Stirlingshire Accidents pre-1855

This section contains newspaper reports on selected pre-1855 accidents in Stirlingshire. Please check the indexes in the Accidents Section for reports by the Inspector of Mines and accidents in other areas.

14 October 1773

On Thursday se’ennight, a remarkable [illegible] happened at Kinnaird colliery. A young lad fell into a coal-pit 30 fathom deep, and [illegible] his feet at the bottom of the pit, without [illegible] once falling to the ground ; what is [illegible] his bones were broke, and he did not see himself hurt; but soon after he was taken out, he [illegible] with a vomiting of blood, occasioned, as [illegible] some of his blood vessels bursting, and expired two hours after. [Caledonian Mercury 23 October 1773]

5 October 1804

Yesterday morning, two young men, colliers, were killed by foul air, in a coal-pit, in the west Barony of Kilsyth parish. One of them, named Burns, when he had descended about half way down the pit, fell from the bucket in which he was standing, to the bottom; the cause of his fall not being known, another young man Frew, without the least precision, attempted to descend to his assistance, but when he reached nearly the same place that his companion had done, he also fell to the bottom. Their bodies have not yet been got out of the pit. [Caledonian Mercury 6 October 1804]

3 April 1821

On Tuesday last a most distressing accident befel John Binny, one of the colliers employed at Greenyards coal-pit, near Bannockburn:- He was in the basket, and in the act of ascending, with a fellow workman, when in their way, the skirt of Binny's coat came in contact with the wall, and the consequence was, that he lost his balance, and was thrown out of the basket. His companion made a sudden effort to render him some assistance, and succeeded so far as to catch holdof him by the leg – but unfortunately so imminent was the danger in which this placed himself, that, in order to preserve his own life, he was reduced to the sad alternative of letting go that hold which suspended the life of his friend! - when the poor man fell to the bottom, and was killed on the spot. The depth of the pit is considered to be about 25 fathoms; and they are supposed to have been about midway when the accident took place. [Edinburgh Advertiser 6 April 1821]

18 August 1827

Fatal Accident - On Saturday last, a collier of the name of Cowie, belonging to Banknock colliery, met with a fatal accident while descending one of the shafts. From some accident, the person who had charge of the windlass, by which the baskets are lowered into the pit, lost command of it soon after the unfortunate sufferer began to descend, in consequence of which he was precipitated to the bottom from a vast height, and killed on the spot. The distracted feelings of his brother, who was waiting at the bottom of the pit to receive him, is beyond description. They had but separated a short time; and at the moment he expected to meet him as he left him, in health and strength, he was doomed to see him stretched a lifeless corpse at his feet. [Caledonian Mercury 25 August 1827]

24 December 1827

A shocking and fatal accident occurred on Friday last, in a coal pit belonging to the Duke of Hamilton, at Wallacestone, in the neighbourhood of Falkirk. A large piece of stone fell from the roof of the pit upon William Simpson, one of the colliers, and crushed him so dreadfully that life was extinct before the stone was removed from off his body. A similar accident befell another collier, in an adjacent pit this morning; but hopes are entertained of his recovery. [Caledonian Mercury 3 January 1828]

2 May 1829

Fatal Accident - On Saturday last, as Mr James Samuel, wright, in the employment of the Carron Company, was engaged in repairing the cradling of one of their coal-pits, and was standing for that purpose upon a hanging scaffold about 30 feet from the ground, one of the four ropes, by which the scaffold was suspended, broke, in consequence of which he was precipitated to the bottom the pit, and falling upon his head, was killed on the spot. [Edinburgh Evening Courant 9 May 1829]

27 July 1830

Yesterday afternoon a very melancholy accident occurred at Bannockburn Colliery. As the workmen were preparing to leave the pit and had reached the stairs leading to the top of the shaft, part of the stairs gave way and precipitated 6 men into the “dead sink” where they must have all perished, had it been possible for them to escape being smashed to pieces between the stairs and the side of the shaft before reaching the sink. A man and boy, who were also upon the part which gave way, were pitched off the stairs into a kind of corner or recess in the shaft and the man escaped unhurt, but the boy is considered to be in a dangerous state. The bodies of the men have not yet been got out, although great exertions are making and medical men are in attendance. The stairs consisted of 41 flights of 12 steps each, and 36 of these flights gave way. One man had a very narrow escape; he was upon the lowest step of the 5th flight when the accident happened, and saw his companions instantaneously hurled from his side into another world. The length of the stairs was about 50 fathoms, and the “dead sink” is said to be 19 fathoms deep, and filled with water. Had the accident happened a few minutes sooner, many more lives would have been lost, as a great number of women and girls had just reached the top; and had it been delayed a little longer, the consequences would have been equally fatal as a great number of men were resting themselves at the foot of the stairs before ascending. We have heard it stated that the stairs were several months ago condemned as insufficient, but that the work people continued to use them. [Times July 28 1830]

Distressing Accident - Thursday afternoon, a very melancholy accident occurred at Bannockburn Colliery. As the workmen were preparing to leave the pit, and had reached the stairs leading to the top of the shaft, part of the stairs gave way, and precipitated six men into the "dead sink," where they must all have perished, had it been possible for them to escape being smashed to pieces between the stairs and the side of the shaft before reaching the sink. A man and a boy, who were also upon the part which gave way, were pitched off the stairs into a kind of corner or recess in the shaft, and the man escaped unhurt, but the boy is considered to be in a dangerous state. Three of the men were unmarried, two have left widows, but no children, and the other, whose name is Grant, has left a widow and four young children. [Caledonian Mercury 24 July 1830]

1 January 1831

On Saturday last, as Mr John Bulloch, taxman of one of the Derry coal-pits, parish of Campsie, was proceeding down the pit by means of the bucket rope, he unfortunately lost his hold and was precipitated to the bottom. His fall was broken by an iron hook, which penetrated behind his ear, by which he hung until his cheek-bone gave way. The poor man did not survive the accident many minutes. Mr Bulloch has left five motherless children. [Caledonian Mercury, quoted in The Times Jan 5 1831]

19 April 1833

Friday se'ennight, a fatal accident occurred at the South Bantaskine colliery. A man of the name of Rankine, and a boy, Corkindale, were descending in the bucket together, and had reached the first landing place, which is about fourteen fathoms from the bottom. Here some projection caught the side of the bucket, which it upset, precipitating the two unhappy individuals down the shaft. The boy was found perfectly lifeless, and his elder companion, although not killed on the spot, had one of his thigh-bones and his two arms broken, and was otherwise so shockingly mangled that he lingered until Saturday when he died. Such accidents are so lamentably prevalent, that it is amazing the confidence of the workmen at coalworks is not balanced by greater cautiousness. [Scotsman 27 April 1833]

31 March 1834

A melancholy accident occurred at Redding on Monday last. A young man, named John Stevens was killed, while following his usual avocation, in one of Mr Johnston's collieries. After excavating a piece of the mine, he was engaged in stowing away some of the loose rubbish, when a large stone fell out of the roof on his head, crushing it so dreadfully, that his death was almost instantaneous - Stirling Journal. [Scotsman 5 April 1834]

16 August 1834

Falkirk - Another Coal Pit Accident - On Saturday last, a very melancholy accident took place at Borrowstowness , attended with loss of life. A girl named Ferguson , who was engaged to be married to a young man, and whose banns were to have been proclaimed next day for the last time - disregarding an old custom among the colliers in that quarter by which they refrain from going to the pit during the-time they are being a bride - was in the act of descending the Burn pit , along with a cousin of the name of Main, about 15 years of age , and had proceeded about halfway or 40 fathoms, when the bucket was met by the loaded one ascending. The two, by some means , came in contact , by which that going down was capsized, and the two unfortunate friends were precipitated to the bottom. They were both killed on the spot. [Scotsman 20 August 1834]

11 March 1835

On Wednesday last, a most melancholy and distressing accident occurred near Banknock coal-work. A man of the name of Finlay, who was employed along with some others in sinking a new shaft or pit, was let down to ignite a charge of powder, for the purpose of blasting a large stone or portion of rock. After having lighted the match, he was in the act of being drawn up by his companion's, when the windlass by some means or other gave way, and he was precipitated to the bottom, from a height of upwards of 20 feet. The charge of powder exploded almost at the same instant, and a large mass of stone, dislodged by the blast, was overturned upon the unfortunate man's body. As his companions had no means of descending to his assistance till they procured ropes, a considerable time elapsed before he could be released from his dreadful situation, and though able to speak at the time, he expired in a few minutes after being conveyed to his own house. The deceased was about 24 years of age, and has left a wife and two children. [Caledonian Mercury 19 March 1835]

23 September 1836

Coal Pit Accident – On Friday last, about 7 o'clock in the morning, the men employed at the coal-pit at Bannockburn Muir, were alarmed by a sudden explosion in the bottom of the pit, caused by the kindling of foul air or fire-damp. This they instantly suspected, and called on those who were below; but receiving no answer, they were afraid all the men had perished. However, after a shot time it was found to be otherwise, and they succeeded in extricating them from their perilous situation; when, upon investigation, it was found that only four had been hurt, but one of them very severely. They were conveyed home, and three of them seem to be in fair way of recovery, but the other, named Richardson, an unmarried man, died on Sunday last. It was fortunate that the others were working in what is called the face of the pit, and consequently out of the way f the current of ignited air which rushed towards the mouth of the shaft. What renders the circumstance more distressing, is, that two of the men who were hurt were bridegrooms, and were to be married that very evening. [Stirling Observer quoted in Scotsman 1 October 1836]

22 May 1837

On Monday about 12 o'clock, a very melancholy occurrence took place at a coal-pit near Kilsyth. Four industrious individuals, all relatives, of the name of Bankier, formerly weavers, but lately colliers, while working together, unfortunately came in contact with an old pit, full of water, which burst in upon them. A few others in the pit made their escape, but the four unfortunate men were caught by the rush of water, and must have instantly perished. [Caledonian Mercury 29 May 1837]

25 January 1838

Melancholy accident - On Thursday last, a peculiarly distressing occurrence happened at Middlerig colliery, near Redding. An old man of the name of M'Arthur, was at work along with his daughter, a good-looking young woman in the bloom of youth, when the latter perceiving that a large stone in the roof of the pit, which had been for some time in a loose state, was giving way, anxiously cried to the old man, and at the same time managed to push him from beneath the falling mass; but her paternal solicitude proved fatal to herself, as she was the next instant buried under its weight, and after assistance had been got, taken up a lifeless corpse. the stone is supposed to have fallen on her back. [Scotsman 31 January 1838]

15 May 1844

Redding - Coal-Pit Accident - On Wednesday the 15th curt., a man named Young, employed as a collier at the Standrigg works, while watching the progress of his hutch towards the top of the pit, was struck and severely cut by a piece of coal which had fallen from the tub. No one being at the bottom it was sometime before the accident was known, and when discovered by one of his fellow-workmen, Young was lying insensible at the bottom of the shank. He was speedily conveyed to his home, and is now in a fair way of recovery. [Stirling Observer 23 May 1844]

16 May 1844

Fatal Coal-Pit Accident - On Thursday last, while a lad about 13 years of age was employed in one of the Duke of Hamilton's pits, a large mass of stone suddenly detached itself from the roof of the pit, and falling directly upon him, crushed him to death. Assistance was at hand but it was of no avail. What renders the above still more melancholy is that the unfortunate lad was "the only son of his mother, and she a widow." The father of the deceased was killed about nine years ago in the Standrigg pit. [Stirling Observer 23 May 1844]

2 September 1844

Fatal Accident. - On Monday last, when George Whyte was employed in clearing the way into the working at Greenyards coal-pit, near Bannockburn, a stone, so heavy that it required the strength of three men to roll it off, fell on him while he was lying on his side, and bruised him so severely that, although he was relieved immediately and carried home, he only lingered under the most severe suffering till eight o'clock on Tuesday morning when he died. He was a respectable man and very attentive to his business, and his services much valued by Mr Geddes, his employer. He has left a widow and five children, from fourteen years and under, to deplore their loss. [Stirling Observer 5 September 1844]

20 December 1844

Fatal Accident. - On Wednesday the 20th ult., while a girl named Maxwell, belonging to Redding Moor, was in the act of alighting from an empty coal waggon, she from some cause lost her footing, and falling amongst the waggon wheels, was so dreadfully bruised that she survived the accident only about an hour. [Stirling Observer 4 January 1844]

6 February 1845

Fatal Accident – One of those distressing occurrences so frequent in coal mines, took place on Thursday week at Plean Colliery. While one of the workmen, David Forsyth and his son, a lad of 18 years of age, were undermining a large piece of coal, it suddenly parted from the roof of the mine and fell upon the young man. The father, who made a very narrow escape, got immediate assistance, and had the coal removed, but life was extinct. Such, indeed, was the nature of the injuries, that death must have been instantaneous – Stirling Observer [Scotsman 15 February 1845]

6 October 1845

Fatal Accident Near Kilsyth – On Monday last two colliers, named Black and Dugan, workers at the Strone coal works, near Kilsyth, were killed by an explosion of fire damp, caused by one of them having very imprudently taken the light out of the Davy lamp, on account of the small light it was giving from a foul state of air. [Scotsman 11 October 1845]

November 1850

Accidents at Blackbraes and Binniehill Collieries - We understand that during the last fortnight, two fatal accidents have occurred in the collieries in the district; one of them at Blackbraes, and the other at Binniehill. Both accidents happened, we believe, from a mass of stone in the roof of the mine having given way, and fallen down upon the workmen, crushing them so severely, as to cause death within a few hours afterwards. An investigation has been instituted into the cause of death, in both cases, under the provisions of an Act of Parliament of last Session, the result of which is, that both deaths are pronounced to have happened from accidental causes. [Falkirk Herald 14 November 1850]

22 March 1851

Fatal Accident - An accident occurred at Blackbraes Colliery on Saturday last, which resulted in the death of one of the pitmen. It was entirely from carelessness on his own part that the accident occurred, he was engaged in working what is known as the "long wall," and had neglected to stow the rubbish for the support of the roof as he proceeded. On Thursday the roadsman had cautioned him that if he did not "stow his wall " more carefully, he would be killed ; but the warning was disregarded, for on Saturday he again neglected to give the roof the proper support, and the consequence was, that the entire incumbent mass of stone fell down upon him. Three or four hours elapsed before he was extricated. Life, of course, was extinct. The body was quite doubled, - the pitman having been in that attitude when the roof fell - and altogether it presented a very frightful spectacle. The name of the man was Thomas Forsyth, and we regret to learn he has left a widow and six children. [Falkirk Herald 27 March 1851]

15 May 1851

Fatal Accident - We regret to have to announce another fatal accident at the Duke of Hamilton's colliery at Redding, on the morning of Thursday the 15th inst., by which a collier, named William M'Lachlan, has lost his life. He was employed in No. 4 pit, and while at work on the morning referred to, a large stone suddenly slipped from the roof of the mine and fell above him, crushing him under it. He received severe injury about the head, and had ceased to exist before the stone could be removed. The room in which the accident happened had been examined by the underground manager about two hours before, and was then in perfectly good order, and without the slightest appearance of danger. A brother of the deceased was working beside him, and he observed nothing to indicate danger, the stone having fallen out without giving any previous warning. The deceased was a young man and unmarried. [Falkirk Herald 22 May 1851]

18 August 1851

Fatal Accident in a Coal Pit - A pitman of the name of Robert Jenkins met with his death on Monday forenoon, at Binneyhill Colliery, by the falling of a piece of stone weighing 8 or 9 cwt. from the roof of the pit. The unfortunate man was killed on the spot, and his son, who was working beside him at the time, narrowly escaped the same fate. We are informed that the accident was not occasioned by carelessness on the part of any one, but the usual investigation of the case by the Procurator-Fiscal has not yet taken place. Jenkins, who belonged to Carron, and had been only a short time at Binneyhill, has left a widow and several children. [Falkirk Herald 21 August 1851]

9 September 1851

Fatal Accident Near Falkirk - An accident occurred at one of the pits at Blackbraes Colliery, near Falkirk, on Tuesday morning, by which one individual lost his life and another was severely injured. The two men were standing at the foot of the pit, and one of them, who was about to ascend to the top of the pit, had just given the signal for the hatch to be raised, when a piece of timber, of the kind commonly known as trees, fell from above, and, striking him upon the head, killed him on the spot. It also struck the man who was standing beside him, and hurt him so severely that for some time it was hardly expected he would recover, but we are glad to leant that his life is now considered to be out of danger. The name of the man who was killed was Thomas Sneddon. [Falkirk Herald – quoted in the Scotsman 13 September 1851]

Fatal Accident. - An accident occurred at one of the pits at Blackbraes Colliery on Tuesday morning, by which one individual lost his life and another was severely injured. The two men were standing at the foot of the pit, and one of them, who was about to ascend to the top of the pit, had just given the signal for the hatch to be raised, when a piece of timber, of the kind commonly known as trees, fell from above, and, striking him upon the head, killed him on the spot. It also struck the man who was standing beside him, and hurt him so severely that for some time it was hardly expected he would recover, but we are glad to learn that his life is now considered to be out of danger. The name of the man who was killed was Thomas Sneddon. He occupied the situation of underground overseer, and was a steady, respectable man of industrious habits. He had no children, but he has left a widow, who, it is consoling to learn, will be saved from poverty by the fruits of her husband's prudent, saving habits. [Falkirk Herald 11 September 1851]

20 November 1852

On Saturday last a fatal accident occurred to a man named Miles, a collier at one of the Duke of Hamilton’s coal pits at Redding. He had been working as usual along with the others, at 2 o’clock on Saturday morning when a large stone fell from the roof of the pit and crushed him beneath it. He only lived a few hours after he was taken up, but never seemed sensible or spoke afterwards. He was a very industrious workman, and was one of 8 brothers all employed in the same colliery. Another accident nearly similar to the above took place on Wednesday afternoon at one of the coal pits at Summerhouse belonging to Mr John Wilson. A collier of the name of Thomson had been below superintending the raising of a hutch of coals when a piece fell from the ascending hutch and struck him on the head. The injuries he received were so serious that he only lived an hour or two. He was married and has left a widow to mourn his untimely loss. [Scotsman 27 Nov 1852]