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1885 Deaths listed in Mine Inspectors Report
This table is compiled from appendices to the reports of the Inspector of Mines and Collieries. Additional details from the main body of the report are given where available. Many accidents are not listed in these reports and additional names have been added from newspaper reports and other sources - information not sourced from the mine inspectors reports is indicated by a shaded gray background
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Year Month Day Name of Colliery Where situated Owner or Company Person(s) killed Occupation Age Category Cause of accident and remarks Extra details
1885 January 7 Quarter Hamilton, LKS Colin Dunlop & Co Ed. McCann reddsman 50 Falls of roof On drawing road; stoop and room Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1885 January 9 Rawyards Airdrie, LKS Rawyards Coal Co Ltd Hugh Loughridge Pumper -- Explosion of fire damp Gas driven out on his naked light

From Main body of report: One man was killed by an explosion of firedamp. He worked in the return airway at a pump and with an open light. During the new-year holidays, when the miners were off work, and the fan probably not so well attended to, gas collected in the workings which the fan was unable to lift, and one night the manager put on a water-blast to give greater pressure. Unfortunately he had not taken the precaution to send the deceased out of the pit before making the experiment, and so he was at work when the fire-damp, which was driven out of the workings, came out and ignited at his naked light. The manager was charged with culpable neglect of duty before Sheriff Mair and a jury; he was found not guilty. At a subsequent trial under the Liability Act the relatives of deceased got damages.
Newspaper report - New Monkland pages
1885 January 13 Devon Alloa, CLK Alloa Coal Co Wm. Sneddon Collier 39 Falls of roof On incline place; stoop and room  
1885 January 13 Garriongill Cambusnethan, LKS Coltness Iron Co Alexander Baird Collier 52 Falls of sides Fall of head coal. Stoop and room Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages
1885 January 22 Lumphinnans Lochgelly, FIF Cowdenbeath Coal Co John Earlie Brusher 53 Falls of roof While repairing drawing road; long wall  
1885 January 23 Drumshangie Airdrie, LKS Drumshangie Coal Co John Crossan Collier 53 Falls of roof At face; long wall  
1885 January 24 Douglas Park Bothwell, LKS John Wilson James Aitken Collier 20 Falls of sides In a 12 feet room. Stoop and room  
1885 January 28 Addiewell West Calder, Edinburgh Youngs Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Co Ltd John Sneddon Repairer 63 In shale mines Fall of roof while repairing air course  
1885 January 28 Earnock Hamilton, LKS John Watson Jno. Rorke Labourer 60 Miscellaneous on surface While pushing a bogie along siding an engine and waggons ran into it  
1885 February 2 Blantyre Blantyre. LKS Wm Dixon Ltd Thomas Downie Collier 52 Falls of sides While holing. Long wall Newspaper Report - Blantyre pages
1885 February 9 Foulsykes Cambusnethan, LKS Coltness Iron Co Peter Burns Collier 55 Falls of roof At face; long wall  
1885 February 10 Broomhouse Broomhouse John Hendrie Richd. Clark Collier 24 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1885 February 16 Springside No11 Dreghorn A Kenneth & Son John Hay Collier 35 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1885 February 18 Dalzell Dalzell, LKS Wishaw Coal Co Robert Andrews Collier 25 Falls of sides While taking down head coal. Stoop and room  
1885 February 21 Gauchalland No7 Galston Gauchalland Coal Co Wm. Gallacher Drawer 13 Miscellaneous underground Was run over by a runaway hutch at pit bottom Newspaper report - Ayrshire pages
1885 February 29 Trabboch Coylton John Galloway & Co Charles Higgins Collier 45 Miscellaneous underground Whilst riding upon an incline contrary to regulations NB Date appears to be February 29
1885 March 3 Muircockhall Dunfermline, FIF Dunfermline Coal Co Rich. Roxburgh Labourer 52 Miscellaneous on surface Crushed by waggons at screens during shunting operations Newspaper report
1885 March 5 Cadder No 15 Bishopbriggs Carron Iron Co Robert Gordon Miner 19 In ironstone/fire clay mines Fall of roof at face  
1885 March 6 Carfin Bothwell, LKS Wm Dixon Ltd Alex McLair Brusher 67 Falls of roof While repairing drawing road; long wall  
1885 March 11 Orchard Mine Cathcart Baird & Stevenson Thomas Maxwell Labourer 18 In metalliferous mines Burned by naphtha whilst using it improperly  
1885 March 12 Pentland Loanhead, Edinburgh Clippens Oil Co Ltd Jas. McKinlay Roadsman -- In shale mines Crushed by runaway hutches on incline owing to the breaking of a coupling Newspaper report - Lothian pages
1885 March 16 Addiewell West Calder, Edinburgh Youngs Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Co Ltd Sam. McCurley Drawer 20 In shale mines While descending in the morning the cage left the guides, stuck in the shaft, and then fell some fathoms. The deceased fell out but two others remained on the cage uninjured

From Main body of report: The cage, in which six persons were descending, got out of the slides, stuck and then fell a distance, which threw four of them off the cage.
Newspaper report - Gavieside page
Thos. Dougan Drawer 19
Alex. Bulloch Drawer 14
And. Sanderson Drawer 16
1885 March 20 Dolphingston Prestonpans, Haddington Prestongrange Coal Co Ed. McNeill Collier 45 Falls of roof On incline plane, while repairing timbering; long wall  
1885 March 24 Devon Alloa, CLK Alloa Coal Co Jas Paterson Collier 27 Falls of roof At face; stoop and room  
1885 March 24 Trabboch Coylton John Galloway & Co James Dick Trimmer boy 14 Above ground Missed his footing while trying to sprag a waggon and was run over by it  
1885 March 30 Lightshaw Muirkirk Eglinton Iron Co Wm. Paterson Collier 40 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal  
1885 April 3 Lumphinnans Lochgelly, FIF Cowdenbeath Coal Co Augus Stein Brusher 21 Falls of roof At face of brushing; long wall  
1885 April 14 Motherwell Motherwell, LKS John Watson Alex Laird Collier 18 Falls of roof At face; stoops  
1885 April 15 Earnock Hamilton, LKS John Watson Jno. McCulloch Collier 21 Miscellaneous underground- by tubs and trams Run over by a hutch while taking it down-hill by going in front  
1885 April 16 Leven Wemyss, FIF Fife Coal Co Ltd Sam. Watters Collier 19 Falls of sides While holing. Long wall  
1885 April 22 Lumphinnans Lochgelly, FIF Cowdenbeath Coal Co Jas Connelly Collier 28 Falls of roof At face; long wall  
1885 April 27 Ballochmyle Auchinleck William Walker Andrew Cowan Brusher 35 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1885 April 28 Hill of Beath Beath, FIF Ord. Adams John Cormie Collier 39 Falls of sides While holing. Long wall Newspaper report - Beath accidents
1885 April 29 Gartshore No3 Kilsyth Wm Baird & Co Terrence Crossgrove Miner 26 In ironstone/fire clay mines Fall of roof  
1885 April 29 Glentores Greengairs, LKS Glentore Coal Co Thos. McLauchlan Collier 14 Falls of roof At face; long wall Newspaper report - New Monkland pages
1885 April 30 Carfin Bothwell, LKS Carfin Coal Co Thos. Skifferton ---- -- Falls of roof On road. Died 31st July  
1885 May 7 Barrwood No 2 Kilsyth Wm Baird & Co Wm. Rankine Drawer 14 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1885 May 11 Hopetoun Bathgate, Linlithgow James Wood Jno. Mathieson Collier 54 Miscellaneous underground- on inclined planes Crushed by a runaway train on engine-plane while taking empty hutch from one station to another  
1885 May 11 Nitshill Nitshill Eglinton Iron Co Wm. Biggestaff Sinker 44 In ironstone/fire clay mines While engaged sinking a plank fell upon him from the surface, a depth of 17 fathoms Newspaper report - Renfrewshire pages
1885 May 12 Auldton     James McCue      Not listed Death not listed in Inspectors report Newspaper report - Dalserf pages
1885 May 13 Auchenharvie     John Sutherland     Not listed Death not listed in Inspectors report Newspaper report - Ayrshire pages
1885 May 14 Green Cambusnethan, LKS Wm. Hudspith & Co Jas. McGarrigill Driver 16 Miscellaneous underground- by tubs and trams Found dead below a train of loaded hutches Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages
1885 May 20 Earnock Hamilton, LKS John Watson John Forbes Weigher 17 Miscellaneous on surface Run over by empty waggons while attempting to press down the break by a lever, which was caught by the wheels Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1885 May 23 Carmyle No 1 Tollcross James Dunlop & Co James Grant Collier 28 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1885 May 26 Cowdenbeath Beath, FIF Cowdenbeath Coal Co Jas. Inglis Collier 38 Falls of sides While filling coal. Long wall Newspaper report - Beath pages
1885 May 28 Letterick Blantyre. LKS Letterick Coal Co Wm. Davidson Fireman 22 Above ground Scalded when securing a leakage in the boiler

From Main body of report:
By the breaking of one of the 7/8-inch bolts which secure the covers at the ends of the tubes of a Babcock and Wilcox's boiler, a fireman was fatally scalded. After cleaning the tubes, to do which it was necessary to remove the covers at the end, the steam was raised to about 40 lbs. pressure. It was then discovered that there was a slight leakage at one of the covers, and the deceased was endeavouring, by means of a powerful screw-key, to tighten it, when the bolt gave way.
 
1885 May 29 Greenfield Hamilton, LKS Archd. Russell David Dunn Collier 50 Falls of sides At stoops  
1885 June 3 Gilbertfield No 1 Cambuslang Cambuslang Coal Co John Johnstone Oversman 38 Miscellaneous underground Jammed by hutches which broke away upon a dook Newspaper Report
1885 June 11 Pentland Loanhead, Edinburgh Clippens Oil Co Ltd Robt. Christie Roadsman -- In shale mines Fall of roof while brushing a road  
1885 June 13 Gilbertfield No 2 Cambuslang Cambuslang Coal Co Terrence Folly Collier 16 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal at face  
1885 June 17 Niddrie Liberton, Edinburgh Niddrie & Benhar Coal Co Ltd And. Cochrane Drawer 20 Miscellaneous underground- on inclined planes Fell down a brake-incline. Edge seam  
1885 June 17 Ross Hamilton, LKS Thomas Barr Jas. Tweedie Driver 40 Miscellaneous underground- by tubs and trams Jammed between prop and hutches while putting in snibbles.  
1885 June 25 Hayside Kilmarnock Hayside Coal Co William Cook Collier 21 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1885 June 26 Glespin Douglas, LKS James Swann Robt. McIntosh Collier 30 Falls of roof While drawing props at stoops  
1885 July 13 Cadzow Hamilton, LKS Cadzow Coal Co Ltd Peter Dunyan Collier 30 Miscellaneous underground- on inclined planes Crushed between prop and hutches on engine-plane Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1885 July 13 Glentore Greengairs, LKS Glentore Coal Co Robt. Jenkins Hutch runner 14 Miscellaneous on surface Run over by a waggon at screens Newspaper report - New Monkland pages
1885 July 15 Bellfield Hurlford Bellfield Coal Co Andrew Millar Collier 15 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof; injured on 4th inst.  
1885 July 15 Bent Hamilton, LKS Bent Colliery Co Ltd Hugh Hassan Roadsman 32 Falls of roof While drawing props at stoops Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1885 July 17 Common No10 Lugar Eglinton Iron Co John Smith Roadsman 55 Miscellaneous underground While acting as chain runner, fell while stepping off a hutch and his legs were injured; injured on 13th April  
1885 July 21 Greystonelea Shotts, LKS Sneddon & Edwards Jno. Wallace Sinker -- In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery Fell off cage while signalling to stop in descending  
1885 July 23 Kingseat Dunfermline, FIF Andrew Wallace And. Cook Collier -- Falls of roof At face; long wall Newspaper report
1885 July 27 Blantyre Blantyre. LKS Wm Dixon Ltd Pat Canavan Collier 35 Falls of roof At face; long wall  
1885 July 27 Calder Iron Works Coatbridge Wm Dixon Ltd Thomas Spellman Sinker 45 In shafts When putting in a pump fell off a plank to the bottom, a distance of 47 fathoms  
1885 July 27 Craighead Hamilton, LKS Wm Baird & Co Jno. Baird Roadsman 50 Miscellaneous underground- by tubs and trams While repairing a road a drawer ran a loaded hutch against him. Died 14th August  
1885 July 27 Kersland No 2 Dalry Eglinton Iron Co John Berry Drawer 17 In ironstone/fire clay mines By a part of a full “race” on a dook becoming detached, the hutches ran back and jammed him  
1885 August 3 Merryton Hamilton, LKS Merryton Coal Co Jno Nolan Collier -- In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery Fell of cage while ascending. It was thought he had taken a fainting fit. Died 12th August

From Main body of report:
It was contended that the death was from a fainting fit while ascending the shaft, and I think this may have been so.
 
1885 August 5 Bent Hamilton, LKS Bent Colliery Co Ltd David Dunn Collier 16 Falls of sides While holing in a narrow place  
1885 August 6 Longlee Dalserf, LKS Wm Barr & Sons John Bolton Collier 50 Falls of roof At edge of goaf; stoops  
1885 August 10 Barblues Airdrie, LKS A & G Anderson John Rodgers Collier -- Falls of sides Hand injured while doling; died. Long wall  
1885 August 11 Overtown Cambusnethan, LKS Brand & Co No name given Miner 43 Falls of roof While redding; stoop and room Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages [Gives name as John Hamilton]
1885 August 25 Stanrigg New Monkland, LKS Wm Black & Sons Wm Whalin Miner -- In ironstone mines Run over by a hutch which he was in front while bringing it out without a snibble Newspaper report - New Monkland pages
1885 August 28 Heathery Knowe Cuilhill J McNaughton & Sons Jarvis Blake Collier 32 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof; injured on 3rd June  
1885 August 29 Dykes No2 Cumnock Eglinton Iron Co John Collins Miner 51 In ironstone/fire clay mines Fall of roof; injured on the 27th  
1885 September 1 Orchard Mine Cathcart Baird & Stevenson Timothy Cromer Labourer 22 In metalliferous mines Fall of roof  
1885 September 3 Limerigg Slamannan, STI Limerigg Coal Co Ltd Thos Lang Collier 40 Falls of roof At face; long wall  
1885 September 4 Redding Polmont, STI Redding Colliery Co David Roberts breaksman 55 Miscellaneous on surface While breaking waggons the break which he was pinning down broke at the hanger, and he fell off and was struck by the axle box  
1885 September 5 Clyde No 2 Tollcross James Dunlop & Co James Lowrie Trimmer 17 Above ground Was caught between a loaded and an empty waggon Newspaper Report - Old Monkland pages
1885 September 8 Dalzell Dalzell, LKS Wishaw Coal Co John P Hislop Foreman 30 Miscellaneous on surface Jammed between buffers while coupling waggons in motion Newspaper Report
1885 September 11 Heathery Knowe Cuilhill J McNaughton & Sons James Haddow Collier 27 Explosion of fire damp Explosion of fire damp; injured on the 5th

From Main body of report: The accident happened to a collier who had gone into a working place which had been stopped two days previously, and which the fireman in consequence had not examined that morning. His naked light ignited some firedamp, and he was so severely injured by the explosion that he died six days after.
Newspaper Report - Old Monkland pages
1885 September 15 Woodend Torphichen, Linlithgow Coltness Iron Co Wm Thomson Roadsman 35 Miscellaneous underground- on inclined planes Crushed by runaway hutches on dook. He was riding on the last hutch when the rope broke.  
1885 September 16 Murrayshall Mine Stirling Paterson & Thomson Wm. Finlayson Miner 64 In metalliferous mines Fall of limestone  
1885 September 18 Limerigg Slamannan, STI John Nimmo & Son ---- Thomson ---- -- Falling into shaft from surface ----  
1885 September 19 Common No11 Cumnock Eglinton Iron Co John Haldridge Miner 46 In ironstone/fire clay mines Fall of ironstone  
1885 September 19 Southfield Slamannan, STI Wm Black & Sons Wm. Anderson Bottomer -- Miscellaneous in shafts By hutch falling out of cage upon him. It was supposed he had neglected to put up the “guard” before signalling  
1885 October 3 Kinneil Bo'ness, Linlithgow Kinneil Coal Co Isa. Robertson Pithead worker 20 Miscellaneous on surface Crushed between 2 hutches on a gangway  
1885 October 5 Earnock Hamilton, LKS John Watson James Davies Collier 24 Falls of sides Fall of head coal at stoops  
1885 October 8 Muiredge Wemyss, FIF Bowman and Co Wm Ostler Brusher -- Falls of roof While repairing road; long wall  
1885 October 9 Dalzell Dalzell, LKS Jno McAndrew & Co Chas Calligan Collier 52 Falls of roof At face; long wall  
1885 October 20 Loudon No 2 Galston Eglinton Iron Co Robert Roxburgh Sinker 30 In shafts Rope broke while they were repairing a shaft

From Main body of report:
By the breaking of a hemp rope, 1 1/2 inches in diameter, two men lost their lives whilst repairing an up-cast shaft in which the wooden timbering had been destroyed by a fire. The rope was said to be three years old, and to have been only used twice, for a few days each time, previous to the accident. It appears to have been selected from the store and examined by one of the men who lost their lives previous to being put on the windlass barrel, and to outward appearance showed little signs of wear. From the fact of the rope breaking while only sustaining the weight of two men and the light scaffold upon which they were being lowered it is evident that it was unfit for the work to which it was applied. This case shows the necessity for subjecting ropes which have been lying in store for some time, even though little the worse of wear, to some practical test before being again used, if used at all.
 
Robert Hamilton Sinker 54
1885 October 26 Drumpeller No 4 Coatbridge Drumpeller Coal Co James King Collier 20 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal on his head causing suffocation  
1885 October 26 Law Carluke, LKS John Wilson Wm. Ross Breaksman 14 Miscellaneous underground- by tubs and trams Crushed by a hutch near the “face” where he had no business. The place was rising 1 in 3 and the “trig” which held the hutch had either been knocked out or had fallen out.  
1885 October 30 Kirkhill Cambuslang Kirkhill Coal Co Alexr. Stewart Collier 59 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal whilst engaged holing  
1885 October 31 Nitshill Nitshill Eglinton Iron Co John Blair Sinker 37 In ironstone/fire clay mines Injured by a fall of stones from a part of a shaft which he was repairing

From Main body of report:
The shaft was being repaired and re-wooded at certain parts, and the deceased with a fellow workman had a contract for this work. It appears that on the night of the accident they had been at work about six hours, and had taken out 8 feet perpendicular of old wood lining about 100 fathoms from the surface After doing this they signalled the cage to be lowered, and when about 13 fathoms down a quantity of stuff fell from the shaft at the part where the old wood had been taken out and struck the cage, killing one of the men and severely injuring the other This description of work is dangerous, and particularly so where frequently the loose condition of the strata is uncertain, and to take out so much as 8 feet of the barring at a time is extremely hazardous It inadvisable where re-wooding is required not to remove more than 3 feet or so of the old wood at a time, and the cage or scaffold upon which the workmen stand should not be lowered below the part of the shaft undergoing repairs. The practice of lining new shafts entirely with wood irrespective of the kinds of strata is now becoming more general, and it is a good one, Wood timbering, however, requires to be sometimes renewed, and something more durable would be advantageous. In stone or brick lining this durability is obtained, but unless the circular shaft were to be substituted in future sinkings for that of an oblong form, wood lining will continue to be used.
 
1885 November 2 Ellismuir Baillieston Provanhall Coal Co Michael O'Keefe Sinker 40 In shafts While ripping and widening the shaft a quantity of stuff came suddenly down and carried away the scaffold upon which they were standing

From Main body of report: The two men who lost their lives stood upon a fixed scaffold whilst engaged taking out the old wood and enlarging the shaft, and they had prepared and were about to replace 8 feet of barring when a part of the side of the shaft about 4 feet above the fixed scaffold gave way and carried the scaffold with the men on it to the bottom, a depth of 82 fathoms.
Newspaper Report - Old Monkland pages
Nicholas Morris Sinker 39
1885 November 4 Kilbirnie No21 Kilbirnie Merry & Cunningham Thomas Seggie Roadsman 52 In ironstone/fire clay mines While working in the shaft he fell down 13 fathoms to the bottom  
1885 November 5 Roughrigg Slamannan, STI Robt. Forrester Jas. Freckleton Collier 25 Falls of roof At face; long wall  
1885 November 13 Hallside Cambuslang James Dunlop & Co Thomas Ferguson Bricklayer 21 Above ground Fall of a brick wall at which he was engaged  
1885 November 17 Glebe Douglas, LKS Thos. Grierson Andrew Gold Collier -- Falls of sides Fall of coal after a shot; stoop and room  
1885 November 23 Springbank Airdrie, LKS Springbank Coal Co James Hall Sinker -- Falling from part way down Fell 6 fathoms while putting in pipes  
1885 November 23 Whitehill Rosewell, Edinburgh Archd. Hood Ed. Malloy Collier -- Falls of roof At face; fall of “falling”  
1885 November 26 Bog Hamilton, LKS Hamilton McCulloch & Co John Davis Collier 18 Falls of roof At face; stoop and room Newspaper report - Dalserf pages
1885 November 29 Haugh No 1 Kilsyth Wm Baird & Co Daniel Fraser Drawer 16 Explosion of fire damp Explosion of fire damp; injured on 11th May

From Main body of report:
The accident happened to a drawer, who along with the collier with whom he worked, in order to lift rails for their own use, went into a road, which had been temporarily stopped, when they encountered some firedamp which ignited at their naked lights. It was reported by the fireman that there was no firedamp in the road or working place two hours before the explosion, but that after the explosion a fresh fall of roof was found to have occurred at the working-face, and a considerable quantity of fire-damp had collected. It was stated that the deceased, who lived 6 1/2 months after the explosion, and the collier with whom he worked, were not authorised to lift the rails.
 
1885 December 10 Blair No 9 Dalry Eglinton Iron Co Thomas Smith Miner 45 In ironstone/fire clay mines Fall of roof  
1885 December 10 Pennyvenie No2 Dalmellington Dalmellington Iron Co James Watson Collier 22 Explosion of fire damp Explosion of fire damp; injured on 25th November

From Main body of report:
The accident took place in a bratticed heading in a " stoop and room " working. It seems that a fall of roof had broken down a part of the bratticing, which partially cut off the air current from the heading face, but the fireman, although he noticed the defect when making his usual morning inspection, permitted the deceased to go to work without having remedied it. , In consequence of the weakened current of air, some firedamp accumulated and ignited at the open light of the deceased. The fireman in this case was charged before a jury with contravening Special Rules 36 and 39, but was acquitted.
 
1885 December 10 Udston Hamilton, LKS Udston Coal Co Wm. Rennie Trimmer 56 Miscellaneous on surface Crushed between waggons at screen Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1885 December 12 Biggarsford LKS   Owen Quin     Not listed Death not listed in Inspectors report Newspaper report- Bothwell pages
1885 December 15 Morningside Cambusnethan, LKS Morningside Coal Co Neil Ramsay Drawer 30 Falls of roof On drawing road  
1885 December 16 Drumchapel Bearsden Wm Dixon Ltd Wm Devlin Sinker 47 In shafts While working in a blind pit a hammer fell upon him from the top.

From Main body of report:
One man was fatally injured by a hammer falling down upon him while he was working in a blind pit which,was being sunk about the pumps.
 
1885 December 18 Pennyvenie No2 Dalmellington Dalmellington Iron Co John Gillan Drawer 17 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1885 December 19 Bothwell Castle Bothwell, LKS Wm Baird & Co Robert Kilpatrick (name from Scotsman- not named in original report) Miner 46 In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery Jerked off cage while descending. Rope slipped on conical drum. Other 7 men on cage escaped

From Main body of report: Eight men were descending, when the rope slipped a few feet on a conical drum; the jerk threw one of them off the cage, and he was killed. The machinery in this case was very good of its kind, but there is a tendency for the rope to slip in such an arrangement, and I do not think the advantage gained by a conical over a cylindrical drum is worth the risk.
Newspaper Report - Blantyre pages
1885 December 19 Caledonia Paisley Spiers & Gibb William Gilmour Miner 49 In ironstone/fire clay mines Fall of roof  
1885 December 24 Hopetoun Bathgate, Linlithgow James Wood Wm. Harrison Platelayer 45 Miscellaneous on surface Fell off a waggon and was run over during shunting operations  
1885 December 24 Woodside Dalserf, LKS Woodside Coal Co Thos Thomson Collier -- Falls of roof While redding a road; stoop and room Newspaper report - Dalserf pages
1885 December 26 Longriggend New Monkland, LKS James Nimmo & Co Robt. Robertson Engine-driver 38 Miscellaneous on surface Crushed between engine and waggon. The engine and waggons left the rails at facing-points Newspaper report
1885 December 28 Barncluith     Arthur McKinnon       Death not listed in Inspectors report Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1885 December 29 Duchray Coylton J & J Gilmour Jas. Donnachie Collier 52 Falls of roof Fall of roof at face  
1885 December 30 Inkerman Paisley Walkinshaw Oil Co James Niven Trapper 13 In ironstone/fire clay mines Caught by an empty race of hutches and jammed against the door which he was attending  
1885 December 30 Shawfield Carluke, LKS John Wilson Jas Girdwood Labourer 55 Miscellaneous on surface Jammed between the buffers of 2 waggons Newspaper report
1885 December 31 Tranent Tranent, Haddington Waldie & Co ----- ------- Collier -- Falls of roof At face; stoop and room Newspaper report [Gives name as William Hogg]
Last Updated 15th April 2012