Accidents 1900 onwards

This section contains newspaper reports on selected accidents. Please check the indexes in the Accidents Section for details of Inspector of Mines reports and other accidents covered on the site.

16 January 1900

A young lad named James Adams (14), pit pony driver, King's Land, Mossend, was yesterday reported to have been accidentally killed in the dock lye of Mossend and Summerlee Companies Hattonrigg coal pit. He had been engaged driving a horse yoked to two hutches when he was run over by a hutch and crushed to death, he having sustained serious internal injuries and a fractured leg. [Scotsman 17 January 1900]

27 February 1900

Accident – On Tuesday morning a young man named John Beattie, residing at Cockhill Place, was killed by a fall of stone at Bothwell Park Pit. The body was examined by Drs G B McKendrick and Carruthers, who found a fracture of the base of the skull, which must have proved instantaneous death. The deceased leaves a young widow and small family, for whom much sympathy is felt in the neighbourhood. [Bellshill Speaker March 3 1900]

2 July 1900

Fatal Pit Accident - On Monday a pit bottomer, named Joseph Brodie, 19, residing at Clarkston's Land, New Stevenson, was killed while at work in No. 5 Pit, Holytown Colliery, belonging to James Nimmo & Co. He had signalled to the engineman to raise the cage a little bit in order to remove some rubbish from under the rests, and signalled to have the cage lowered again. It is supposed that he made an attempt to remove a pick from under the cage just as it was being lowered, but the cage came down and broke his neck. [Motherwell Times 6 July 1900]

6 & 7 August 1900

Two Miners Killed – Two Lanarkshire miners were killed on Wednesday, while engaged in their daily labours. Daniel M'Menemy, residing at Fairneybank Chapelhall, was sinking a pit at Newarthill, belonging to the United Collieries Ltd, when he was fatally injured by a stone falling on his head. A polish miner named Pitronage, residing at Bellshill, was knocked down by a loaded hutch and dragged a distance of twelve yards in Messrs Wm. Baird &Co.'s No 1 Pit at Bothwell Park Collieries. Death was almost instantaneous. [Bellshill Speaker August 11 1900]

13 August 1900

Explosion at an Uddingston Colliery – Several Men Injured - Early yesterday morning, while the night shift men were at work in Mr Archibald Russell's number 1 Tannochside Colliery, near Uddingston, a serious explosion of gas took place in the main coal seam, whereby two men— Edward Clark, 21 Croftbank Street, Uddingston; and Francis Murphy, 13 Double Rows, Tannochside—were seriously burned about the hands, arms, face, and chest, and other two men—James Brady, 32 Single Bows, Tannochside, and a man named Whitney, were slightly hurt. Immediately the explosion took place the shock reverberated through the pit, and Brady and Whitney, who were working some fifty fathoms distant, were slightly injured by falling stones, but were able to walk home. Clark and Murphy, however, are badly burned, and Dr Thomson, Uddingston,.who attended the injured men, ordered both men's removal to the Royal Infirmary. As both Clark and Murphy were at work in an isolated part of the pit and are alleged to have been carrying “Glennie” safety lamps, the cause of the explosion is at present a mystery. [Scotsman 14 August 1900]

One of two miners who was burned by the explosion in Nackerty Colliery, near Baillieston, on Monday night, died in the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, last night. His name was James Murphy, and he resided at Tannochside Rows. [Scotsman 17 August 1900]

Tannochside – Explosion in a Pit - About midnight on Sunday two miners named Edward Clark, Croftbank, Uddingston, and Francis Murphy; 13 Double Row, Tannochside, were somewhat severely burned by an explosion of gas in Mr Russell's No. 1 Tannochside Colliery. Both had to be conveyed to the Royal Infirmary, after their injuries had been attended to by Dr Thomson. [Bellshill Speaker 18 August 1900]

16 August 1900

Fatal Accident at Orbiston Pit – A most unusual accident took place on Thursday afternoon about 2 o'clock in Old Orbiston Colliery, belonging to the Summerlee and Mossend Coy., whereby a man named James Cowden, who was engaged as bottomer in the colliery, was in the act of disloading the cage, when a piece of coal came down the shank, and striking him on the back of the head, killed him almost instantaneously. Deceased was married, and leaves a widow and three of a family to mourn his untimely end. [Bellshill Speaker 18 August 1900]

22 August 1900

Fatal Accident At Uddingston - Last night as a night oversman named M'Alpine, residing at Thorniewood, near Uddingston, was at work in Haughhead colliery, he was caught by the cage at the bottom while it was being raised, and shockingly crushed. He died on reaching the surface. [Scotsman 23 August 1900]

15 October 1900

Bellshill – Sad Colliery Accident – On Monday, a painful accident occurred to a well known miner, named James M'Court, who resided in Craig's Land, Bellshill, who was instantly killed by a heavy fall from the roof in No 3 Pit, Summerlee and Mossend Iron and Steel Company's works. He and his son had been brushing in the main coal seam, when a heavy fall came away from the roof, causing death. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser October 20 1900]

7 November 1900

Three bricklayers were repairing a shaft at Hattonrigg Colliery, near Coatbridge, on Wednesday night, when a temporary cage suddenly began to move, and one man, named Gibson Lindsay, fell to the bottom of the shaft, the distance of 500 ft. He was killed instantly. The others narrowly escaped the same fate. [Scotsman 9th November 1900]

R Lindsay verses Summerlee and Mossend Iron and Steel Company Ltd
There was set down for trial tomorrow an action in which Robert Lindsay, gas account collector, Coats House, Coats St, Coatbridge, sued the Summerlee and Mossend Iron and Steel Company Ltd, 172 West George Street, Glasgow, for £1,000 damages for the death of his son, Gibson Reid Lindsay. The defender's are owners of Hattonrig Colliery, Bothwell, near Coatbridge. They were deepening and widening the shaft of No. 4 pit, and were at the same time lining the whole shaft with brickwork. Gibson Reid Lindsay, the pursuers son, was a bricklayer in the employment of Arthur Gibbs, contractor for the execution of the brickwork. On 7th November, 1900 the deceased and other workmen mounted the kettle for the purpose of the ascending the shaft. When being raised the kettle skiffed a skiting board on one side of the shaft and shortly afterwards struck an unprotected beam, and the pursuers son was thrown from the kettle to the platform and was killed. It was said that the defenders were responsible for the accident in respect they did not make proper provisions and arrangements for the safe lowering and raising of the deceased and his fellow workmen. The defenders denied fault. They said that the whole plant, apparatus, and arrangements for raising and lowering men were safe and proper, and explained that none of the men responsible for steadying the kettle were in their employment. The pursuer has received £135 in full of his claims.[Scotsman 30th July 1901]

16 November 1900

Fatal Accident to a Miner – A miner named Hugh Healy, 70 years of age, who resided at Cross Row, Low Blantyre, has died in the Royal Infirmary Glasgow, from the effects of injuries received in No 2 Pit, Bellshill Colliery, belonging to the Summerlee and Mossend Coal Company. A large stone fell from the roof, whereby he received a compound fracture of the leg, a wound on the head, and was otherwise so severely injured about the back that he succumbed. [The Hamilton Herald 28 November 1900]

27 November 1900

Fatal Colliery Accident - Another accident is reported from the Hutton Rigg [sic] Colliery, Bellshill, near Coatbridge. It is alleged that a wrong lever was pulled, and the tub, instead of ascending, descended the shaft in the midst of some men. James Connor, a young man, aged 20, was killed, while another man named John Ward, was struck on the head and severely injured. [Times 29 November 1900]

Fatal Accident At Hattonrigg Colliery – A distressing accident occurred on Tuesday last at Hattonrigg Colliery, belonging to the Summerlee and Mossend Steel, Iron and Coal Company, whereby a pit sinker named James Connery, 20, residing in Chapman's Land, Bellshill, was instantaneously killed, and another named John Ward, sustained a severe cut on the head. It appears that the kettle, containing some wood and debris, descended with great rapidity and fell among the men. Other three men were working in the shank at the time, but fortunately escaped without injury. The engineman, a stranger, only started work that morning. The deceased man was only recently married. The engineman absconded immediately after the occurrence. [Bellshill Speaker 1 December 1900]

25 January 1901

Colliery Explosion – Five Men Injured - A colliery explosion occurred yesterday morning at Haughhead Colliery Uddingston, causing injuries of a serious nature to five men, whose names are:- Grahame Perrie, fireman, residing at Copeland Terrace, Uddingston; Patrick Reddie, miner, married and residing at Firpark, Cotton Street, Shettleston; John McGuire, sen., and his son John, both residing at 21 Montgomerie Place, Newton; and Thomas McPherson, Thorniewood Rows. The explosion took place in what is known as the Glasgow upper coal seam, which Perrie and the others had just reached when one of the mens lamps exploded and all were burned more or less about the body and limbs. They were with difficulty rescued from their perilous position. Reddie, who was found to be the most severely burned, was conveyed to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, and the others who were burned about the arms and face, were conveyed home in cabs. [Herald January 26 1901]

NB Both Patrick Reddie & Graham Perrie died following this accident

20 April 1901

Bothwell Park - Accident - An old man, 70 years of age, James Hombanks, residing at Addie's Square, Cockhill, while working in Bothwell Park Collieries, met with a serious accident owing to a race of whurleys getting detached and running away. The old man was knocked down and sustained injuries to his shoulder and back. He was attended by Dr M'Pherson, Bothwell, who ordered his removal to the Royal Infirmary, to which he was conveyed in Uddingston ambulance waggon. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 20 April 1901]

12 June 1901

Miner killed At Bellshill - On Wednesday afternoon, James Dickson, miner, 18 years of age, who resided in lodgings at Douglas Park Rows, was killed while at work in the main coal seam of No 1 Douglas Park Colliery, belonging to the Wilsons & Clyde Coal Company, by a stone, weighing 5 cwt., falling on him from the roof. He died almost instantly. [Herald June 14 1901]

11 July 1901

Fatal pit accident at Bellshill - Late on Thursday night, an accident which terminated fatally, occurred in Hattonrigg Colliery, Bellshill. William Leggatt, pit bottomer, while at work, was caught by the cage ascending the shaft, and received terrible injuries. He died almost immediately.[Scotsman 13 July 1901]

November 1901

Newarthill – Pit Accident – Alexander Rankine, miner, 20, M'Ginns Land, had his leg broken by a fall from the roof while he was at work in Mossband Colliery. [Hamilton Advertiser 9 November 1901]

22 January 1902

Tannochside – Pit Accident – On Wednesday an elderly miner named Hugh Price, residing in Cuthbert Street, Tannochside, was hurt in Bredisholm Pit, Baillieston, owned by the United Collieries Company. While at work a large stone fell upon his back and fractured his spine. He was removed to Glasgow Royal Infirmary. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 25 January 1902]

28 January 1902

A Mysterious Death - Yesterday the county authorities at Airdrie had reported to them the death of a Polish miner named Anthony Allibord (24), who resided at Muirpark Rows, and regarding whom there was no direct information. The man's body was found below the scree of No 3 Pit, Tannochside Colliery, where he was employed as a waggon shifter. No one saw him getting injured, and, in point of fact, he bore no marks of injury. The Fiscal has ordered a post-mortem examination. [Evening Telegraph 30 January 1902]

28 January 1902

Bellshill – Fatal Pit Accident -A colliery accident of a rather serious nature, resulting in the death of one man and serious injury to another, occurred in the Summerlee and Mossend Steel and Coal Company's Hattonrigg Colliery at Bellshill on Tuesday morning. At this colliery a new shank has been sunk, by which all the coal is raised, while sinking operations are at present going on in the old shank to reach lower seams of coal. When the kettle was being lowered in the old shank, it became firmly wedged at the splint coal bottom. The manager, Joseph Laird, along with a pumping engineman named John Duke, commenced extricating the kettle, and when this had been accomplished the kettle came away suddenly, there being some length of slack tow. Duke was precipitated to the bottom of the shank with the kettle and instantaneously killed, one of his legs being torn off. A sinker named Joseph Findlay, at the bottom of the shank was struck by the kettle and sustained severe injuries about the head and body. He was attended to by Dr Service, Mossend, who ordered his removal to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The manager had a miraculous escape of meeting with the same fate as Duke, getting clear of the kettle just in time. Duke, who resided at Pollock Street, Bellshill, was married. Findlay, who is also married resides at Newarthill. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 1 February 1902]

February 1902

Nackerty - Boys' Pit Accidents - While engaged at the face at No 4 pit, Bredisholm Colliery, on Thursday forenoon, John Cowan, 14, son of a miner at Cuthbert Street, Tannochside, was struck by a stone weighing about 2 cwts falling on him from the roof. He sustained a fracture of the left leg, and was removed home. - On Monday, Thomas Dickson, 13, drawer, Grique Terrace, Uddingston, was hurt in No 2 Tannochside Colliery by losing his footing going down the steep incline with an empty hutch, the hutch going on top of him and causing him to sustain a fracture of the right leg 3 inches above the ankle joint. The accident arose through a dispute as to the ownership of the hutch. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 8 February 1902]

7 February 1902

Fatal Colliery Accident – On Thursday, while Samuel James Hewitt, miner, Kirkwood Rows, was working along with others in No 2 Pit, Tannochside Colliery, in the opening face of the Longwell section of the Drumgray coal seam, a stone weighing about 12 or 15 tons fell from the roof and crushed him under it. When taken out he was found to be dead, having been killed instantaneously. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 15 February 1902]

10 February 1902

Uddingston – Colliery Accident – On Monday afternoon Joseph Mitchell, drawer, residing at Muirpark Rows, Fallside, had his left leg fractured while at work in the main coal heading “dook” seam of No 2 Pit, Viewpark Colliery. The accident was the result of two hutches colliding. The man was removed to the Royal Infirmary. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 15 February 1902]

20 June 1902

Hugh M'Ginty, a Bothwell miner, was accidentally killed by a falling stone on Saturday morning. [Edinburgh Evening News 23 June 1902]

25 May 1903

Man Killed At Greenhill - Robert M'Alpine, a miner, aged thirty-three, was killed yesterday in No. 12 Greenhill Colliery, near Holytown. He was working at the face, when an enormous stone, weighing over a ton, fell from the roof and crushed him to death. [Scotsman 27 May 1903]

8 December 1905

Fatal Colliery Accident – Yesterday morning at Messrs Addie & Son's Viewpark Colliery, Uddingston, one miner was killed and another injured by a fall from the roof. Allan Dunn was the name of the man killed, and George Rae was slightly injured. [Scotsman 9 December 1905]

27 March 1906

Fatal Colliery Accident At Uddingston - On Tuesday afternoon, while Joseph Rankin (19) was pushing a railway hutch in the main coal seam of No. 1 Viewpark Colliery, a stone weighing about two tons fell on him, killing him on the spot. [Scotsman 29 March 1906]

24 March 1909

A Windfall for Poor Children - The death of Mr. Benjamin Hunter, a wealthy resident of Brooklyn, New York, was reported to his friends in Uddingston, near Glasgow, some time ago, and it was then rumoured that he had left over £250,000, which would fall to his relatives and friends, many of whom are resident in Scotland. Mr. Hunter, who was a baker by trade, emigrated to America, about 30 years ago, and after obtaining a situation as foreman in a large business ultimately occupied one of the foremost positions in Brooklyn.

The particulars, as secured in Uddingston, are that, a miner named Alexander Hunter was injured about four years ago in Messrs. Addie and Sons' Viewpark Colliery, Uddingston, and died later leaving a widow and four children, Mary (14), Maggie (nine), Helen (six), and George (four), who at present live with their mother in very poor circumstances at Alpine-terrace, Uddingston. Mrs. Hunter duly received an official intimation announcing the death of Mr. Benjamin Hunter (who was an uncle of her late husband), and asking for authentic information regarding her children. Papers were duly sent to the family agents in New York, who acknowledged them as satisfactory, and asked that some one should be sent to New York at once to confirm the particulars in person. A relative has been dispatched to attend the Court there on October 10. It is stated that the amount falling to the children will be about £60,000, or £15,400 each. [The Times 23 September 1912]

NB This most probably refers to Alexander Hunter, husband of Bridget Quinn who died of pneumonia on 24 March 1909, age 30 at 24 Alpine Terrace Uddingston.

9 June 1909

Bellshill – Colliery Fatality – On Wednesday, very shortly after noon, a distressing accident occurred in No 2 Pit, Bothwell Park Colliery, whereby James Gillespie McHarg lost his life. The deceased workman was taking a hutch a long an incline in the workings, and gaining in speed, it got beyond his control, with the result that it jammed him against one of the screens, whereby he received fatal injuries to the head. Dr T B Smith was summoned and certified death due to fracture of the base of the skull. Deceased, who resided at Churchside Place, West End, Bellshill, was 26 years of age, was married, and leaves a young family of four. He was much respected and was well known in the town, and took a deep and active interest in the Bellshill Athletic Football Club. [Hamilton Advertiser June 12 1909]

26 January 1911

A Bellshill Miner Killed. - While at work in the No. 13 Rosehall colliery, a young Bellshill miner, named John Millar, residing at Barr's Land, West End, was killed through being jammed by a large rake of hutches. [Scotsman 27 January 1911]

5 May 1911

Fatal Colliery Accident at Bellshill - A serious accident occurred yesterday morning in the Bothwell Park colliery, Bellshill. One miner was killed and other two injured. The three men were engaged firing a shot for the purpose of making an air inlet from a seam fifteen feet above. The shot had been fired, and Daniel Murdoch (24), residing at 131 Bothwell Park, being in charge of the place, returned to make an inspection of the results , when he was overcome by the fumes of the powder. Alarmed at his non-return, his two fellow-workers - named respectively Samuel Bingham, 140 Bothwell Park, and John Chalmers, Motherwell Road, Bellshill went in search of him. Describing what happened afterwards, Bingham said that both of them pressed through the dense fumes and stumbled across the body of Murdoch, which they endeavoured to drag into the airway. They had almost succeeded when Chalmers dropped senseless. Bingham succeeded in rescuing Murdoch, and, without waiting for help, he returned for Chalmers, and was successful. In a short time Chalmers recovered consciousness. Murdoch, however, died some hours afterwards. Bingham was suffering from nervous shock and partial suffocation. [Scotsman 6 May 1911]

1 July 1911

Fatal Crane Accident at Bothwell - On Saturday morning while men were employed in the erection of scaffolding for a crane in connection with repairs at the pithead of Bothwell Park colliery, the scaffolding collapsed, killing John Morrison, labourer, Bothwell, and severely injuring John Anderson, Blantyre. Morrison leaves a widow and six children. [Scotsman 3 July 1911]

12 August 1911

Colliery Under-Manager Killed - On Saturday morning, an accident occurred at Messrs Russell's Tannochside colliery, by which the under-manager, Mr John Chalmers, was instantaneously killed and a lad named M'Cabe injured. Mr Chalmers was examining the brushing in No.3, where M'Cabe was working, when the roof suddenly gave way, burying both in the fall. On the fallen material being cleared away, Mr Chalmers was found to have had his skull fractured, and his body ¦ fearfully injured, life being extinct. M'Cabe had his legs slightly injured. Mr Chalmers was forty-one years of age, and leaves a widow, and family. [Scotsman 14 August 1911]

23 September 1911

Miner killed at Bothwell - About eleven o'clock on Saturday night while a miner named Samuel Clyde, who resided at 114 Bothwell Park Rows, was at work in Messrs William Baird & Company's Bothwell Park colliery, a heavy fall took place from the roof, and he was severely injured. The ambulance waggon was telephoned for, but before its arrival Clyde was dead. [Scotsman 25 September 1911]

3 October 1911

Fatal Colliery Accident at Uddingston - Yesterday afternoon a miner named James M'Alpine (40), who resided at Muirhead Place, Tannochside, was instantaneously killed while at work in Messrs Russell's Tannochside colliery, Uddingston. He was about to leave work for the day when a heavy fall came away from the roof, whereby his back was broken. His son, who was working with him, witnessed the occurrence. [Scotsman 4 October 1911]

29 November 1911

Young Man Electrocuted at Uddingston - A fatal accident occurred at the United Collieries No. 2 Pit, Nackerty, Uddingston yesterday morning . A young man, named William Trainor, aged twenty-two, who resided with his parents at 246 Shettleston Road, Shettleston, was electrocuted by coming in contact with a haulage rope charged with electricity. [Scotsman 1 December 1911]

28 August 1912

Fatal Accident In A Colliery - Thos. Neilson, one of the oldest miners working in the Bellshill district, was fatally injured in the Hattonrigg Colliery, Bellshill, yesterday afternoon. He was employed at one of the underground pumps, and on the expiry of his shift he was making for the pit bottom. Just as he reached the foot of a steep incline he was overtaken by a rake of several hutches which had broken away. [Scotsman 29 August 1912]

17 January 1913

Carfin Pit Accident - Arthur M'Qually (14), a pit boy, who resided at Maryville Place, Carfin, was killed in Messrs Dixon's No. 6 Pit Carfin Colliery, by being crushed under a fall of stone from the roof while he was awaiting the approach of a train of hutches. His mate John Clifford, had a narrow escape at the same time, the dislodged rock falling close by his side. [Scotsman 20 January 1913]

20 January 1913

Fatal Accident in a Bellshill Colliery - A fatal accident occurred yesterday morning in the Douglas Park colliery, Bellshill, owned by the Wilsons & Clyde Coal Company. George M'Clelland and William M'Clelland, oncost workers, residing at Parkhead, Bellshill, were at work along with other five men clearing away a fall of debris which had taken place overnight. They were filling a hutch, when a stone, weighing over four tons, fell from the roof. William and the other workers had a remarkable escape, but George was less fortunate He was crushed by the stone against the top of the hutch, and death was instantaneous. He was about nineteen years of age and a son of the underground manager at the Douglas Park colliery. [Scotsman 21 January 1913]

22 January 1913

Fatal Accident at a Colliery. - Yesterday a fatal accident occurred in the Blackie Pit, New Stevenston, owned by Messrs Nimmo & Co. Jas. Wright, aged about 40, who resided in Carfin Road, New Stevenston, who was employed at the washer of the colliery, was returning from the fire hole, and when crossing the railway was overtaken by an engine, run down, and killed. He was unmarried. [Scotsman 23 January 1913]

31 January 1913

Miner Killed At Uddingston - While at work in Messrs Robert Addie & Sons' Viewpark Colliery, Uddingston, yesterday forenoon, Thomas Weir (46) was accidentally killed by a fall of clay from the roof. [Scotsman 1 February 1913]

2 June 1913

Fatal Accident Uddingston - Yesterday afternoon, while William Kane, pitheadman, aged fifty, who resided at William Street, Tollcross, was at work at the travelling screen at the United Collieries Company (Limited), Clydesdale colliery, Uddingston, an interruption took place in the working, and, under the impression that steam had been shut off, he proceeded to clear the interruption, when the machinery started again and he was dragged in. He was severely injured and unconscious before the machinery could be stopped. He died at the pithead a few minutes later. He leaves a widow and three children. [Scotsman 3 June 1913]

26 June 1913

Fatal Colliery Accident - In the No. 13 Rosehall colliery, Bellshill, John Gilligan (23), pithead labourer, Mid Road, Rosehall, was at work loading the cage with empty hutches, and when the cage was belled away to the pit bottom he fell forward, and was jammed between one of the decks of the cage. [Scotsman 28 June 1913]

2 July 1913

Fatal Colliery Accident At Bellshill - A fatal accident occurred yesterday morning in the East Parkhead colliery, Bellshill, owned by the Wilson & Clyde Coal Company. William Aitchison (30), Guchney Place, Glebe Street, Bellshill, an oncostman, was at work clearing away a fall, when there was another and larger fall from the roof. Aitchison was struck on the head by a heavy stone and buried in a mass of debris. He was immediately extricated, but lived only a few minutes. [Scotsman 3 July 1913]

31 January 1914

Fatal Accident at Hattonrigg Colliery, Bellshill – On Saturday an accident occurred in the Hattonrigg Colliery, Bellshill, owned by the Summerlee Iron and Coal Company, by which one man was killed and another seriously injured. Two young men, William M'Callum, miner, and John Dempster, driver, were travelling along the haulage road in a hutch, when the hutch came to grief, and a rake of hutches following crashed into the obstacle. Both men were jammed by the hutches, and when extricated McCallum was dead. Dempster was more fortunate, however, yet his condition was so critical that his recovery is doubtful. [Scotsman 2 February 1914]

10 March 1914

Bellshill Miner Killed - In the Bothwell Park Colliery, Bellshill, owned by Messrs William Baird & Company, a young miner named John Hazlet, who resided at Hastie's Buildings, West End, Bellshill, was fatally injured yesterday. According to a fellow workmans story, Hazlet stepped on to the cage, and had been raised some distance up the shaft, when he fainted, and, relaxing his hold, fell out of the cage. He dropped down the shaft to the sump, where some time afterwards he was found dead. [Scotsman 11 March 1914]

1 May 1914

Fatal Colliery Accident at Uddingston -In Messrs Robert Addie & Son's Viewpark Colliery, Uddingston, an accident occurred yesterday afternoon whereby one miner was instantaneously killed and another injured. The men were at work in the main coal seam, when a bad fall took place, and both were buried in the debris. On Frank Collins, Torrisdale Street, Coatbridge, being extricated, life was found to be extinct, his neck being broken. He was about 50 years of age, and leaves a widow and several children. Hi fellow worker, James Cuthbertson, Co-operative Buildings, Uddingston, on being released, was found to have escaped with bruises, and was taken home in Uddingston ambulance waggon. In accordance with the usual custom in cases of fatal accident the back shift men did not start work. [Scotsman 2 may 1914]

15 May 1914

Last night, at Bothwell Park Colliery, Bellshill, a pit worker was killed and other two had narrow escapes. James Hall, 64, residing at 152 Bothwell Park, Bellshill, and William McCartney, and Robert Gordon, also residing at Bothwell Park, were employed shifting a number of large pine beams. The two latter had gone in search of implements, and when only a yard or two from underneath the beams, they heard a despairing cry from Hall, and turning round found him pinned under several of the beams. Death had been instantaneous, as the beams weighed several tons.[Scotsman 16th May 1914]

21 May 1914

Accident In A Bellshill Colliery – Miner Killed & Two Injured - A series of falls of roof took place about noon yesterday in the New Orbiston Colliery, Bellshill, of the Summerlee Iron and Coal Company, as the result of which one miner was killed and two others were injured. The first fall was caused by a rake of hutches leaving the rails and knocking away some of the props which were holding up the roof. Three oncostmen - Patrick Gallacher (25), Nook Street, Mossend; William Kerr (25), Robb's Land, Bellshill: and William Duffy, Old Orbiston Rows, Bellshill - proceeded to clear away the debris, and a fall of roof estimated to weigh 8 tons came upon them. Gallacher was buried in the fall and killed, while Kerr received a crushing blow on the arm and the body from a falling prop. Duffy was more fortunate, being but slightly bruised. He crawled over the debris to safety, and had just got clear when another and larger fall took place, blocking up the pyotshaw section altogether. Kerr summoned assistance, but it was fully two hours before Gallacher was extricated. The other men in the pyotshaw section were imprisoned until a passage was cleared through the debris. Gallacher was married over a year ago. [Scotsman 22 May 1914]