Old Monkland 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.

4 October 1900

Baillieston – Pit Fatality – A young man named Robert Mitchell, who was severely hurt by a fall of material from the roof at the coal face in Lochwood Pit, owned by the Lochwood Coal Company, has died in the Alexander Hospital, Coatbridge, from the effects of his injuries. Mitchell was unmarried, and resided with his widowed mother at Bargeddie. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 13 October 1900]

12 October 1900

Shocking Fatality at Coatbridge – Yesterday forenoon, a sad fatality occurred at No 4 Pit, Drumpellier, owned by Messrs Horn & Co. It appears that two young men named Archibald Miller, Dundyvan Road, and Robert M'Ghee, King Street, were lowered into the shaft by means of the cage for the purpose of repairing a water pump door. While Miller was leaning forward to reach the place with a screw key, the engine, it is said, was set in motion, and Miller, losing his balance, was crushed between the cage and the sides of the shaft. The machinery was at once stopped, but Miller was precipitated to the bottom, a distance of 55 fathoms. M'Ghee who was also working at the pump, managed to regain the cage, and did everything that was possible to save his companion, but unfortunately failed in his efforts. When Miller was picked up he was dead. The deceased was a bright lad, and one of the most promising students of the Coatbridge Mining and Technical College, and was this season qualifying for his final exam for the colliery managers' certificate. [Hamilton Advertiser, 13 October 1900]

Miner Killed At Drumpellier – Yesterday at noon a pit bottomer named Archibald Kane, residing at 86a Dundyvan Road, Coatbridge, was instantaneously killed at Drumpellier No 4 Pit (John Horn & Coys). He had been repairing the valve of a pump at the centre of the shaft when he fell to the bottom. Much sympathy is expressed for the deceased and his relatives, who are highly respected in the district. The body was examined by Dr Murray, after the accident. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 13 October 1900]

NB Deceased was also known as Archibald Miller which is the name given in the Mine Inspectors report

23 April 1901

Coatbridge - Fatal Colliery Accident - Richard Nisbet (53), miner, Henderson Street, who, it will be remembered was removed to the Alexander Hospital suffering from injuries received in No 11 Drumpellier pit, has since died from the effects of his injuries. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 27 April 1901]

27 April 1901

Easterhouse - Pit Accident - John Allison, miner, Bogside Row, Easterhouse, while engaged holing coal at the face in No 6 Bredisholm pit, belonging to the United Collieries, Ltd, had his left leg broken below the knee by a slip taking place and coal falling upon it. He was removed to the Royal Infirmary. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 27 April 1901]

21 March 1902

Broomhouse – Colliery Accident – About 7pm on Friday, Robert Weir (36), miner, Hunter's Land Baillieston, was preparing a road for the coal cutting machine in Broomhouse Colliery owned by the Glasgow Coal Coy Ltd, when he sustained a severe strain of the back, several bad cuts on the head and face, as also on the legs by about 2 cwts of stone falling upon him from the roof. He was attended by Dr Willis, Baillieston, and taken home in the ambulance waggon. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 22 March 1902]

11 & 18 January 1902

Fatal Accident Inquiries - Yesterday Sheriff Mair and a jury held five fatal accident inquiries under the Fatal Accident Inquiry Act in regard to the circumstances attending the accidents to five persons. There were present and engaged in the cases Mr A D Lindsay, P.F., Messrs Atkinson and Pearson, HM Inspectors of Mines, Mr J Dunn Russell, solicitor, and Mr Anderson, representing the Enginekeepers' Association.

Ellismuir Pit Accidents - The next case called was that of Thomas Love, miner, Main Street, Baillieston, who died in the Royal Infirmary Glasgow, from the effects of an explosion at No 2 Pit, Ellismuir Colliery on January 11th 1902. John Love, Church Street, Baillieston, said he was a cousin to the deceased, and on the day of the accident was working at the United Collieries No 2 pit, Ellismuir, along with deceased. They went down the pit shortly after six o'clock and about ten o'clock they had a hole bored for a shot. The hole would be about three feet long and three inches in diameter into which they intended to put a 1/4 lb of powder. Deceased then left to get the powder with a lamp in his cap. Deceased informed witness that he failed to take the lamp from his cap, and a spark from the lamp had fallen amongst the powder and caused an explosion. They ran to his assistance and found that he had been burned about the face, neck and arms, and that his eyes were closed. There would be about 2lbs of powder in the can. They took him to the hill after which he was removed to the Royal Infirmary. The powder can was afterwards picked up, as also the cap and lamp. In answer to the Sheriff witness said he had been 14 or 15 years employed in the pits, and that he did not know there was any special rules when lifting powder. He never read the rules at the pit. The Sheriff - You have been engaged as a miner for 13 or 14 years and don't know the rules. It is a very serious rule and you are liable to three months imprisonment. Mr Lindsay - Can you read?; Witness - Yes; I know now. The Sheriff - I never heard the like of that. A man 14 or 15 years in the pit ought to have been aware that it was wrong to have been going about with a naked lamp in such a way. Mr Lindsay - This accident has happened through the man not observing the rules of the pit? Witness - Yes. John Wotherspoon, who was also employed in the pit, corroborated the evidence given by the previous witness as to a spark falling amongst the powder. Witness had been a miner for 10 or 11 years, and was quite aware of this special rule. He was aware of the rule since he started to use explosives five years ago. Wm Barr, certificated manager, United Collieries, said that the rules were posted at the bank of No 2 Pit. There was a rule that no one should have a naked lamp in his possession while handling powder. The lamp ought to be removed from the cap a distance of five or six feet. A nurse from the Royal Infirmary spoke to deceased being admitted into the the infirmary on the 11th of January, and expiring from his injuries upon the 15th of the same month. The jury returned a formal verdict.

Another fatal accident at the same pit was also inquired into. This was the case of Patrick Fox, roadsman, Rise Pit Row, Baillieston. Deceased was working along with other two roadsmen, Timmins and Robertson at No 2 Ellismuir Colliery, repairing the roadway of the Pyotshaw coal seam. On 18th January about 12.30 Timmins had been breaking a stone on the roadside and deceased was looking at him. After he had got it broken, Fox picked up a mash and broke away all that he (Timmins) had left. Fox then went to finish the roadway between two buildings and deceased was looking at him. He stepped back about 4 or 5 feet when a stone weighing about 15cwt came away and crushed deceased to the pavement. Timmins and Robertson got the stone lifted and they found deceased's head very much crushed. He was being taken to the Royal Infirmary but died on the way. The fall appeared to be caused by a surge. The stone had not been examined that day as it was thought quite safe. It had not been tapped since the day previous. In this case also a formal verdict was returned. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 8 February 1902]

25 March 1902

Muirpark – Mining Accident – Thomas Bunten (51), miner, 101 Muirpark Rows, Bellshill, met with an accident on Tuesday at the coal face of the pyotshaw section of No 7 pit, Rosehall Collieries, belonging to Robert Addie & Sons, Ltd. He had been shovelling away some coals from the face when a stone weighing fully a cwt, unexpectedly came away with other rubbish from the roof and alighted on his right leg, breaking it below the knee. He was sent to the Royal Infirmary. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 29 March 1902]

7 April 1902

Baillieston – Pit Accident – On Monday afternoon an alarming accident occurred in the Glasgow Iron & Steel Co's Calderbank Pit, when a rake of loaded hutches broke away and dashed down the “dook brae” and ran over a miner named William Kerr, married and residing at Red Land Baillieston. The unfortunate man was found to be severely crushed over the lower part of the body and spine, and was accordingly conveyed home in the ambulance waggon and medically attended to. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 14 April 1902]

26 April 1902

Nackerty – Pit Accident – On Saturday night, Matthew Robb, miner, 2 Pit Row, Nackerty, met with an accident while driving a stone mine in the Pyotshaw seam of No 1 Pit, Bredisholm Collieries owned by the United Collieries Ltd. He had finished driving a shot hole and was in the act of driving out a prop to allow him to get a shot fired when a stone, weighing about 2 cwts, came away from the roof and fell upon him. He sustained a simple fracture of the right thigh bone. He was removed to the Royal Infirmary. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 3 May 1902]

6 June 1902

Terrible Pit Accident at Drumpellier – Last night, while the second last lift of miners was being drawn up the communication shaft of No 11, Summerlee Drumpellier Colliery, Cuilhill, the regular shaft being under repair, the cage stuck in the slides. The engineman at once stopped drawing, and the manager and another man went down on a 17 feet ladder, but found it far short of the cage. They discovered that it had stuck on a batten and doubled up, with the result that two of the occupants dropped out and fell to the pit bottom. The third man was still hanging to the cross-bar. Every effort was made to rescue him from his perilous position, in which he hung suspended for about an hour and a half. Mr Watson, the manager, eventually went down on an improvised “horse” and had him safely removed to the next landing, from which he was taken up by another shaft. His name is John Lavery, Tudhope's Land, Coatbridge. He was able to walk home. The names of the other two men, who were found lying at the pit bottom in a frightfully mangled condition, were John Hughes, English Square, Coatbridge; and Richard Rowse, Bank Street, Coatbridge. The deceased were between 40 and 50 years of age. Their bodies were taken to the pithead and conveyed home in coffins. [Scotsman 7 June 1902]

Terrible Accident In A Summerlee Pit – Two Coatbridge Men Killed – Rescue In The Shaft – A Thrilling Adventure – About 10 minutes past 4 yesterday afternoon a terrible accident occurred in the shaft of No 11 Summerlee Drumpellier Colliery, near Cuilhill Station. The miners were being taken up a communication or emergency shaft, owing to there having been a break in the regular shaft, which was still under repair. The cage was ascending with the last three except five men when Mr James Watson, the manager, Albany St, Coatbridge, and Wm Russell, oncost man, Airdriehill Street, Rawyards, observed a sudden quivering and tightening of the haulage rope. The engineman also felt it, and almost before they shouted to him he stopped the engine. Russell then shouted down No 4 shaft, which is only a few yards away, to a man, Sam English, who was working there, to go to the ell coal bottom as there was something wrong, the rope having stuck. The manager and Russell then descended the shaft with a ladder 17 feet long to try and get at the cage, which had evidently stuck. They discovered that one of the occupants only, John Lavery, Tudhope's Land, off Manse St, Coatbridge, was hanging on by the cage; the other two, Richard Rouse, miner, 148D Bank Street, Coatbridge, and John Hughes, English Square, Coatbridge, having fallen to the bottom. The ladder was found to be far too short of where Lavery hung, and the manager and Russell then reascended. Mr Watson got a “horse”or “cuddy” prepared, and went down to rescue Lavery, while Russell went to the bottom by another shaft and found the bodies of Rouse and Hughes terribly mangled. The manager succeeded in taking Lavery, who was very much exhausted, having hung for an hour and a half in a most perilous position, to the next landing stage, and had him removed to the pithead. Although feeling badly strained about the side and left arm, he was able to walk home. Meanwhile Russell had the bodies of the two men who had fallen to the bottom gathered up, and with the assistance of other men had the remains sent to the top. Coffins were sent for to Coatbridge, and were promptly brought to the scene. The miners were, as we have already said, being drawn up from the Virtuewell seam at the time the accident happened. The main shaft being under repair, they were taken by this communication, or emergency shaft. When the cage stuck, it appears that what happened was that one of the battens, or slides of the shaft, had been projecting, and that, as the cage was ascending with the usual rapidity, it came against this projection with considerable force. The result was that the cage with the three men doubled up, and the two who fell to the bottom, and who had evidently not been holding on to the cross bar, had the foothold taken from under them. They fell, it is conjectured, a depth of some 50 fathoms, or nearly 300 feet. Hughes' body had the appearance of having dropped almost straight to the bottom, while that of Rouse was so much mangled that it seemed as if he had struggled hard to get a hold of the sides, but had been badly knocked all the way down. Lavery's position as he hung suspended in the shaft for nearly an hour and a half must have been one of great peril, as he must have been, during all that time the possibility of his being also precipitated at any moment to the bottom. He however, was encouraged to hold on by the shouts of his rescuers, who proceeded with great care and caution, and at the same time with the utmost expedition consistent with safety, knowing, as they did, that the man's life was hanging as if by a thread. As it turned out, in addition to his grim, deathlike grip of the crossbar of the cage, Lavery also managed to get one of his feet posted on a ledge of the shaft, and thus somewhat relieved the weight of his body from his arms during his prolonged suspension. Lavery, it must be stated, is a pretty old man, being between 50 and 60 years of age. He was brought up the main shaft, after it had been hastily repaired, and was able to walk home to Coatbridge. The deceased men, Rouse and Hughes, were between 40 and 50 years of age. Hughes had a son who wrought in the same pit, but was not down yesterday. The remains of both men were coffined at the pithead by Messrs Robert M'Ara and Sons, Sunnyside, Coatbridge, who were speedily on the scene, and were conveyed home. Both were married men and leave families. It will be remembered that a serious explosion occurred in this pit some three years ago, when several lives were lost, while a less serious, but also fatal occurrence, took place since that time. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 7 June 1902]

4 September 1902

Miner Killed at Whifflet – Last night a miner named Patrick M'Ateel, a lodger with Mrs M'Inulty, Easton's Land, Whifflet, was killed while at work within No 10 Rosehall Pit by a fall of rubbish from the roof. [Scotsman 5 September 1902]

9 April 1903

A sad fatality occurred at No 13 pit, Rosehall Colliery, Bellshill, yesterday. A miner named William Stevenson, residing at 51 Calder St Whifflet, was clearing the road and propping the workings, when a mass of stone, weighing many cwts. fell from the roof, killing him instantaneously. Deceased was 51 years of age and leaves a widow and family. [Herald April 10 1903]

16 March 1906

Sad Colliery Accident At Rosehall – Man Killed – Another Injured - Yesterday morning a rather serious occurrence happened in the shaft of No. 7 Rosehall Colliery, belonging to Robert Addie & Sons Collieries, Ltd. It appears that Joseph Dempsie (56), residing at 4 School Street, Whifflet, had been engaged, along with John Arthur, Old Monkland Road, as shankers, repairing the pumping gear in the shaft by packing the pipes, and it is thought that, when they were being lifted, the pipes unexpectedly gave way and fell upon them. Dempsie was so seriously injured that he only survived a short time, his injuries proving fatal, while Arthur had one or two ribs broken and one of his legs badly crushed. Dempsie, who was much respected in the district, leaves a widow and large family, some of whom are married. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 17 March 1906]

21 December 1911

Colliery Roadsman Killed - John Elder, jun. (25), roadsman, Shawhead, Coatbridge, has sustained fatal injuries in No.14 Pit, Rosehall colliery. He was found on the motor dook brae seriously hurt, and died in a few minutes. It is supposed he had been struck by a runaway hutch. [Scotsman 23 December 1911]

17 December 1912

Miner Killed at Rosehall - Edward Brady(25), a miner, residing at Coatbridge, has been killed in No. 14 pit, Rosehall Colliery belonging to R. Addie & Son's Collieries (Limited.). He had been working at the face, when a large fall of stone came down upon him, causing instantaneous death. [Scotsman 19 December 1912]

8 March 1913

Fatal Accident at Rosehall Colliery - James Young (34), a blacksmith, residing at Whifflet Street, Coatbridge, has been killed while repairing a dross conveyer at No. 12 Rosehall colliery, belonging to R. Addie & Sons' Collieries (Limited.). [Scotsman 11 March 1913]

8 April 1913

Fatal Colliery Accident at Rosehall - Robert Bell (25), a chain runner, residing in Coatbridge was killed in the dook brae of No. 14, Rosehall colliery (Addie & Sons, Limited), on Tuesday. He had been taking hutches from the pit bottom to the dook level, and had five pit props in one of the hutches. One of the props got displaced and caught on the crown in the road, causing such injuries to Bell that he died on the spot. [Scotsman 11 April 1913]

27 January 1915

Baillieston – Burning Accident in Pit – On Wednesday morning William Robertson, 23, a miner, 6 Station Road, Shettleston, met with a burning accident while working in the lower Drumgray coal seam of No 2 Pit Calderbank Colliery, Baillieston, owned by the United Collieries Ltd. There had been an accumulation of gas where he had been working, and the gas ignited by his naked lamp. Robertson was knocked down and burned about the back of the neck, right side of face and slightly burned on the right arm. He went to the pithead where he was attended by Dr Andrew Gibson Baillieston, who dressed his injuries. He was the taken home in the Baillieston ambulance waggon. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 30 January 1915]

13 February 1915

Coatbridge – Mining Accident – On Saturday about 12.30, James McNeilly, 40, a brusher residing at 17 Mid Row, Rosehall Coatbridge, while employed in the cousey brae of No 12 Pit Rosehall Colliery, putting five loaded hutches on the rope, something struck him on the chest, knocking him down. By the fall he sustained a simple fracture of both bones of the right leg at the ankle. He was taken home in the Coatbridge ambulance waggon, and after being attended by Dr Taylor, was removed to the Alexander Hospital. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 20 February 1915]

22 February 1915

Fullarton – Fatal Mining Accident – On Monday forenoon a miner named John Coyle, 51 years of age, residing at 101 Causeyside Street, Fullarton, Old Monkland, was accidentally killed in Bogfield Colliery, Carmyle, owned by John Dunn and Stephen, Ltd. He had been at work within the cousey section of the main coal seam taking out a stoop when a stone 9 feet long by 4 1/2 feet broad suddenly fell from the roof of his working place, and, striking him, pinned him to the pavement, so that he was instantaneously killed. The fall was due to what is known as a “lype” [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 27 February 1915]

10 March 1915

Carmyle – Boys Arm Run Over – A boy named Thomas Jaap, 15 years and one month old, a pithead worker, residing at 39 River Road, Carmyle, met with an accident about 12.15 on Wednesday by his left arm being run over by an empty railway waggon while he was employed in shunting operations at the railway siding at South Kenmuir Colliery, Carmyle, owned by J Dunn Stephen Ltd. The arm was severed at the elbow. He had his injuries dressed by Dr Thomas, and was removed to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 13 March 1915]

16 April 1915

Nackerty – Colliery Accident – About 10.30am on Friday a boy named Thomas Docherty, 13 years and 11 months, a drawer, son of Alexr Docherty, miner, 100 Cuthbert Street, Tannochside, met with an accident in the Kiltongue coal seam of No 3 Pit, Bredisholm Colliery, Nackerty, owned by the United Collieries Ltd. He had been in the act of drawing a loaded hutch in the direction of the main haulage road, and at a part about 200 yards from the coal face the hutch came in contact with a support causing it to become displaced. A stone was thereby dislodged in the roof, and in its descent it alighted on Docherty's right hand, causing a fracture of the first two carpus bones, and several severe lacerated wounds on the palm of the hand. The boy was medically attended and removed to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary in the ambulance. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 17 April 1915]

13 January 1916

Calderbank – Colliery Accident – About 9.30 am on Thursday 13th inst., a miner named James McMahon (25) residing at 24 Old Square, Calderbank, met with an accident while employed in the splint coal lye, Faskine Mine, occupied by Hugh Symington. McMahon and another man had been standing waiting on a rake of empty hutches coming down the mine, and on hearing the noise of a runaway rake McMahon ran behind four loaded hutches while his companion, Laird, got onto the top of the second loaded hutch. The empty hutches dashed against the front hutch and sent it over the road. McMahon was knocked down and had the femur bone of his left leg fractured at the thigh. He was carried to the surface on a stretcher, and attended by Dr A J Wilson, Airdrie, who set the fracture and had the man sent to the Royal Infirmary in the Airdrie ambulance waggon. [Airdrie & Coatbridge 22 January 1916]

12 April 1916

Baillieston – Colliery Accident – About 11.30am on Wednesday, Timothy Burns, 50, miner, 38c Buchanan Street, Baillieston, met with an accident in his working place in the Kiltongue seam of Calderbank Colliery, Baillieston, worked by the United Collieries Ltd. Owing to a “lype” a stone of 15 cwts came away suddenly from the roof, falling a distance of about 3 feet on his left leg. He was taken to the surface where his leg was temporarily bandaged. He was then removed home in a machine, where he was examined by Dr Noble, who found him suffering from a simple fracture of the tibia bone of his left leg, and ordered his removal to Glasgow Royal Infirmary. He was taken there in the Baillieston ambulance waggon. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 15 April 1916]

19 April 1916

Miner Killed At Blacklands – About 10am on Wednesday, William Crowe, 27, a miner, residing at 63 Jackson Street Coatbridge, met with a fatal accident at his work holing coal in the Kiltongue seam of Blacklands Mine, Glenboig, owned by the Blacklands Coal Company Ltd, Coatbridge. About 5 to 7 cwts of coal fell from the face upon and completely buried him. On being extricated from the fall by his fellow workmen, Crowe was found to be dead. The body was conveyed in a hutch to the mine mouth and carried to the office where Dr Rennie certified that death was due to suffocation. The body was afterwards conveyed to the home of the deceased in the Coatbridge ambulance waggon. Deceased was only married about 4 months ago. His parents resided at Carron, Falkirk. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 22 April 1916]

25 April 1916

Baillieston – Colliery Accident – About 4.30pm on Tuesday, 25th ult, William Paterson, 15, a pithead worker, Brown's Land, Bargeddie, met with an accident on the dirt bing at Calderbank Colliery, Baillieston, the property of United Collieries Ltd. He fell off a hutch on part of which he was riding and the hutch passed over his left leg. He was carried to the colliery office, where he was examined by Dr Watson Noble, who found him to be suffering from a simple fracture of the femur bone of the left leg, and ordered his removal to the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow. He was conveyed thither in the Baillieston ambulance waggon. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 6 May 1916]

1 June 1916

Coatbridge – Fatal Accident – George Smith, 52, residing at at 12 William Street who was admitted to Alexander Hospital on 25th May suffering from head injuries sustained in a coal mine, died about 9 o'clock on Thursday evening. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 3 June 1916]

26 June 1916

Baillieston – Fatal Shunting Accident – John Hamilton, 65, a waggon shifter, residing at 36 Camphill Gardens, Maxwell Street, Baillieston, was fatally injured about 12.30 on Monday while employed at the railway siding at Calderbank Colliery, owned by the United Collieries Ltd. He had been endeavouring to push forward a waggon along with another man in order to get a snibble out of a wheel. On the waggon coming in contact with other four the pinch Hamilton held slipped and caused him to fall. His right leg got across the rail and one of the wheels of a waggon ran over and rested upon the leg, the waggons being almost at a standstill. When he was released form this painful position, the injured man, whose leg was badly crushed, was removed to the colliery office and attended by Dr Noble, who found he had sustained a simple fracture of the tibia and fibia [sic] bones. He was conveyed in the ambulance to the Royal Infirmary and died of shock the same night about 11.15. Deceased was a widower residing in lodgings and had a grown up family, a married son being resident in Baillieston. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 1 July 1916]

Baillieston Pit Fatality – The next inquiry was as to the death of John Hamilton, pithead labourer, on 26 June as a result of his right leg being crushed by a wheel in a train of waggons at Calderbank Colliery, Baillieston. He had been engaged “pinching” an empty waggon, part of a rake of 20, on the main road at the colliery. The rails were wet, and deceased, while other waggons were being shunted down the tunnel by the chain, slipped and fell on the rail, the first waggon coming forward and resting on his leg, crushing it severely. He was conveyed to the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, where he died from fracture of the right tibia, shock, and cardiac failure on the same day. A formal verdict was returned. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 22 July 1916]

6 August 1917

Fatal Colliery Accident in Lanarkshire - The county police at Airdrie received a report yesterday of the death by accident of James Landels Love (57) miner, 382 Main Street Shettleston. He had been working in the Virtuewell seam of No. 1 pit, Clyde Collierv, Fullarton, Old Monkland (James Dunlop & Co's), when a fall took place from the roof owing to,a prop becoming loose, and he was buried in the debris. He died about an hour later. He leaves a widow and family. [Scotsman 7 August 1917]

Shettleston – Fatal Colliery Accident – The death occurred on Monday by accident of James Landels Love, miner, 382 Main Street, Shettleston. He had been working in the virtuewell seam of No 1 Pit, Clyde Colliery, Fullarton, Old Monkland, James Dunlop and Co., when a fall took place from the roof owing to a prop becoming loose, and he was buried in the debris. He died about a hour later. He leaves a widow and a family. [Hamilton Advertiser 11 August 1917]

19 March 1918

Duncan M'Intyre (40), a miner, 65 Kirkwood Rows, Bargeddie, died from injuries caused by a fall of stone from the roof where he was employed in No. 12 Pit, Rosehall colliery, near Coatbridge. [Scotsman 19 March 1918]

20 September 1918

Michael Connor (24), bencher, 7 Hospital Street, Coatbridge, was fatally injured in No. 12 Rosehall colliery. [Scotsman 21 September 1918]

21 November 1918

Serious Accident in Rosehall Pit – Two Boys Killed – About 2.5pm on Thursday a serious accident resulting in the death of two young lads and injury to a third took place in No 15 Pit Rosehall Colliery, belonging to Robert Addie and Sons, Coatbridge.  A rake of twelve empty hutches had been run from the pit bottom down the dook, a gradient of 1 in 5 to Cosgroves Lye, 300 fathoms from the pit bottom, the haulage rope being attached to the rear hutch. The lye itself is level and it was necessary to push the empty rake into and around the curve. The haulage was stopped and the rope got out of the rhone in the shafts with the result that it got entangled in the ascending cage. The rope piling up derailed the hutches which were pulled to the side. This displaced the legs supporting the crownhead at the lye and caused it to fall upon the two lads, killing them outright. Their names were:-

John McNeilly, 16 1/2, a drawer, 17 Mid Row, Rosehall and
James Robinson, 15 1/2, drawer, 1c Turner Street, Coatbridge

A man named John McBride, 34, 25 Richmond Place, Langloan, received bruises on the abdomen and limbs. Hugh Hamil, 36, chain runner, 213 Bank Street, Coatbridge, received slight bruises on chest and neck. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser 23 November 1918]

The Double Fatality At Rosehall Colliery – On Monday before Sheriff Lee and a jury, an inquiry under the Fatal Accidents Act was held into the causes and circumstances attending the death of John McKinlay, pit drawer, Mid Row, Rosehall, Coatbridge, and James Robinson, pit drawer, Turner Street, Coatbridge, which took place on 19th November at Cosgrove's Lye in No 14 Pit, Rosehall Colliery.

Hugh Hamil, chain runner, 212 Bank Street, Coatbridge, stated that about 7.5pm he was engaged lowering a rake of 12 hutches in the bottom of Cosgrove's Lye by means of a rope worked by the same haulage engine at the hill. The rope passed down the side of the shaft by a covered in rhone. At Cosgrove's place the lye was level, and while he and others were pushing the hutches along the level, all at once, without the slightest warning, there was a sudden clutch and the hutches were snatched away with great force, and dragged round the corner of the lye. Some of the hutches were derailed and struck the doors at the corner, bringing down the wood and debris and burying them and tow of the men. Witness was thrown to the side of the road insensible, and when he came to himself he ran along to see what had happened and to get assistance. He saw no sign at the time of McKinlay, Robinson or McBride. Returning with Cosgrove he saw that the hutches after going a certain way had been stopped by the two being jammed in the shaft. The two men, McKinlay and Robinson, were buried beneath the wood and debris that had fallen from the roof, and the boy McBride was lying at the side of the road stunned. McKinlay and Robinson when extricated were found to be dead. He afterwards learned that the tow, which was covered in by a wooden rhone in the shaft, had got out in some way and been caught by the cage in its descent.

By the Sheriff – The hutches did not run away. They were knocked out of position by the entangling of the haulage rope that had escaped out of the rhone, and, as they rushed along they struck the timbering and brought down the roof. William Cosgrove, 31 Coathill Street, corroborated.

John McBride, drawer, 26 Richmond Place, Langloan, said the rope running to the pit bottom in the rhone in the shaft ran on a pulley and was attached to the drum of the haulage engine. When the hutches were suddenly caught by the loosened ropes and snatched away, witness was knocked insensible.

Mr John McCallum (for the relatives of one of the men) – Have you ever heard anything of the kind occurring before? - No. This is the first occasion.

Walter Miller, haulage engineman, 6 School Street, Whifflet, said he lowered the rake of hutches in question. They had nearly run to their destination when he felt a sudden grip on the drum. He just applied his brake to stop it, but it was impossible to stop it, because the winding cage had caught the haulage rope which passed down the shaft, and it went 30 or 40 feet before it would stop in the shaft. He could do nothing then, and had to see the winding engineman, but when he went into the winding house his cage had stopped. He afterwards found that the shankers had to be sent for, as the rope had come out of the rhones through some defect in the woodwork and had looped about the end of the hutches.

John More, 59, winding engineman, Bellshill, said it looked as if there would be about 20 fathoms of slack rope. His cage had been damaged in the shaft, and he suspected that the haulage rope had got out of the box rhone and got fankled or entangled with the corner of the cage and the hutches.

Evidence was also given by Mr Chalmers, the manager.

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence, and added a rider recommending that inquiry should be made into the system of having haulage conducted in the same shaft as winding. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser December 26 1918]

8 October 1919

Fatal Mining Accident - William Clifford, colliery fireman, Hospital Street, Coatbridge, has died within Alexander Hospital, from the effects of injuries sustained while working at a revolving haulage wheel in Rosehall Colliery. [Evening Times 8 October 1919]

8 February 1921

Miner Fatally Injured at Coatbridge - George Smith (29), mining machineman, 289 New Row; Gartsherrie, Coatbridge, received fatal injuries while working at a coal-cutting machine in No 10 Rosehall Colliery, owned by Robert Addie & Sons' Collieries (Ltd.). His right leg accidentally came in contact with the picks attached to the coal cutting bar and was dragged under the bar. Smith was removed to Glasgow Royal Infirmary, but died about fourteen hours after admission. [Scotsman 9 February 1921]

17 July 1921

Two Children Killed at Coatbridge - A pathetic discovery was made at Rosehall No. 1 Colliery, near Coatbridge, on Saturday, It wad found that two children; Agnes Baird and Eliza Boyle Baird,7 years and 9 months and 2 years old respectively, had been crushed to death by a loaded hutch, which had run over them. The children were daughters of Mr Andrew Baird, blacksmith, 10 Rosehall Cottages and had wandered onto the haulage line where the endless chain operates the full and empty hutches, and they had been run down, unobserved by anyone. [Scotsman 18 July 1921]

7 February 1922

Miner Electrocuted At Coatbridge - A mine machineman named William Cairns Paterson has met his death by electrocution in the Rosehall colliery, Coatbridge. While working at a coalcutting machine at the face, he came in contact with a switch on the machine, which at the time was fully charged with electric current, and was killed on the spot. He was 33 years of age and leaves a widow and family of two. [Scotsman 9 February 1922]

Coatbridge Miner Electrocuted - A mine machineman named William Cairns Paterson has met his death by electrocution in the Rosehall colliery, Coatbridge. While working at a coalcutting machine at the face, he came in contact with a switch on the machine, which at the time was fully charged with electric current, and was killed on the spot. He was 33 years of age and leaves a widow and family of two. [Hamilton Advertiser 11 February 1922]

10 July 1922

Fatal Accident in Rosehall Colliery – A young miner named Joseph M'Mullen, living in lodgings at 2A Bute Street, Whifflet, was fatally injured yesterday by a fall of stone in No 14 Pit, Rosehall Colliery, worked by R Addie & Sons' Collieries (Limited). The stone crushed him to the pavement. [Scotsman 11 July 1922]

24 August 1922

Coatbridge – Miner Killed – On Thursday a miner, Samuel M'Gaughey, residing at 59 Jackson Street, Coatbridge, while employed within Bedlay Colliery, was killed as the result of a fall from the roof. M'Gauchey is survived by a widow and one child. [Hamilton Advertiser 26 August 1922]

15 May 1924

Mining Contractor Injured Near Airdrie - Ex-Baillie William Jack, Grahamshill Street, Airdrie, was severely injured in Ellismuir Colliery, in which he has been a mining contractor for some years, and had to be removed in the ambulance waggon to the Western Infirmary, Glasgow. In the course of operations underground a tree or prop had suddenly sprung from its position and struck him violently on the side. He was completely disabled, but managed afterwards to walk to the car, which took him home. It is feared, however, that some of his ribs were fractured and have injured the lungs. Mr Jack is an ex-Magistrate of the burgh of Airdrie and a prominent public man in the town. [Scotsman 16 May 1924]

26 January 1925

Baillieston Miner Killed - A mining contractor named Patrick Fannan, 51 years of age, residing at 35a Buchanan Street, Baillieston, has been killed in Shettleston Colliery, near Baillieston, by the explosion of a shot. He had gone back to the place where the shot was prepared, thinking it had already gone off. It suddenly exploded when he came within eight feet of it. Fannan's body was badly shattered. [Scotsman 29 January 1925]

14 February 1927

Pithead Fatality Near Airdrie - Early yesterday morning a boy named William M'Dade, 16 years of age, residing at Whifflet Street, Coatbridge, was found badly crushed under a hutch of coal dirt that had been overturned at the screening plant at the Rosehall Colliery of R. Addie & Sons' Collieries (Ltd.) The lad was still living, but before he could be extricated and removed he expired. How the accident happened has not been definitely ascertained. [Scotsman 15 February 1927]

Crushed Under Hutch – William M'Dade (16) who was employed at the coal screening plant at No 5 Rosehall Colliery, near Coatbridge, was killed early on Monday morning in an accident, the cause of which has not yet been established. When he was emptying dirt from a hutch something went wrong with the haulage rope, which caused the hutch to be overturned. The boy was found underneath the hutch terribly crushed. He died before he could be removed. He resided in the new housing scheme at Whifflet. [Hamilton Advertiser 19 February 1927]

31 August 1927

Airdrie Pit Tragedy- Two Miners Electrocuted -Two miners, named Robert Connor (28), who resided at North Road, Bellshill, and Robert Laird (25), 3 Calder Street, Whifflet, Coatbridge, were killed by electric shock in the No, 5 Pit, Rosehall Colliery, of Robert Addie & Sons' Collieries (Ltd.), on Wednesday night. Inquiry at the colliery yesterday elicited the fact that the two men had been shifting a conveyor in connection with the coal-cutting machine, which is driven by electric power. The edge of the pan had come violently against the electric cable, cutting the insulating covering, and thus causing the current to go through the metal of the pan which the men were holding on to, and thereby electrocuting them on the spot The voltage is believed to have been about 250.

A third man, Hugh M'Gregor, 154D Whifflet Street, Coatbridge, was knocked down and sustained bruises, but was able to keep clear of the electric current, and gave the alarm. The other men working in the section (virgin coal seam) at once applied artificial respiration to Connor and Laird, being afterwards assisted in this by a Coatbridge doctor. Both, however, were dead. In consequence of the accident work was suspended at the pit yesterday. [Scotsman 2 September 1927]

6 May 1929

Baillieston - Pit Fatality - Whilst following his occupation underground at Calderbank Colliery, Baillieston, Peter Young, 41, Muirside, Baillieston, was seriously injured by a stone falling on his back. His spine was fractured and he died of his injuries in the Glasgow Royal Infirmary on Monday. Deceased was unmarried. [Hamilton Advertiser 11 May 1929]

13 June 1929

31 March 1930

Killed By Runaway Hutch - A hutch-drawer named Peter Dollan (19), residing at 1a Hospital Street, Coatbridge, was fatally injured in No. 5 Rosehall Colliery. He was pulling two loaded hutches of pitwood on one of the roads underground when the haulage rope broke and caused the hutches to run back on him. He tried to stop them, but they got derailed, and he was crushed between the hutches and the stone building at the roadside. He died in the Alexander Hospital. [Scotsman 1 April 1930]

6 December 1930

Pit Fatality At Baillieston - A young man named Michael Kane, a coalcutting machineman, 3 Portland Street, Coatbridge, was fatally injured on Saturday by a fall of coal and pelt from the coalface of the ell seam in No . 13 Shettleston Colliery, Baillieston. On being medically examined it was found that death was due to compound fracture of the skull. [Scotsman 8 December 1930]

MINER'S DEATH AND SISTERS' PLEASURES - COMPENSATION APPEAL HOUSE OF LORDS - MOTHER WHO DECLINED £175 AWARDED £100 - The House of Lords yesterday gave judgment in an appeal which one of the claimants to compensation under the Workmen's Compensation Act had stated that since her son’s death her two daughters were unable to go to so many dances and picture houses or to have so many clothes. Thomas Keane, his wife, and their two daughters, all Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, were the appellants against an award of £100 to the mother following the death of Michael Keane in pit belonging to the Mount Vernon Colliery Company, Limited, of Baillieston. His net earnings as a coalcutting machine man were £3 2s. 4d. weekly. After Michael's death the company offered £175, which the mother declined, and the arbitrator awarded her £100, rejecting the claim the other members of the family. A majority in the Second Division of the Court Session in Scotland affirmed the arbitrator's award, and this was appealed against. The matter came before Lords Buckmaster, Blanesburgh, Warrington, Russell and Macmillan. The appeal was dismissed by a majority. Lord Blanesburgh in dissenting, expressed the view that the arbitrator had misdirected himself and that the award should be sent back to him for reconsideration. [Nottingham Evening Post 28 February 1933]

1 February 1939

Coatbridge Pit Fatality - A Coatbridge man. was fatally injured at No. 14 Rosehall Colliery, Coatbridge, yesterday. He was James Clifford (25), of Dundivan Road, and was engaged in running hutches along the roadway, when his workmates discovered that he was missing. They went back along the road, and found the man beneath three hutches. He succumbed to his injuries soon afterwards. [Scotsman 2 February 1939]