Bothwell Castle 26 April 1920

The Dead

  • Donald McFarlane, married, age 49, 7 Shuttle Row, Low Blantyre
  • William Dow McFarlane, age 17, 7 Shuttle Row, Low Blantyre
  • Anthony Nowasaytis, married, age 50, 33 Allison Place, Springwells, Blantyre
  • Peter McGinn, age 15, 33 Allison Place, Springwells, Blantyre

Fire In a Bothwell Colliery - Four Men Suffocated
At Messrs William Baird & Co.'s Castle Colliery, Bothwell, on Monday night, a motor engine underground took fire, and smoke enveloped the workings. The men at work moved to the pit bottom, several having narrow escapes.

Rescue parties were formed, Mr Park (manager), Mr M'Phee (manager) and his son, and others giving willing service. Four men who were at work in the vicinity were found to be missing, and after the fire had been subdued the bodies were found where they thought they had good shelter. All were suffocated. They were identified as Donald M'Farlane. Low Blantyre, married, with six of a family; his son, William, aged 18 years; a Pole named Anthony Novecitis, and a lad named John M'Ginn, both residing at Springwells, Blantyre. [Scotsman 28 April 1920]

Bothwell – Serious Pit Fire – Four Men Lose Their Lives – Bothwell Castle Colliery, belonging to Messrs William Baird Ltd and situated near the main road between Uddingston and Bothwell, was on Monday night the scene of a serious fire, as a result of which four men lost their lives and other seven had a narrow escape. A motor engine underground took fire and being saturated with grease, was blazing at once like a roaring furnace. Several men at work in the vicinity endeavoured to run to safety, but their escape was cut off by the fire and smoke, and they were overcome. Rescue parties were speedily arranged. Messrs Park & M'Phee (underground managers), Farquhar, Miller and A. Kerr made desperate efforts to reach the men, but they worked for several hours before they came upon the men, four of whom had suffocated in a bye road. The names of the deceased are :- Donald Macfarlane and his son William Macfarlane, 18, residing at Low Blantyre; Anthony Novecites, a Pole; and John M'Ginn, 17, both residing in Springwell Place, Blantyre. Other seven men rescued alive were working near the four who lost their lives. Mr John Robertson, MP, and several other miners' leaders were also present, and along with Mr J T Forgie, gen manager, rendered valuable assistance. The bodies were recovered shortly before midnight.

Blantyre - The funeral of the four victims of the Bothwell Castle Colliery mishap, all of whom resided in Blantyre, took place at High Blantyre Cemetery. The two residing in Springwell were buried on Wednesday, the burial being attended by a large number of their workmates. The funeral of Donald M'Farlane and his 18 year old son took place the day following, fully 200 joining in the procession. The cortege was preceded by four pipers from Cambuslang Pipe Band, of which William was a member. Much sympathy is expressed for Mrs M'Farlane in her double loss. [Hamilton Advertiser 1 May 1920]