Year | Month | Day | Name of Colliery | Where situated | Owners name | Person(s) killed | Occupation | Age if given | Category of Accident | Cause of death | Extra Details |
1867 | January | 2 | Netherton No 4 Pit | Wishaw | Scott & Gilmour | John Gallocher | Stoker | 21 | In shafts | Falling part way down shaft. Something went wrong with the pumps, and instead of sending for the overman, one of the enginemen went down to repair them, taking with him the deceased, who fell off the cage while they were ascending. There was nothing wrong with the cage. | Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages |
1867 | January | 7 | Pather | Coltness | Coltness Iron Co | John Smith | Collier | 35 | Explosions | Explosion of fire damp on a Monday morning. MacNeil took Smith with him to examine the pit, they had both safety-lamps and naked lights, some fire-damp ignited at the latter and killed them both. The ventilating furnace was "out" for 40 hours. The fireman neglected the 22nd and 27th Special Rules of the Colliery. From Main body of report: Explosion No. 2 was caused by the fireman going his rounds in the morning with his naked light, instead of using a safety lamp only as directed by the Special Rule No. 21. Davy lamps do not give much light, and firemen are tempted to take a naked light when they think there is no danger. That Special Rule should be rigidly enforced, but a large safety lamp, in addition to the Davy lamp, might be given to the fireman, which would give additional light, and take away the temptation to use a naked light. The fireman could also have kept the furnace burning continuously from Saturday to Monday, which would in all likelihood have prevented the accumulation of gas. | Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages |
Alex MacNiel | Fireman | 40 | |||||||||
1867 | January | 8 | Niddrie | Edinburgh | John Grieve | Archibald Hunter | Drawer | 16 | Miscellaneous | He fell with his tub out of a level into an incline in the edge seams, and was crushed by the ascending trucks | |
1867 | January | 9 | Hill of Beath | Dunfermline | Orde Adams | George Kinniel | Sinker | -- | In shafts | Fell off cage while repairing slides | |
1867 | January | 11 | Sunnyside | Wishaw | Archibald Russell | Alexander Adams | Collier | 25 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof while stooping. The roof was cracking, and he was drawing the rails | |
1867 | January | 11 | Boghead | Bathgate | James Russel & Son | Alex. Bennet | Watchman | 70 | -- | Fell over loading place on railway (not on list) | |
1867 | January | 15 | Annandale No 8 | Kilmarnock | Archibald Finnie | Jas Howie | Collier | 35 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of coal at face | |
1867 | January | 16 | Dungeonhill No 2 | Baillieston | Forester & Robson | Mattw. Morris | Collier | 35 | In shafts | Was raised by the cage when partly crossing the pit | |
1867 | January | 21 | Carsehead No 2 Pit | Dalry | Eglinton Iron Co | Robert Dunsmuir | Miner | 17 | Ironstone mines falls of ironstone and roof | Fall of roof | |
1867 | January | 29 | Hurlford, Comet Pit | Hurlford | Allan Gilmour & Co | Jas McGregor | Collier | 25 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of roof | |
1867 | January | 30 | Souterhouse No 1 | Coatbridge | Trustees of John Wilson | David Martin | Collier | 20 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of roof | Newspaper report - Old Monkland pages |
1867 | January | 31 | Greenfield | Hamilton | Hamilton Coal Co | David Black | Sinker | 38 | Explosions | Explosion of fire damp. They were blown into the pit by the concussion, and falling about 16 fathoms were killed by the fall | Newspaper report - Hamilton pages |
Alexander Millar | Sinker | 38 | |||||||||
1867 | February | 1 | Bartonholm No 3 | Kilwinning | Eglinton Iron Co | John Cochrane | Boy | 15 | Explosions | Explosion of fire damp From Main body of report: The "Kilwinning main" seam, which is the only one at present worked from this pit, is found at 90 fathoms deep. The roof is unusually tender, falls are of frequent occurrence in the roads and airways, and small accumulations of gas collect after these falls in the high parts of the roof, where it is scarcely possible to have the air of the mine passing so as to sweep it out at all times. The deceased, a boy, worked with his father, in one of the usual working places of the pit. It was known that one of these holes, in the roof of their roadway, not far from the face, contained a little gas ; precautions were taken by them to guard against it, but it unfortunately happened that one of the roadsmen went into an old road, about 90 yards distant from where the deceased was employed, and ignited a small quantity of gas, and it is supposed that the concussion, acting at that distance upon the gas that lay in the roof of the deceased's roadway, forced it out, and into contact with his unprotected light, by which he was injured. The injury at first was not considered serious, but he died from the effects of it a few days after. This pit has been notorious for non-fatal accidents, and I believe more visits of inspection have been made to it than to any other throughout the district. I admit there are difficulties in dealing with these openings in the roof, which sometimes reach to a considerable height above the pavement. It would be comparatively easy to deal with the openings themselves, but they get connected, in "longwall working," by rents and openings formed by the falling and shattered roof, which, until the roof becomes wholly collapsed, form receptacles for gas. In roadways of this description the proper way to work them is to compel the drawers who require to travel them to use safety-lamps. | |
1867 | February | 9 | Bo'ness | Bo'ness | James Pollok | Phil. Hoolican | Drawer | -- | Miscellaneous | Run over by hutch | Newspaper report - Lothian pages |
1867 | February | 28 | Jelliston No 2 | Dalmellington | Dalmellington Iron Co | Michl. Downs | Sinker | 50 | In shafts | Was caught on the mid-wall whilst ascending | |
1867 | March | 2 | Wishaw No 2 Pit | Wishaw | Scott & Gilmour | John McMichael | roadman | 30 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof while knocking out trees to make new road | |
1867 | March | 5 | Wemyss Pit | Kirkcaldy | Mr Wemyss' Trustees | Alex Morgan | Engineman | 55 | In shafts | He was in the shaft watching the start of a new pumping engine, when owing to a defective casting about 300 feet of the new pipes fell down the shaft, and some of them struck them | Newspaper report - Fife pages |
1867 | March | 6 | Fernigare | Hamilton | Archd. Russell | John Smith | Collier | 49 | Explosions | Breach of 1st General Rule and of 22nd Special Rule From Main body of report: A fatal explosion of fire-damp happened in a common working place in which fire-damp accumulated. Instead of putting in brattice to carry air forward to the face, the fireman "waffed" out the fire-damp every morning before the men entered, and it did not collect so as to be dangerous while they remained in the place. On the morning of the accident, however, he examined the face and found fire-damp as usual, but went away without dislodging it, and the deceased, who entered shortly afterwards, was severely burned; he died some days afterwards. The owner was prosecuted for breach of the 1st General Rule, and the fireman for breach of the 22nd Special Rule of the colliery. A conviction was obtained on both charges. Sheriff Veitch found that the 1st General Rule had not been adhered to by the owners. "It was not," he said, " merely necessary that the working places should be free from fire-damp while the workmen were actually employed in them, but the nature and arrangement of the ventilation must, under ordinary circumstances, be such as at all times to prevent the accumulation of fire-damp or impure air, and no other system would effectually guard against accidents." He also held that the fireman should have dispelled the fire-damp when he found it on terms of the 22nd Special Rule. | Newspaper report - Hamilton pages |
1867 | March | 8 | Maidenbank | Muirkirk | Eglinton Iron Co | James Espie | Collier | 26 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of coal at face | |
1867 | March | 11 | Bogleshole No 3 | Tollcross | James Dunlop & Co | Chas McAuley | Collier | 40 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of coal at face | |
1867 | March | 11 | Heathery Knowe No 2 | Baillieston | Heathery Knowe Coal Co | Alex. Buchanan | Collier | 39 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of coal at face | |
1867 | March | 14 | Easterhill No 1 | Tollcross | David Roxburgh | B McCartney | Labourer | 36 | Above ground | Caught by the connecting rod of the pumping engine when unnecessarily stepping over it From Main body of report: The deceased was a labourer, and assisted generally about the colliery, On the day of the accident it appears that he and a neighbour workman were engaged cleaning a boiler. For some purpose he had left the boiler; it is supposed to call the manager's attention to the state of it, and in passing through the engine-house, instead of going out by the stairway, he attempted to step over the connecting rod of the pumping engine, which was in motion at the time, and got caught between it and the crank. It unfortunately happens too often that workmen employed about collieries expose themselves unnecessarily by going too near to the moveable parts of the machinery. In this case it was a very simple matter to step over the connecting rod when the crank was under, or at its lowest level, and without much risk ; possibly the engine-man had done it hundreds of times; but the proper and safe way to pass from the boilers through the engine-house was by the ordinary stairway, clear of machinery, and if the deceased had done so in this case no accident could have happened. | |
1867 | March | 16 | Lumphinnans | Lochgelly | Lumphinnans Iron Co | Hay Hocking | Sinker | 29 | Miscellaneous | Premature explosion of a shot while he was stemming with an iron needle. Advised safety fuse to be used From Main body of report: Four deaths were caused by premature explosions of gunpowder in sinking pits and stone drifts .. The other two deaths (one of them was in a sinking pit and the other in a stone mine) were caused by the premature explosion of the charge while tamping in gritty sandstone. The owners of the pits were advised to get their workmen to use safety fuse, which burns at an ascertained slow rate per minute, and affords time to get out of danger; and when it is used, the tamping-rod does not come into contact with the gunpowder. | |
1867 | March | 21 | Bredisholm No 4 | Baillieston | Charles Tennant & Co | P Markley | Brusher | 48 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of roof while blasting | |
1867 | March | 21 | Dykehead | Larkhall | Summerlee Iron Co | Robert Wilson | Driver | 14 | Miscellaneous | Crushed with tubs (found dead) | Newspaper report - Dalserf pages |
1867 | March | 22 | Espieside No 3 | Coatbridge | W Baird & Co | A Bartin | Collier | 41 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of coal at face | |
1867 | March | 23 | Kennet | Clackmannan | Francis Greer | Wm Adamson | Collier | 23 | Falls of roof | Coal fell on him while holing | |
1867 | March | 23 | Grayrigg Colliery | Nr Blackbraes | James Anderson | Not listed | Death not listed in
Inspectors report 3 boys killed by boiler explosion |
Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages | |||
John Heaps | |||||||||||
William Heaps | |||||||||||
1867 | March | 26 | Kenneil Iron Works | Bo'ness | George Wilson & Co | David Muir | ---- | -- | Explosions | Explosion of fire damp | |
1867 | March | 27 | Binniehill | Slammanan | A C Brown | And. Rodney | Collier | 40 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof | Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages |
1867 | April | 1 | Binniehill | Slammanan | A C Brown | Wm Shaw | Collier | 19 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof | Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages |
1867 | April | 6 | Heathery Knowe No 2 | Baillieston | Heathery Knowe Coal Co | Andw Ramsay | Collier | 41 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of coal at face | |
1867 | April | 8 | Aitkenhead | Bothwell | Provanhall Coal Co | R Gamble | Collier | 19 | In shafts | Cage got out of slides while he was ascending and he fell down the pit | Newspaper report - Old Monkland pages |
1867 | April | 11 | Cleland | Motherwell | William Dixon | Wm Winning | Collier | 40 | Falls of roof | Fall of top coal which he was working. He was caught while freeing the last portion which prevented it from falling | |
1867 | April | 15 | Haughead | Hamilton | Merry & Cunningham | John McKie | Drawer | -- | Explosions | Explosion of fire damp. Bryce and McKie went down the pit to clear some fire damp out of a mine From Main body of report: With regard to accident No. 16, there is no evidence to show that Bryce had neglected any precaution, except seeing for himself that everyone was out of the pit. The place which contained the fire-damp had been shut off for weeks, and the removal of it might have formed the subject of consultation and more careful precaution. | Newspaper report - Hamilton pages |
Jas Campbell | Collier | -- | |||||||||
Jas Bryce | Overman | -- | |||||||||
1867 | April | 20 | Aird's Green No 1 | Muirkirk | Eglinton Iron Co | Jas McMillan | Collier | 35 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of roof | |
1867 | April | 23 | No. 3 ironstone pit, Gartshore | James Todd | Not listed | Death not listed in Inspectors report | Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages | ||||
1867 | April | 25 | Townhead | Dunfermline | Townhill Coal Co | Wm Barclay | Collier | 30 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof | |
1867 | May | 9 | NK - Harthill area | Patrick McCarty | Not listed | Death not listed in Inspectors report | Source is death cert only | ||||
1867 | May | 11 | Springbank | Airdrie | Springbank Coal Co | John Baff | Collier | 39 | Falls of roof | Fall of coal | Newspaper report - New Monkland pages [NB Richard Scullion was not listed by inspector] |
Richard Scullion or Scoolan | Death not listed in Inspectors report | ||||||||||
1867 | May | 13 | Addiewell | Lothians | William Mathers | Not listed | Death not listed in Inspectors report | Newspaper report - Lothian pages | |||
1867 | May | 21 | Polkemmet | Bathgate | Shotts Iron Company | R. Scullion | Miner | 22 | Falls of roof | Fall of stone | |
1867 | May | 27 | Cambusnethan | Wishaw | John Sneddon | Jas Stevenson | Collier | 32 | Explosions | These men were allowed to examine the fire-damp in thier own place, and they went too far before using the Davy lamp. No proceedings were taken. The fireman specially appointed should examine the places before the workmen enter, and not the workmen themselves. From Main body of report: The accident No. 19 was caused by want of discipline of the same kind [as per Jan 7 1856, Pather], and in addition the men were allowed by the fireman to examine their own places for fire-damp. | Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages |
Jas Short | Collier | 40 | Explosions | ||||||||
1867 | May | 31 | Bank | New Cumnock | Bank Coal Co | Hugh Brown | Pithead-man | 31 | In shafts | Fell down the shaft by pushing a hutch in to the wrong division From Main body of report: It appears that at the time of the accident, or a few minutes before it, the deceased and the hillman were both engaged at the pit-mouth taking a full hutch of coal off the "rise"cage. I understand that they had taken it to the weighs close by, after which the deceased had gone to place an empty hutch upon the cage to be returned in the usual way, but instead of pushing it on to the cage he had unaccountably run it forward in to the "di " division, where of course there was no cage, and fell with it to the bottom, a distance of 30 fathoms. It is needless to remark that if a self-acting guard had been in use this unfortunate occurrence would have been prevented. The contrivance is inexpensive, and easily applied; it is applicable to all collieries; I have called attention to it for the last 10 years, but I am afraid that something more than publicity is required to insure its general application. | |
1867 | June | 2 | Muiredge | Kirkcaldy | Bowman & Co | J Marsden | Bottomer | 32 | In shafts | Fell from a mid-working. This death was caused by carelessness on the part of the manager, who caused the cage to be stopped, and to act as a bridge from one side of the shaft to the other. The deceased was returning an empty tub, but some one in his absence caused the cage to be lowered, and the deceased fell to the bottom of the pit. From Main body of report: With regard to shaft accidents, the accidents Nos. 20 and 40 in the list are avoidable accidents. It is evident that fence as you will people do fall from mid-workings, and as the existence of these is only a question of money, it is always possible to dispense with them. | |
1867 | June | 3 | Windyedge | Motherwell | Robert Stewart | David Johnstone | Overman | 51 | Miscellaneous | The engineman lowered them into 15 fathoms water, and the cage being covered they could not get out. It seemed to me to have been caused soley by the engineman's neglect. He was tried for it before a jury and acquited From Main body of report: The accident No. 4 in list was a very melancholy one. The deceased were descending on the cage to change a bucket in a pit used for pumping water. Some misunderstanding appears to have arisen regarding the signals, for the engineman, instead of stopping at the proper place, lowered them slowly into the water at the bottom of the pit, and the cage being covered on the top, they were confined as in a trap, and drowned. Some minutes afterwards the engineman discovered, by the reduced size of the rope roll, that he had lowered them too far, and he brought the cage up again, but they were both drowned. The engineman was tried for manslaughter before Sheriff Veitch, of Hamilton, and a jury, but was acquitted. Covers on cages have saved many lives, but in this case there can be little doubt that if the cage had not been covered on the top, the deceased would have escaped by clinging to the buntons and slides of the pit. | Newspaper report - Shotts pages |
Charles Strain | Roadsman | 48 | |||||||||
1867 | June | 4 | Mossend | Holytown | William Neilson | A Houston | Sinker | 23 | In shafts | Fell off kettle while ascending from a shot | |
1867 | June | 12 | Annbank No 2 | Ayr | J T Gordon | T Fitzsimon | Wagoner | 17 | Above ground | Jammed between waggons upon a railway siding From Main body of report: Took place at a railway siding, by the waggoner getting jammed between some railway waggons | |
1867 | June | 12 | Craignethan | Lesmahagow | James Ferguson | G Caldwell | Engineman | 60 | Above ground | Oiling machinery in motion | |
1867 | June | 12 | Largoward | Largo | Brown & Kidd | Alex Brown | Collier | 53 | Falls of roof | Fall of coal | |
1867 | June | 17 | Anchor ironstone pit, Dunipace | John Dunn | Not listed | Death not listed in Inspectors report | Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages | ||||
1867 | June | 18 | Bellsdyke | Airdrie | Shaw & Pettigrew | Chas McGuade | Drawer | 16 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof | |
1867 | June | 18 | Millburn | Larkhall | Hamilton & McCulloch | G Burnside | Collier | 48 | Falls of roof | Fall of coal | Newspaper report - Dalserf pages |
1867 | June | 24 | Dalkeith | Dalkeith | Alex Gordon | Wm Brown | Collier | 28 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof in a long wall working | Newspaper report |
1867 | June | 30 | Brocklar | Ayrshire | Mr Nimmo | Not listed | Death not listed in Inspectors report | Newspaper report | |||
1867 | July | 3 | Redding | Falkirk | Redding Coal Co | Alex Fruter | Brusher | 51 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof | Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages |
1867 | July | 6 | Summerlee No 3 | Coatbridge | Wilsons & Co | Bernd Henan | Collier | 34 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of roof | Newspaper report - Old Monkland pages |
1867 | July | 6 | Townhill | Dunfermline | Townhill Coal Co | John Watson | Collier | 31 | Falls of roof | Fall of coal | |
1867 | July | 9 | Glorrat | Campsie | John Kirk | Pat Dempsey | Collier | 46 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of roof | |
1867 | July | 11 | Clarkston | Airdrie | Motherwell & Wilson | D McVie | Collier | 23 | Falls of roof | Fall of top coal | Newspaper report |
1867 | July | 12 | Newbattle | Dalkeith | Marquis of Lothian | J Sneddon | Collier | 52 | Falls of roof | Fall of stone in roads | |
1867 | July | 16 | Milnwood | Holytown | John Christie | Wm Campbell | Collier | 30 | Falls of roof | Fall of stone | |
1867 | July | 17 | Woodhill No 7 | Kilmarnock | Merry & Cunningham | Geo Johnstone | Oversman | 43 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of coal | |
1867 | July | 17 | Kenneil | Bo'ness | George Wilson & Co | Chas. Sneddon | Miner | 62 | Explosions | Explosion of fire-damp | |
1867 | July | 20 | Grange No 2 | Kilmarnock | Robert Yeats & Co | Pat Collins | Brusher | 46 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of roof | |
1867 | July | 24 | Vogrie | Dalkeith | John Christie | D Smith | Collier | 40 | Falls of roof | Fall of coal | |
1867 | July | 27 | Cambusnethan | Wishaw | John Sneddon | A Richards | Collier | -- | Falls of roof | Fall of roof while taking out stoops | |
1867 | July | 28 | Tennochfide [sic - presumably Tannochside] | Holytown | Monkland Iron Co | D Oracher | Sinker | 21 | Miscellaneous | Killed by a shot in a sinking pit. The match kindled the straw before they had time to get out of harm's way From Main body of report: Four deaths were caused by premature explosions of gunpowder in sinking pits and stone drifts. In one case, two men engaged in sinking were killed by the negligence of one of the sufferers in adjusting the match, it having ignited lighted the charge before they were out of the pit bottom. | |
D Colville | Sinker | 50 | |||||||||
1867 | July | 30 | Quarter No 1 Pit | Denny | William Baird & Co | Edw Bateman | Boy | 14 | Ironstone mines falls of ironstone and roof | Fall of roof at face | |
1867 | August | 16 | No 5 Millwood | William Campbell | Death not listed in Inspectors report | Newspaper report - Bothwell pages | |||||
1867 | August | 16 | Annbank No 4 | Ayr | J T Gordon | Wm Hilliard | Roadsman | 30 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of roof while preparing to blast under it | |
1867 | August | 17 | Drumnir No 2 | Kilmarnock | Merry & Cunningham | John Gorman | Boy | 15 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of roof at face | |
1867 | August | 20 | Craigends No 2 | Baillieston | Birrell & McIntosh | Jas Stevenson | Sinker | 45 | In shafts | Breakage of a crane rope while being suspended in the shaft repairing the mid-wall | |
1867 | August | 24 | Coal Burn | Cumnock | James McNicol | Jas Polland | Drawer | 14 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of roof | |
1867 | August | 27 | Cambusnethan | Anthony Ritchie | Death not listed in Inspectors report | Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages | |||||
1867 | September | 5 | Common No 2 | Cumnock | Eglinton Iron Co | George Rankine | Sinker | 37 | Ironstone mines in shafts | Fell off the pump rods, a distance of 9 feet | |
1867 | September | 7 | No 2 Ironstone pit, Gartshore | William Graham | Death not listed in Inspectors report | Newspaper report - Dunbartonshire pages | |||||
1867 | September | 10 | Dennymill No 2 | Denny | Robert Addie | John Duff | Boy | 14 | Ironstone mines explosions | Explosion of fire damp | |
1867 | September | 23 | Whitehill | Lusswade | Archd Hood | Hy. Reid | Sinker | 34 | Miscellaneous | Premature explosion of gunpowder while stemming From Main body of report: Four deaths were caused by premature explosions of gunpowder in sinking pits and stone drifts .. The other two deaths (one of them was in a sinking pit and the other in a stone mine) were caused by the premature explosion of the charge while tamping in gritty sandstone. The owners of the pits were advised to get their workmen to use safety fuse, which burns at an ascertained slow rate per minute, and affords time to get out of danger; and when it is used, the tamping-rod does not come into contact with the gunpowder. | |
1867 | September | 25 | Glenlogan No 12 | Cumnock | Eglinton Iron Co | Jas Gilchrist | assistant pitheadman | 18 | In shafts | Overbalanced himself at the pit head, and fell into the shaft | |
1867 | September | 28 | Blair No 7 | Dalry | Eglinton Iron Co | Henry Gibson | Brusher | 23 | Miscellaneous | Explosion of gunpowder while blasting | |
1867 | September | 28 | Langlands | Dalry | Merry & Cunningham | John Ferguson | Boy | 14 | Ironstone mines falls of ironstone and roof | Fall of roof at face | |
1867 | October | 2 | Balgray No 7 | Maryhill | Robert Addie | Geo Penman | Miner | 34 | Ironstone mines falls of ironstone and roof | Fall of roof at face | |
1867 | October | 2 | Cleland | Motherwell | W S Dixon | P Dewar | Sinker | 15 | Falls of roof | Fall of coal | Newspaper report - Bothwell pages |
1867 | October | 12 | Pencartland | Tranent | Deans & Moore | A Hogg | Sinker | 41 | In shafts | Killed in a sinking pit by the engine getting out of gear while he was descending From Main body of report: Accident No. 37, engine running out of gear. This is also a preventible [sic] accident. The remedy is to have two engines, one for pumping and the other for winding. | |
1867 | October | 16 | Gunnie No 1 | Coatbridge | William Baird & Co | Thos Mochen | Collier | 21 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of roof at face | |
1867 | October | 21 | Netherton | Wishaw | Scott & Gilmour | Jas Waddel | Collier | 43 | In shafts | Fall of coal | Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages |
1867 | October | 29 | Braes O'Yetts | Kirkintilloch | Thomas Fell | John Freel | Collier | 26 | Explosions | Explosion of fire damp From Main body of report: According to the special rules of the colliery, it is provided that the fireman shall descend the pit in the morning before the colliers' shift shall begin, and shall proceed with a safety-lamp through all the working parts, to ascertain whether they are free from fire-damp, &c. It was the practice for the workmen to be lowered to the pit-bottom in the morning with the fireman, or soon after him, where they were expected to remain till the fireman made his underground examination, and reported to them as to the state of the pit. It appears that on the morning of the accident the deceased and some others, contrary to this important regulation, had left the pit-bottom for the purpose of going to their work before the fireman had completed his round of inspection. Apparently no precaution had been taken by them, as each carried an unprotected light, and the deceased when about 10 or 15 fathoms from the face of his working place ignited a quantity of fire-damp, by which he was fatally injured. I examined the pit on the day after the explosion, and found that a fall of roof had taken place in the deceased's road, which prevented the air from passing by the usual course, and allowed an accumulation of gas. If the deceased had remained at the pit-bottom till the fireman had completed his round of examination the gas would have been detected, means would have been taken to right the airway, or otherwise, and in all probability the explosion would have been prevented. Since the accident the following addition has been made to the special rules : " The engine-man shall not allow the descent of workmen into the colliery on any morning till after the fireman has completed his under-ground examination, and has signalled to the surface to that effect." Apparently till once such a regulation is strictly observed, accidents similar to the one above described will occasionally take place. | |
1867 | October | 29 | Longford | West Calder | Jamieson & Pender | H Leslie | Labourer | 31 | In shafts | Was repairing barring at the surface when some debris fell away and carried the scaffold and him to the bottom of the pit | |
1867 | November | 2 | Bogleshole No 4 | Tollcross | James Dunlop & Co | R Kirkwood | Collier | 23 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of roof | Newspaper report - Old Monkland pages |
1867 | November | 18 | Carnbroe | Holytown | Merry & Cunningham | J Lynch | Bottomer | -- | In shafts | Fell from a mid working From Main body of report: With regard to shaft accidents, the accidents Nos. 20 and 40 in the list are avoidable accidents. It is evident that fence as you will people do fall from mid-workings, and as the existence of these is only a question of money, it is always possible to dispense with them. | Newspaper report - Bothwell pages |
1867 | November | 18 | Limerigg | Slammanan | Robert Baird | G Duncan | Collier | 24 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof | |
1867 | November | 21 | Seafield | Blantyre | Arthur McCormick | Not listed in report | Death not listed in Inspectors report | Newspaper report - Blantyre pages | |||
1867 | November | 25 | Cuttlehill | Lochgelly | Henderson & Wallace | Archd Cook | Collier | 19 | Falls of roof | Fall of roof | Newspaper report - Fife pages [NB This report gives pit as being Netherbeath, Crossgates] |
1867 | November | 26 | Drumpark | Baillieston | Drumpark Coal Co | James White | Collier | 19 | In shafts | Fell off cage while descending | Newspaper report - Old Monkland pages |
1867 | November | 27 | Wellwood No 1 | Muirkirk | Eglinton Iron Co | James Beck | Collier | 24 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of roof at face | |
1867 | November | 28 | Cardenden | Lochgelly | James Goodal | ---- ---- | Collier | -- | Miscellaneous | Drowned by water from an old waste of which no record had been kept. It was asserted by one of the miners that he told the manager that the symptoms indicated waste a week before the inundation, but this was denied by him From Main body of report: An irruption of water from an old waste working broke into the workings of Cardenden Colliery, which carried away and drowned four men who were working at the place. The other workmen in the colliery escaped by a second outlet, affording another example of the benefit of this wise statutory enactment. Had there been no such outlet, at least 40 lives must have been sacrificed. The existence of the old waste was unknown. One of the workmen, however, states that he told the overman, eight days before, that water was oozing through the coal which looked like waste water, but the overman never went near the place to look at it, nor does it appear he had been there for at least a month before. The Special Rules at this colliery, and at many others in Fifeshire, contain no provision for a daily examination of the working places before the workmen enter, or indeed at all, unless there be fire-damp, which was not found here. In all new collieries such a Special Rule is established, but where, as in this instance, the rules are already established, I have not always been able to get it introduced. It is to be hoped, however, that the Fife coalowners will not continue to object to its introduction. If such a rule had been established at Cardenden and acted upon, the overman might have detected the suspicious appearance referred to by the collier, and put in a bore, which, at the cost of a few shillings, would have shown the state of matters, and might have saved the lives of these unfortunate men. |
NB The men are not named in the report but they were William Hunter, 31;
Patrick Kennedy; 34, John McCusker, 18 and James Pedden, 37 Newspaper report - Auchterderran pages |
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1867 | November | 30 | Balquhatstone | Slammanan | John Watson | J Baird | Collier | 40 | In shafts | Fell down pit. He thought the engineman was going too quick and jumped from the cage at the surface and fell into the pit. Other 2 men were on the time and got off unhurt. There had been no cause for alarm | Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages |
1867 | December | 10 | Wyndyedge | Holytown | Robert Dick | Thomas Major | Collier | 50 | In Shafts | The engineman moved the cgae from the low scaffold at the surface, when he was getting off; the engineman was not to blame. The place was badly arranged; it has since been altered | Newspaper report - Bothwell pages |
1867 | December | 13 | Dalharco No 2 | Dalmellington | Dalmellington Iron Co | Jas Smith | Boy | 15 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of roof at face | |
1867 | December | 15 | Dykehead | Larkhall | Summerlee Iron Company | R William | Collier | 16 | In Shafts | Jumped on the cage while it was in motion | Newspaper report - Dalserf pages |
1867 | December | 17 | Kirkwood No 1 | Coatbridge | John Hendrie | Francis McLean | Collier | 42 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of coal | Newspaper Report -New Monkland pages |
1867 | December | 17 | Prestongrange | Tranent | Sir George Suttie | A. Ritchie | labourer | 23 | Above ground | The engineman left his engine while the deceased was adjusting a hutch on the cage 10 feet below the surface, and it crept away and aqueezed him to death against the beams. Neglect of engineman | |
1867 | December | 18 | Annbank No 4 | Ayr | J T Gordon | W Dryburgh | Collier | 60 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of coal | |
1867 | December | 18 | Auchinheath | Lesmahagow | Coates & Co. | James Burrow | Labourer | -- | In Shafts | Fell down pit from surface. Want of gates | Newspaper Report |
1867 | December | 20 | Polkemmet | Bathgate | Shotts Iron Company | Jas. Gibsone | Driver | 11 | Miscellaneous | Crushed by tubs | |
1867 | December | 25 | Blair No 2 | Dalry | Eglinton Iron Co | Rob White | Brusher | 42 | Falls of coal and roof | Fall of coal off the side of a pillar | |
1867 | December | 28 | Blackrigg | Airdrie | Wilson & Thomson | G. Millar | Sinker | 48 | In Shafts | Rope not properly fastened on crane it "surged" round while he was descending, and he fell off scaffold and was killed |