Old Monkland Accidents pre 1855
This section contains newspaper reports on accidents. Please check the indexes in the Accidents Section for details of Inspector of Mines reports and other accidents covered on the site.
12 May 1803
Last
Thursday morning a young man at Barrachnie Colliery in a thoughtless
manner run down the rope at one of the pits but losing his hold he was
precipitated to the bottom and did not survive many hours. As there is
a stair by which the men can go and come to and from their work at that
colliery this accident as well as many others of a similar kind should
be a caution to all colliers who have such an opportunity never to go
or come from their work by the ropes. [Glasgow Courier, Sat .14th. May,
1803] Many thanks to Robert Murray for supplying this article
2 January 1805
On
Wednesday, while a man was working in one of the coal-pits at
Barrachnie, in the neighbourhood of Glasgow, part of the roof fell in,
by which he was instantly crushed to death. He has left a wife and four
children. Another man was considerably bruised, but there are hopes of
his recovery. [Edinburgh Advertiser 5 January 1805]
13 February 1830
Early on Saturday morning last a fatal event happened at Whiteflat coal pit parish of Old Monkland. Four colliers descended to the bottom of the pit, and without waiting for the arrival of the fireman, proceeded onwards to their working rooms, where they foolishly uncovered their safety lamps to ignite their pipes, and the melancholy result was that the flame had instantly communicated with the foul air and occasioned a tremendous explosion, which shook the ground and resembled a discharge of cannon. Beside three men who perished in the most distant room, the fireman experienced the same sudden fate, as did another collier who had just got out of the bucket at the bottom. Two colliers (one of whose fathers is on the fatal list) who had been working all night in the ell-coal were smoking when the explosion took place, but they escaped. They groped their way in darkness towards the bottom of the pit, and in their route stumbled upon the body of a prostrate collier, which, with great difficulty, they dragged along with them and brought up in the bucket: his recovery is doubtful. The miners used every exertion on Saturday to recover the bodies, but owing to the foul state of the pit were only successful in 2 instances. The sinking of temporary entrances to where the other 3 bodies lay was then resorted to, and after considerable danger they were recovered on Sunday. [The Times February 22 1830]
Dreadful Accident In A Coal Pit
- Early on Saturday morning last, a fatal event happened at Whiteflat
coal pit, parish of Old Monkland. Four colliers descended to the bottom
of the pit, and, without waiting for the arrival of the fireman, whose
duty it is first to explore the interior to ascertain whether or not
foul air has concentrated, proceeded onwards to their working rooms,
where they had foolishly, as is too frequently the case with colliers,
uncovered their safety lamps (Sir H. Davy's), to ignite their pipes,
and the melancholy result of this imprudence was that the flame had
instantly communicated with the foul air, and occasioned a tremendous
explosion, which shook the ground, and resembled a discharge of cannon.
The railroads were torn up, and the other interior workings were
disjoined, and scattered about in fragments with irresistible force,
till the flame got vent at the pit mouth. Besides three men who
perished in the most distant room, the poor fireman, who was in the act
of proceeding forward to insure the general safety, experienced the
same sudden fate, as did also another collier who had just got out of
the bucket at the bottom. Two colliers, (one of whose fathers is in the
fatal list) who had been working all night in the ell coal, were
smoking when the explosion took place, but their room being next the
air course, they escaped scorching, but their lamps were extinguished.
They groped their way in darkness towards the bottom of the pit, and in
their route stumbled upon the body of a prostrate collier, which with
great difficulty they dragged along with them, and brought up in the
bucket. He has since been conveyed to the Royal Infirmary, but his
recovery is very doubtful. As the five men whose bodies remained in the
pit had all wives and children, their families ran to the pit, and the
most heart rending lamentations were uttered by those who were so
awfully bereaved of their natural protectors. The miners used every
exertion on Saturday to recover the bodies ; but owing to the foul
state of the pit were only successful in two instances. The sinking of
temporary entrances to where the other three bodies lay was then
resorted to, and, after considerable danger, they were recovered on
Sunday. The interment took place on Tuesday; and the number of mournful
spectators from Green-end and other quarters to witness the sad
spectacle was peculiarly affecting. One venerable looking man had seven
sons in the work ; two of these and his son in law perished on this
occasion; and his bereaved aspect while following the hearse excited
general sympathy. The funeral proceeded to Airdrie where three of the
sufferers were interred in one grave. [Caledonian Mercury 20 February
1830]
24 October 1840
Shocking Coal Pit Accident – On the morning of Saturday last, an explosion of fire damp took place on one of Dundyvan Pits, No 3, when a man of the name of Wm. Donachie, residing in Airdrie, and a boy of the name of Brown, were killed on the spot. A man of the name of Solomon Gabney had his leg broken (since amputated), while Christopher Laird and the brother of the boy Brown are now lying in the most imminent danger, from the numerous bruises they sustained. The person who had his leg broke was the innocent cause of the catastrophe, having incautiously ventured, after being warned, with his common lamp, to the spot where the foul and damp air had been pent up from the day previous. The Davy lamp, which was quite convenient, would have prevented the fatal error. When will miners take warning? - Glasgow Argus [Scotsman 28 October 1840]
Dundyvan Coal Pit Accident – Of the five individual sufferers at the explosion of inflammable air in No 3 pit, Dundyvan, as mentioned in Monday's Argus, only Solomon Gabney survives; the two who were said to be in imminent danger have since expired in great agony. Gabney, who is believed to have been the headstrong cause of the fatal deed, is doing well since the amputation of his leg. [Scotsman 31 October 1840]
23 August 1844
Fatal Colliery Accident - A young man of the name of Daniel Cashiedy, lost his life on Friday in the No. 9 pit, Drumpeller, by Coatbridge. It would appear that he had neglected to put his token on the hutch, till it was in the cage, and in attempting to do so, was unfortunately drawn up the shaft, and was smashed to pieces in the fall. [Glasgow Herald 26 August 1844]
31 January 1845
Fatal Colliery Accident - As the workers of one of the pits at the Rosehall colliery, near Coatbridge, were descending the shaft to their employment, on the 31st ult., the rope broke, when those descending were supposed to be half-way down the shaft, and they unfortunately fell to the bottom and were killed. The names of the sufferers are Wm. Nelson, who has left a wife and family, and a boy of the name of Kirkand, whose father was sitting in the pit bottom at the time. [Glasgow Herald 10 February 1845]
31 July 1845
Fatal Colliery Accidents. An
accident of a fatal nature took place on Thursday, 31st ult., at the
No. 11 pit, Dundyvan, by which two men lost their lives, and several
others were seriously injured. It appears the pit had been laid idle a
few days previous, and on the men descending to their employment, their
lights came in contact with the gas, which exploded. The names of the
sufferers are - William Ingram, a married man, who has left a wife and
five children to deplore his fate ; John Allan, a young man, died after
being taken to the Infirmary. The other sufferers are of the respective
names of Wotherspoon, Stevenson and Hodskies, who are in the way of
recovery. [Glasgow Herald 11 August 1845]
28 July 1846
Another
fatal accident occurred on Tuesday last, when a miner of the name of
Boyd lost his life in one of the Calder pits. It is said a neighbouring
workman nearly lost his life from the effects of the damp, in
endeavouring to get at the the body, and was only saved by a rope which
had been fastened round him, by which he was drawn out to the fresh
air, and, although in an exhausted state, he succeeded in bringing the
corpse of Boyd with him. On the same day another miner lost his life in
No. 4 pit, Gartlee, belonging; to the Monkland Company, by means of a
piece of coal falling down the pit. [Glasgow Herald 3 August 1846]
31 July 1846
A boy, of the name of M'Cready, lost his life on Friday in the Garturk pit, Calder, but we have not heard by what means. [Glasgow Herald 3 August 1846]
14 June 1847
Fatal Accident - At
Drumpeller Colliery on Monday last, an explosion of firedamp took place
in pit No 4, whereby Alexander Brown and John Merry lost their lives
and Alex. Nelson was severely burned. It is understood the gas kindled
from Nelson's lamp. - Another fatal explosion occurred the same day at
Simpson's Pit, Dykehead, when James Park lost his life, and Walter
Clark was severely burned. - We understand that an additional explosion
took place at Gartgill, where two men were burned, whose names we have
not learned. [Glasgow Herald 18 June 1847]
Melancholy Pit Accident
- On Monday morning last, three men named Brown, Merry and Nelson,
descended No. 4 pit Drumpellar, for the purpose of commencing the
operations of the day. Merry had charge of the Davy lamp and of the pit
workings, and on reaching the bottom of the pit, Merry ordered Nelson
to proceed in one direction of the pit which he considered clear and
safe, while he explored a different line; Nelson had not proceeded far
from where Brown was seated, when a tremendous explosion took place
bringing down roof and sides of a. portion of the pit in its ravages.
Brown was killed while Merry and Nelson escaped with several contusions
and burnings; Merry's ordering Nelson to advance in a doubtful
direction, before being tested by the Davy lamp, was the cause of the
accident.—Airdrie Luminary. [Caledonian Mercury 21 June 1847]
21 September 1850
Fatal Coal Pit Accident - On
Saturday last, the 21st current, while Hugh Strain, miner, was
following his occupation in a pit belonging to Mr. Adams, Coatdyke, a
portion of the roof gave way, and falling upon his body inflicted such
severe injuries that he lingered till yesterday, when death terminated
his sufferings. The deceased, we believe, was a sober and industrious
man. [Glasgow Herald 27 September 1850]
17 September 1853
Reid vs The Bartonshill Coal Company - A jury was empannelled to try the following issue in the cause in which Mrs Elizabeth Clark or Reid, residing at or near Dykehead, by Baillieston, widow of the deceased William Reid, miner there, and Grace Reid, Ann Reid, Elizabeth Reid, Isabella Martin Reid, William Reid, Janet Reid, Richard Reid. and Jane Reid, residing there, children of the said Mrs Elizabeth Clark or Reid, and the deceased William Reid, are pursuers; and the Bartonshill Coal Company, Glasgow, and James Beaumont Neilson, coalmaster, residing at or near Queenshill, by Castle-Douglas, in the county of Kirkcudbright, and Robert Paterson, coal master in Glasgow, and at Bartonshill and Bargeddie, Lanarkshire, two of the individual partners of the said company, are defenders.
It being admitted that the pursuer, Elizabeth Clark or Reid is the widow, and that the other pursuers are the lawful children of the said deceased William Reid, and the pursuer, Elizabeth Clark or Reid: Whether, the defenders were, in the month of September 1853, in the occupation, as proprietors or lessees, of the coal-pit at or near Baillieston, called the Dykehead or Bargeddie pit?, and whether, on or about the 17th day of September 1853, the said deceased William Reid, while in the employment of the defenders in said pit, received severe and mortal injuries, through the fault of the defenders, in the management of the machinery for lowering and raising the miners or colliers at said pit, or part thereof, in consequence of which he immediately, or soon afterwards, died, to the loss, injury, and damage of the pursuers?
Damages to the widow laid at £400; to each of the other pursuers £300.
The case went to trial on the part of the defenders on this issue, to raise and, have decided the important question of law stated in the following exceptions; and after the facts were proved, the counsel for the parties arranged the sum of damages, and the jury returned the following verdict: - "Edinburgh, 23d March 1855. - Find , for the pursuers, and assess the damages as arranged by the parties - viz., £100 to Mrs Reid, and £200 among- the children."
Whereupon the Dean of Faculty, for the defenders, excepted to the charge of the presiding Judge to the jury, in so far as his Lordship directed the jury, in point of law, that if they were satisfied upon the evidence that the injury was caused by culpable negligence and fault on the part of the engineer in the management of the machinery, the defenders were answerable. The Dean farther excepted to the charge of the said Judge, in so far as his Lordship refused to direct the jury, in point of law, that if the jury are satisfied in the evidence that the defenders used due and reasonable diligence and care in the selection and appointment of Shearer as engineer, and that Shearer was fully qualified to perform the duties of engineman, and furnished with proper machinery, and all necessary means for the performance of these duties, then the defenders are not in law answerable for the personal fault or negligence of Shearer, in the management of the machinery, on the occasion mentioned in the issue.
M'Guire vs The Bartonshill Coal Company - This was an action of a similar kind to the above, by the widow of the deceased James M'Guire, miner, who was killed at the same time as Reid ; and a verdict was consented to, under reservation of the question of law, assessing the damages at £100. [Scotsman 24 March 1855]