daniel Snaddon (39), who resided at 7 Langour, Devonside Tillicoultry, and was employed as a stripper, had been engaged at his usual employment at No. 10 Branch, West Side, 10 inch, of the colliery, when a large piece of stone weighing about one ton, fell from the roof, pinning him to the ground, and inflicting internal injuries. He was attended at the colliery by a doctor, and later removed to Stirling Infirmary where he died. He leaves a widow and two of a family. [Scotsman 23 August 1929]

15 February 1930

Fatal Result of Burning Accident - Alexander Stewart, washerman, Mercer Street, Kincardine, died in Clackmannan County Hospital on Saturday as the result of injuries received at Brucefield Colliery, Clackmannan the previous Tuesday. He had been endeavouring to thaw the slide of a coal-washing machine by means of lighted waste and naphtha, when the can he was using caught fire and exploded, scorching him severely on the head, face, and arms. [Scotsman 17 February 1930]

15 November 1932

Clackmannan Miner Killed - Matthew M'Leod, Craigie Terrace, Clackmannan, was employed at a section in the underground workings of Tulligarth pit yesterday forenoon when a fall from the roof pinned him to the footway. When extricated he was found to be dead. [Scotsman 16 November 1932]

3 November 1933

Well-Known Clackmannanshire Miner Killed - A distressing accident occurred yesterday afternoon at Meta Pit, near Alloa, when Mr W. Mitchell, J.P., Sauchie, was instantaneously killed. Mr Mitchell was employed at the picking -table on the pithead when a revolving shaft caught his clothing, and he was whirled round. The machinery was immediately stopped, but he was found to be dead. The deceased was well known in the county, and had been officially associated with the Fife, Clackmannan, and Kinross miners' Association for many years. He took a prominent part in the Co-operative movement, was a staunch supporter of the I.L.P., and had served for close upon three terms with the School-Management Committee of Alloa and district. For his public services he was made a Justice of the Peace of the county several years ago. Four months ago Mr Mitchell's eldest son was killed in Devon Pit by the fall of a large stone from the roof. [Scotsman 4 November 1933]

12 May 1936

Coalsnaughton Miner's Fatal Accident - Robert Sneddon, miner, School Terrace, Coalsnaughton, who was injured in Meta pit on Tuesday, when a rake of hutches broke loose and crushed him against the wall has died in Clackmannan County Accident Hospital. [Scotsman 14 May 1936]

30 June 1937

Fatal Pit Accident - Two miners were injured - one of them fatally - in an accident at Devon Colliery, near Alloa, yesterday afternoon. James Cook, Ochilview, Devonside, died of his injuries when he was overtaken, along with two other miners, by a rake of runaway hutches in the underground workings of the colliery. James Baxter, 51 Alexander Street, Devonside, was removed to Clackmannan County Hospital in a serious condition as a result of the accident . The third man, Robert Turnbull, 6 Greenfield Street, Alloa, escaped uninjured. [Scotsman 1 July 1937]

26 August 1937

A 36-year-old miner was fatally injured in an accident at Meta Pit, Fishcross, near Alloa, late on Wednesday night. Mungo Syme, 15 Grandra Row, Sauchie, near Alloa, was pinned to the ground by a stone weighing two tons, which fell from the roof. Two men working, in the near vicinity went to his aid. The rescuers, by means of an iron rail, tried to lever the stone from Syme's body, and after half an hour succeeded in doing so. It was found, however, that he was dead. [Scotsman 27 August 1937]

18 May 1938

Clackmannan Miner Killed - James M'Lean (56) , Wester Craig, Clackmannan, a machineman at Tulligarth Colliery , near Clackmannan, which belongs to the Tullygarth Coal Company, was fatally injured yesterday when a stone weighing three tons fell on top of him. Death was instantaneous , his neck being fractured. [Scotsman 19 May 1938]

22 October 1938

Miner Succumbs To Injuries - William Drummond (40), miner, who resided at 12 Mansfield Avenue, Sauchie, Alloa, succumbed in Clackmannan County Hospital on Saturday to injuries received in an accident at Brucefield Colliery, Clackmannan, on Wednesday. Drummond was working underground when three empty hutches broke away from the haulage rope and struck him, inflicting wounds to the head, bruises to the body, and severe internal injuries. Deceased leaves a widow and a family of six. [Scotsman 24 October 1938]