Old Monkland Accidents pre-1855
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.
December 1801
The following accidents have happened in the parish of Old Monkland, in the course of the last four week. Three persons have been killed in different coal pits, three have been drowned in the canal, and two killed while they were digging ironstone. [Aberdeen Journal 23 December 1801]
12 May 1803
Last
Thursday morning a young man at Barrachnie Colliery in a thoughtless
manner run down the rope at one of the pits but losing his hold he was
precipitated to the bottom and did not survive many hours. As there is
a stair by which the men can go and come to and from their work at that
colliery this accident as well as many others of a similar kind should
be a caution to all colliers who have such an opportunity never to go
or come from their work by the ropes. [Glasgow Courier Sat 14 May
1803] Many thanks to Robert Murray for supplying this article
2 January 1805
On Wednesday, while a man was working in one of the coal-pits at Barrachnie, in the neighbourhood of Glasgow, part of the roof fell in, by which he was instantly crushed to death. He has left a wife and four children. Another man was considerably bruised, but there are hopes of his recovery. [Edinburgh Advertiser 5 January 1805]
6 December 1821
Thursday, a fine boy, named Simpson, while arranging the engine rope of a coal pit at Merriestone coal-work, lost his hold, and was precipitated to the bottom of the pit, and killed on the spot. [Glasgow Herald 10 December 1821]
13 February 1830
Early on Saturday morning last a fatal event happened at Whiteflat coal pit parish of Old Monkland. Four colliers descended to the bottom of the pit, and without waiting for the arrival of the fireman, proceeded onwards to their working rooms, where they foolishly uncovered their safety lamps to ignite their pipes, and the melancholy result was that the flame had instantly communicated with the foul air and occasioned a tremendous explosion, which shook the ground and resembled a discharge of cannon. Beside three men who perished in the most distant room, the fireman experienced the same sudden fate, as did another collier who had just got out of the bucket at the bottom. Two colliers (one of whose fathers is on the fatal list) who had been working all night in the ell-coal were smoking when the explosion took place, but they escaped. They groped their way in darkness towards the bottom of the pit, and in their route stumbled upon the body of a prostrate collier, which, with great difficulty, they dragged along with them and brought up in the bucket: his recovery is doubtful. The miners used every exertion on Saturday to recover the bodies, but owing to the foul state of the pit were only successful in 2 instances. The sinking of temporary entrances to where the other 3 bodies lay was then resorted to, and after considerable danger they were recovered on Sunday. [The Times February 22 1830]
Dreadful Accident In A Coal Pit
- Early on Saturday morning last, a fatal event happened at Whiteflat
coal pit, parish of Old Monkland. Four colliers descended to the bottom
of the pit, and, without waiting for the arrival of the fireman, whose
duty it is first to explore the interior to ascertain whether or not
foul air has concentrated, proceeded onwards to their working rooms,
where they had foolishly, as is too frequently the case with colliers,
uncovered their safety lamps (Sir H. Davy's), to ignite their pipes,
and the melancholy result of this imprudence was that the flame had
instantly communicated with the foul air, and occasioned a tremendous
explosion, which shook the ground, and resembled a discharge of cannon.
The railroads were torn up, and the other interior workings were
disjoined, and scattered about in fragments with irresistible force,
till the flame got vent at the pit mouth. Besides three men who
perished in the most distant room, the poor fireman, who was in the act
of proceeding forward to insure the general safety, experienced the
same sudden fate, as did also another collier who had just got out of
the bucket at the bottom. Two colliers, (one of whose fathers is in the
fatal list) who had been working all night in the ell coal, were
smoking when the explosion took place, but their room being next the
air course, they escaped scorching, but their lamps were extinguished.
They groped their way in darkness towards the bottom of the pit, and in
their route stumbled upon the body of a prostrate collier, which with
great difficulty they dragged along with them, and brought up in the
bucket. He has since been conveyed to the Royal Infirmary, but his
recovery is very doubtful. As the five men whose bodies remained in the
pit had all wives and children, their families ran to the pit, and the
most heart rending lamentations were uttered by those who were so
awfully bereaved of their natural protectors. The miners used every
exertion on Saturday to recover the bodies ; but owing to the foul
state of the pit were only successful in two instances. The sinking of
temporary entrances to where the other three bodies lay was then
resorted to, and, after considerable danger, they were recovered on
Sunday. The interment took place on Tuesday; and the number of mournful
spectators from Green-end and other quarters to witness the sad
spectacle was peculiarly affecting. One venerable looking man had seven
sons in the work ; two of these and his son in law perished on this
occasion; and his bereaved aspect while following the hearse excited
general sympathy. The funeral proceeded to Airdrie where three of the
sufferers were interred in one grave. [Caledonian Mercury 20 February
1830]
24 October 1840
Shocking Coal Pit Accident – On the morning of Saturday last, an explosion of fire damp took place on one of Dundyvan Pits, No 3, when a man of the name of Wm. Donachie, residing in Airdrie, and a boy of the name of Brown, were killed on the spot. A man of the name of Solomon Gabney had his leg broken (since amputated), while Christopher Laird and the brother of the boy Brown are now lying in the most imminent danger, from the numerous bruises they sustained. The person who had his leg broke was the innocent cause of the catastrophe, having incautiously ventured, after being warned, with his common lamp, to the spot where the foul and damp air had been pent up from the day previous. The Davy lamp, which was quite convenient, would have prevented the fatal error. When will miners take warning? - Glasgow Argus [Scotsman 28 October 1840]
Dundyvan Coal Pit Accident – Of the five individual sufferers at the explosion of inflammable air in No 3 pit, Dundyvan, as mentioned in Monday's Argus, only Solomon Gabney survives; the two who were said to be in imminent danger have since expired in great agony. Gabney, who is believed to have been the headstrong cause of the fatal deed, is doing well since the amputation of his leg. [Scotsman 31 October 1840]
22 May 1841
Fatal Accident - On the afternoon of Friday last a boy of twelve years of age, named Crawford Sneddon employed at No. 1 Pit, Dundyvan Iron Works, for some purpose or other was proceeding to the engine house, at the pit head, and, in passing over the boiler seat, where the bucket chain is guided by an upright working barrel and standards, then in full operation, the unfortunate youth, in stepping over the running chain, had his left leg entangled thereby, and snapped into two in a moment, whilst his body was quickly drawn in betwixt the working barrel and the standard, and so perilously placed, that a stroke or two of the engine (which was happily stopped). would have crushed it to pieces in an instant. As it was, the loss of the leg, and the bruises sustained by the body, were too much for the tender sufferer. and though medical aid was promptly in attendance, and every exertion used, the poor little boy was numbered with the dead in a few hours after the accident. [Caledonian Mercury 27 May 1841]
25 October 1843
Fatal Colliery Accidents – Explosion of Firedamp At Merriston, Coatbridge - On Monday the 23d, through some mismanagement, five men were severely burned at this colliery. The unfortunate men, on becoming aware of their situation, made for the pit bottom, in order to escape the danger; but in coming up the shaft, the fire caught hold of them, and they were dreadfully burned. On Wednesday last another dreadful explosion took place at one of the Calder pits (Coatbridge). There were twenty-four men in the pit, who were all more or less injured, and two lives were lost. [Caledonian Mercury 30 October 1843]
23 August 1844
Fatal Colliery Accident - A
young man of the name of Daniel Cashiedy, lost his life on Friday in
the No. 9 pit, Drumpeller, by Coatbridge. It would appear that he had
neglected to put his token on the hutch, till it was in the cage, and
in attempting to do so, was unfortunately drawn up the shaft, and was
smashed to pieces in the fall. [Glasgow Herald 26 August 1844]
31
January 1845
Fatal Colliery Accident - As the workers of one of the pits at the Rosehall colliery, near Coatbridge, were descending the shaft to their employment, on the 31st ult., the rope broke, when those descending were supposed to be half-way down the shaft, and they unfortunately fell to the bottom and were killed. The names of the sufferers are Wm. Nelson, who has left a wife and family, and a boy of the name of Kirkand, whose father was sitting in the pit bottom at the time. [Glasgow Herald 10 February 1845]
Fatal Accident - On Friday morning last, a man and a boy were killed at Rosehall, by the breaking of the tow while they were descending to their work.—Glasgow Courier. [Dundee Courier 11 February 1845]
31 July 1845
Fatal Colliery Accidents. An
accident of a fatal nature took place on Thursday, 31st ult., at the
No. 11 pit, Dundyvan, by which two men lost their lives, and several
others were seriously injured. It appears the pit had been laid idle a
few days previous, and on the men descending to their employment, their
lights came in contact with the gas, which exploded. The names of the
sufferers are - William Ingram, a married man, who has left a wife and
five children to deplore his fate ; John Allan, a young man, died after
being taken to the Infirmary. The other sufferers are of the respective
names of Wotherspoon, Stevenson and Hodskies, who are in the way of
recovery. [Glasgow Herald 11 August 1845]
28 July 1846
Another
fatal accident occurred on Tuesday last, when a miner of the name of
Boyd lost his life in one of the Calder pits. It is said a neighbouring
workman nearly lost his life from the effects of the damp, in
endeavouring to get at the the body, and was only saved by a rope which
had been fastened round him, by which he was drawn out to the fresh
air, and, although in an exhausted state, he succeeded in bringing the
corpse of Boyd with him. On the same day another miner lost his life in
No. 4 pit, Gartlee, belonging; to the Monkland Company, by means of a
piece of coal falling down the pit. [Glasgow Herald 3 August 1846]
31 July 1846
A boy, of the name of M'Cready, lost his life on Friday in the Garturk pit, Calder, but we have not heard by what means. [Glasgow Herald 3 August 1846]
14 June 1847
Fatal Accident - At
Drumpeller Colliery on Monday last, an explosion of firedamp took place
in pit No 4, whereby Alexander Brown and John Merry lost their lives
and Alex. Nelson was severely burned. It is understood the gas kindled
from Nelson's lamp. - Another fatal explosion occurred the same day at
Simpson's Pit, Dykehead, when James Park lost his life, and Walter
Clark was severely burned. - We understand that an additional explosion
took place at Gartgill, where two men were burned, whose names we have
not learned. [Glasgow Herald 18 June 1847]
Melancholy Pit Accident
- On Monday morning last, three men named Brown, Merry and Nelson,
descended No. 4 pit Drumpellar, for the purpose of commencing the
operations of the day. Merry had charge of the Davy lamp and of the pit
workings, and on reaching the bottom of the pit, Merry ordered Nelson
to proceed in one direction of the pit which he considered clear and
safe, while he explored a different line; Nelson had not proceeded far
from where Brown was seated, when a tremendous explosion took place
bringing down roof and sides of a. portion of the pit in its ravages.
Brown was killed while Merry and Nelson escaped with several contusions
and burnings; Merry's ordering Nelson to advance in a doubtful
direction, before being tested by the Davy lamp, was the cause of the
accident.—Airdrie Luminary. [Caledonian Mercury 21 June 1847]
21 September 1849
Culpable Homicide or Culpable Neglect of Duty – Robert Blair, contractor, and Robert Lumsden, mineral manager, were charged with culpable homicide as also culpable neglect of duty, in so far as it being their duty to see and take care that the ropes or tackle used at pit No. 2 Souterhouse, Old Monkland, the property of John Wilson, Esq., iron master, Dundyvan, were safe and in working order, they omitted and failed to do so, in consequence of which, on the 21st September last, the rope or tackle gave way while John Thomson, senior, Robert Thomson, deceased, William Thomson, Alexander Thomson, and John Thomson, junior, were in the course of being raised out of the pit, whereby the said parties fell from a great height to the bottom of the pit, Robert Thomson being mortally injured, and shortly thereafter died, and the others more or less hurt. Panels pleaded not guilty, and the case went to trial. Mr. Neaves appeared on behalf of Mr. Lumsden, and Mr. Paton on behalf of Mr. Blair.
John Thomson, senior, called - I am a collier. In the month of September last I as working in No. 2 Souterhouse coal pit. My employer was Robert Blair, the, contractor for putting out the coal. The pit is also an ironstone pit. The ironstone workings are two fathoms lower than those of the coal. I work in the coal pit. There is a shaft down the centre of the pit. The one is called the rise side, and the other the dip side. There is a steam engine at the pit head for raising the iron and coal. The engine works two hutches at the same time, the one coming up and the other going down. The coals are brought up by hutches. The hutches are put on a cage, and the cage is raised by a rope. The workmen are let down by a hutch or cage; they come up in the same way. There never was any difference in the sides of the shafts for the workmen to come up or go down. They come up and went down the most convenient side. I was working at the pit about ten weeks before the accident occurred. I remember Friday the 21st Septeniber last, on that day, myself, three sons, and grandson were working in the coal pit. [Witness here went over the names of his sons, and grandson.] In the course of that day, my sons, grandson, and myself, got into a cage for the purpose of coming up the pit. It was a double cage. A single cage only accommodates one hutch. This would be about one o’clock afternoon. We got into the under department of the cage. There was a hutch of coals on the upper part of it. When we got into the cage we told the bottomer, William Clark, to give the signal that men were coming up, which is three knocks on the bell. I heard the signal given. The cage which we were in was on the dip side. The cage was raised after the signal was given. It was up forty or fifty fathoms when the rope gave way, and we fell down to the bottom of the pit, past the coal workings and into the ironstone. My leg was broken, and I had a great many other severe bruises. I have not been able to work since, not will I ever I think. My son Robert was severely wounded and died six days afterwards, in consequence of the injuries he received. My son and grandson were hurt but have recovered. Was never warned that the rope was defective. [Glasgow Herald - Friday 26 April 1850]
NB The above is only a partial transcript of a detailed and extensive article
21 September 1850
Fatal Coal Pit Accident - On
Saturday last, the 21st current, while Hugh Strain, miner, was
following his occupation in a pit belonging to Mr. Adams, Coatdyke, a
portion of the roof gave way, and falling upon his body inflicted such
severe injuries that he lingered till yesterday, when death terminated
his sufferings. The deceased, we believe, was a sober and industrious
man. [Glasgow Herald 27 September 1850]
17 September 1853
Reid vs The Bartonshill Coal Company - A jury was empannelled to try the following issue in the cause in which Mrs Elizabeth Clark or Reid, residing at or near Dykehead, by Baillieston, widow of the deceased William Reid, miner there, and Grace Reid, Ann Reid, Elizabeth Reid, Isabella Martin Reid, William Reid, Janet Reid, Richard Reid. and Jane Reid, residing there, children of the said Mrs Elizabeth Clark or Reid, and the deceased William Reid, are pursuers; and the Bartonshill Coal Company, Glasgow, and James Beaumont Neilson, coalmaster, residing at or near Queenshill, by Castle-Douglas, in the county of Kirkcudbright, and Robert Paterson, coal master in Glasgow, and at Bartonshill and Bargeddie, Lanarkshire, two of the individual partners of the said company, are defenders.
It being admitted that the pursuer, Elizabeth Clark or Reid is the widow, and that the other pursuers are the lawful children of the said deceased William Reid, and the pursuer, Elizabeth Clark or Reid: Whether, the defenders were, in the month of September 1853, in the occupation, as proprietors or lessees, of the coal-pit at or near Baillieston, called the Dykehead or Bargeddie pit?, and whether, on or about the 17th day of September 1853, the said deceased William Reid, while in the employment of the defenders in said pit, received severe and mortal injuries, through the fault of the defenders, in the management of the machinery for lowering and raising the miners or colliers at said pit, or part thereof, in consequence of which he immediately, or soon afterwards, died, to the loss, injury, and damage of the pursuers?
Damages to the widow laid at £400; to each of the other pursuers £300.
The case went to trial on the part of the defenders on this issue, to raise and, have decided the important question of law stated in the following exceptions; and after the facts were proved, the counsel for the parties arranged the sum of damages, and the jury returned the following verdict: - "Edinburgh, 23d March 1855. - Find , for the pursuers, and assess the damages as arranged by the parties - viz., £100 to Mrs Reid, and £200 among- the children."
Whereupon the Dean of Faculty, for the defenders, excepted to the charge of the presiding Judge to the jury, in so far as his Lordship directed the jury, in point of law, that if they were satisfied upon the evidence that the injury was caused by culpable negligence and fault on the part of the engineer in the management of the machinery, the defenders were answerable. The Dean farther excepted to the charge of the said Judge, in so far as his Lordship refused to direct the jury, in point of law, that if the jury are satisfied in the evidence that the defenders used due and reasonable diligence and care in the selection and appointment of Shearer as engineer, and that Shearer was fully qualified to perform the duties of engineman, and furnished with proper machinery, and all necessary means for the performance of these duties, then the defenders are not in law answerable for the personal fault or negligence of Shearer, in the management of the machinery, on the occasion mentioned in the issue.
M'Guire vs The Bartonshill Coal Company - This was an action of a similar kind to the above, by the widow of the deceased James M'Guire, miner, who was killed at the same time as Reid ; and a verdict was consented to, under reservation of the question of law, assessing the damages at £100. [Scotsman 24 March 1855]
28 April 1854
Serious and Fatal Accidents. -On Friday, the 28th ult., Alexander M'Gregor, a breaksman at Rosehall, was killed by the waggons, which he had in charge, running over his body. The deceased was in the act of shunting the waggons, when he lost his balance, and fell before the wheels. On the same day, William Rodgers, a drawer in No. 4 Pit, Drumpeller, lost his life instantaneously by a number of hutches running down upon him, as he stood upon one of the underground inclines. On Saturday, the 29th, James Doyle and Michael Finnie, both boys, were very severely injured by hutches running down upon them in No. 12, Rosehall. This accident took place in the same way as the man Rodgers was killed. [Stirling Observer 11 May 1854]