New Monkland Accidents to 1870

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.

8 June 1831

About 6 o'clock on Wednesday morning, an explosion of fire damp took place in a coal pit at Keppisbyre, in a neighbourhood of Airdrie, belonging to the Messrs Frew, by which a lad about 15 years of age, of the name of Peter Campbell, lost his life, and Peter Gentles, Alexander MacLaren, and James Young, were most dreadfully scorched and bruised. The explosion was heard upwards of a mile from the scene of the accident, and its violence may be estimated from the fact, that the erection at the pit mouth has been totally destroyed; so much so, indeed that the unfortunate sufferers had to be taken out by another route. We have heard that a similar occurrence took place about the same time at Gartsherrie Colliery; but the details have not reached us, nor have we learned whether, in either instance, the explosion was the effect of carelessness on the part of the men. [Scotsman 11 June 1831]

The Late Accident At Airdrie - We regret to state, that the only remaining survivor of the accident at Messrs Frew's colliery, from the explosion of fire-damp, died in the Infirmary at the end of last week, in consequence of the injuries he then received. His name is Alexander M'Laren. Four individuals have thus lost their life by this accident. [Caledonian Mercury 27 June 1831]

18 November 1841

Accident and Loss of Life - On Thursday last a fearful explosion of fire damp occurred in No. 6 Pit, Whiflet, Airdrie, whereby two men were killed, and five or six others seriously injured. [Belfast Newsletter 26 November 1841]

4 November 1843

Killed at Palace Craig Colliery, belonging to W. Baird, Esq. M.P., and Co. a man of the name of Vicker, and his drawer, a young female of the name of Mary M'Ewan, a girl of sixteen years of age. The pit is near the Room pace. [Northern Star 4 November 1843]

1 August 1844

M’Caully v. Wm. F. Buist and Co. - The following issue in the cause in which Janet M’lntosh or M’Caully, residing in Airdrie. relict of Thomas M’Caully, miner there, for herself, and as administratrix-in law for _____ and _____ M’Caully, infant children, procreated of the marriage between herself and the said deceased Thomas M’Caully, are pursuers; and William Fernie Buist & Company, coal and ironstone masters at Hallcraig, near Airdrie, are defenders, was tried on Thursday and Friday last, before the Lord Justice General:- It being admitted that the defenders are the widow and children of the now deceased Thomas M’Caully, miner in Airdrie, and that the defenders are sub-tenants in possession of Millfield Colliery, near Hallcraig of Airdrie: It being further admitted that the said Thomas M’Caully, while working in the service and employment of the defenders at the said colliery, was, on or about the 1st day of August, 1844, precipitated to the bottom of a coal pit and killed: Whether the death of the said Thomas M’Caully was caused by the insufficiency of the machinery provided and used by the defenders, or others acting for them for the purpose of enabling their workmen to descend into the said pit, or by the fault, negligence, or want of skill of the defenders, or others, as aforesaid, to the loss, injury, and damage of the pursuers? Both parties led evidence. The Jury, after deliberating for about an hour, returned a verdict for the pursuers. Damages for the wilow, £200; for the two children, £200. Counsel for the Pursuer-The Solicitor-General and Wm. Buchanan, Esq. Agent- Mr. John Cullen. W.S. Counsel for the Defenders - Andrew Rutherford and John lnglis, Esqrs. Agents - Messrs. J. & J. Wright, W.S. [Glasgow Herald 20 March 1846]

10 August 1846

Fatal Accident. - On Monday last, between one and two o'clock, a terrible explosion took place at Rawyards, No. 3 pit, by which two persons, a man and a boy, were instantaneously hurried into eternity, and another boy severely burned. The shock of the explosion was felt by individuals at a considerable distance from the pit mouth while sitting at their firesides. Great excitement was felt from a knowledge of the fact, that about 15 workers were in the pit at the time, and immediately a dense crowd collected at round the place, so that the operations of those attempting to give assistance were much impeded. Considerable delay was caused on account of the slides having been shattered by the concussion, so that the cage would neither go up nor down. The explosion occurred in the coal workings in which were two men and a boy. The other 12 men wrought at the ironstone, about 13 fathoms above the coal. They suffered no injury. The first got out was Daniel Gray, son of James Gray, smith, Rawyards ; a boy named Miller, son of the pitheadman, was next got out, quite dead; and then Allan Robert, the oversman, whose lamp the fire had first caught. Besides being dreadfully scorched, one, if not both, of his legs was broken, and his head was severely cut. It seems that no coal had been wrought in the place for eight days before that time, and a common, instead of a Davy, lamp had been used by the oversman. Praise is due to Mr. James Adam, Rawyards, and Mr. John Wilson, Airdrie, who boldly ventured down to rescue the wretched sufferers below. Mr Wilson, who had gone down three times, was latterly much exhausted, from having inhaled some of the black damp. [Glasgow Herald 14 August 1846]

26 November 1846

Fatal Accident.-About two o'clock on Thursday last, the bottomer in the ironstone mine at Millfield Pit, Airdrie, was alarmed by a hutch of coals, and the body of a man falling down the vertical shaft. On examination of the mangled corpse, it was found to be the body of a collier, named Dennis Madden, who had been engaged in drawing coals in the splint coal mine which is situated about seventeen fathoms above the ironstone. It is conjectured that the unfortunate man had run his hutch out of the mine, without noticing that the cage which is used to raise the hutches to the surface, was not on the platform, and that, consequently, the hutch and he were precipitated to the bottom of the pit. The deceased has left a young wife to mourn his untimely loss. - Airdrie Advertiser. [Glasgow Herald 30 November 1846]

27 November 1846

On Friday the 27th ult. the men who superintend the drawing up of the water out of the pump, at the No. 8 Toll pit (which is situated near the left hand side of the Biggar Road Springwell Park, near Airdrie), while engaged in this operation brought up in the water barrel the body of a man. From the appearance the body presented the deceased must have lain in the water for a considerable period. The left arm was found entirely broken off, and the body altogether presented a mutilated appearance How deceased got into the pit, or who he is, have not yet been ascertained. [Stirling Observer 10 December 1846]

3 December 1846

On Thursday night an unfortunate female named Janet Drummond, a native of Auchterarder, crept into a hut at a coal-pit near Airdrie House gate, for shelter, and, while asleep, her clothes caught fire, and every stitch of them was consumed while she in agony ran up and down an adjoining park shrieking for help. Assistance was procured as soon as possible and medical aid called in, but the case was hopeless ; she lingered on for some time, when death terminated her sufferings. [Stirling Observer 10 December 1846]

10 December 1846

A man named Dennis Madden, while employed in drawing coals at Millfield pit, Airdrie, fell down a vertical shaft, and was killed on the spot. The deceased has left a young wife to mourn her untimely loss. [Stirling Observer 10 December 1846]

12 December 1846

Explosion of Fire Damp.- Three Men Killed. - It is our painful duty to record another of those fearful accidents which so frequently spread misery and death amongst our mining population. It appears that on the morning of Saturday, the 12th instant, the miners employed at the Shankrey Muir limestone pit, (belonging to Messrs. A. & J. Baird, of Bedley Lime Works,) went down the pit at the usual time. In consequence, however, of their entertaining a suspicion that fire damp had accumulated in the workings, they delayed proceeding to their work until the arrival of the overseer, who came down the shank about eight o'clock. On finding the workmen congregated at the pit bottom, and learning the cause, he taunted them with cowardice, and told them to follow him upon which he and several of the workmen, with naked lamps, proceeded into the suspected workings; the consequence of which was a terrific explosion, which destroyed the lives of the overseer and two of his companions, severely scorched other three, and by its force tore a part of the pithead frame from it's fastenings, and threw it to a considerable distance. It is said that the pit had not previously been much disturbed by fire damp, but, on the day before the accident, part of the workings had blasted, by which a man was burned, which gave rise to the fears of the workmen. The names of the unfortunate individuals who have lost their lives on this occasion, are John Dawson, overseer ; William Horn, and Gavin Irvine, miners - Airdrie Advertiser. [Glasgow Herald 28 December 1846]

5 October 1847

We are informed that on Wednesday morning last, when the colliers proceeded to their work in a pit in the immediate precincts of Airdrie, they found lying at the bottom the mangled bodies of 3 young men. The deceased we learn are tradesmen belonging to Calder Bank and had been drinking deep in Airdrie on the preceding night. There is little reason to doubt they had stumbled down the pit by accident. [Scotsman 14 October 1847]

Glasgow Circuit Court - On Friday, John Davidson, coalmaster and contractor, residing in Airdrie, was charged with culpable homicide, as also culpable or reckless neglect of duty, in so far as he being contractor for working the coal or ironstone pit called the Broomfield Pit, situated about 200 yards from Graham Street, in Airdrie, and about ten yards from the road leading to Gartlee; and there being one or more paths or approaches from Gartlee to the pit, and the hedges being in one or more places defective or destroyed, so as to afford passage for men between the said road and the field in which the pit is situated; and the pit being 25 fathoms deep or thereby; and it being the duty of the said John Davidson, for the safety of the lieges, not to leave the said hedges defective, and to put a fence or watch at the mouth of the pit; yet, in culpable and reckless neglect of duty, he did leave the fences open and the pit mouth without fence or watch on the night of the 4th or morning of the 5th October last, by which Francis Cassidy, miner, Michael M'Canna, labourer, and James Cairney, tailor, having, when passing along Gartlee Road, mistaken their way in consequence of the want of fences, and passing along the footpath fell into the pit and were killed. The pannel pleaded not guilty, and, after a long trial, the jury found a verdict to that effect, at the same time expressing their disapprobation of the present practice of leaving pit mouths open. In dismissing Davidson from the bar, Lord Medwyn expressed his satisfaction at the result. [Caledonian Mercury 15 May 1848]

6 March 1852

HIGH COURT OF JUSTICIARY. This Court met at Edinburgh on Monday at ten o'clock - the Lord Justice Clerk, Lords Cowan and Anderson, on the bench.   George Seton Stenhouse, ironstone or mineral manager to Messrs Baird of Gartsherrie, and the trustees of the late Mr Wilson of Dundyvan, lessees of coal-pit No. 24, at Rochsolloch, in the parish of New Monkland. Lanarkshire, and Archibald M’Kay, blacksmith, were placed at the bar charged with culpable homicide, and with culpable violation or neglect of duty. The libel set forth that it was the duty of the former to take care that no chain in an insufficient condition should be used for lowering or raising the hutches having on them any of the workmen employed in the pit; and that it was the duty of the latter - having been employed to make the necessary repairs on the chains so used - to see that such repairs were made in a sufficient and proper manner, and of good materials and workmanship. Notwithstanding this, the libel proceeded, the panels allowed an insufficient chain to be used, whereby on the 6th March last, while John Davidson and Arthur O'Neill, miners, were being drawn up in the hutch, and were within a few yards of the pit mouth, the chain snapped, and the unfortunate men were precipitated to the bottom of the shaft, and were mortally injured, and soon thereafter died - being thus culpably killed by and through the culpable and reckless neglect and violation of duty by the panels. This case occupied the Court from eleven o'clock till eight P.M. The counsel for the Crown were the Solicitor-General, and Messrs Mure and Gordon, Advocates Depute. There appeared in defence Mr A. S. Logan for Stenhouse, and Mr Alex. M'Neill for Mackay. Mr M'Neill urged several preliminary objections to the construction of the indictment, maintaining that the statement in it did not bring out the charge of culpable homicide, and also that the faults or defects of the chain referred to were not sufficiently specified to enable the prisoner to prepare accurately for his defence. The Court repelled the objections ; but, in giving his opinion, the Lord Justice Clerk said he was sorry to see a case proceed on so confused and perplexing an indictment as that before them. He had often objected to the cumbrous phraseology commonly used in criminal libels, but in this there were no less than twenty-eight instances of direct logical tautology, while one minor was made to support two different conclusions. Evidence was then taken at considerable length, after which counsel was heard. When Mr M'Neill was commencing to address the jury, the Lord Justice-Clerk intimated that in the opinion of the Court there was no case against Mackay. His Lordship then summed up and the jury retired. After about half-an-hour's absence, they returned and delivered the following verdict:- 'The jury unanimously find Mackay not guilty: further, the jury are unanimously of opinion that, whilst recognising the responsibility of the panel Stenhouse, there was no such culpable negligence on his part as would warrant them in finding him guilty as libelled, and therefore they unanimously find him also not guilty." The panels were then both acquitted; and the Court adjourned. [Falkirk Herald 11 November 1852]

23 March, 1852

Civil Cases - Mrs. Lenaghan and Others and Mrs. Callaghan and Others, v The Monkland Iron and Steel Co. - These cases were tried before Lord Deas and a jury, and occupied all Friday and Saturday till about six o’clock. They were actions of damages arising from the occurrence of an explosion of fire damp in one of the defender’s pits, in which the late. James Lenaghan and Edward Callaghan; who were driving a mine for ironstone under a contract with the defender’s received serious injuries, in consequence of which they died, and the right of the pursuers• - their widows and children - to damage depended on two questions:-•1st, Whetherthe explosion, which admittedly resulted in the death of the workmen, was attributable to the defenders from insufficient ventilation of their pit, or to the rashness and recklessness of the workmen themselves, who, it appeared, advanced with a naked lamp to a part of the mine from which explosive gas had been heard issuing with a noise like a smiths bellows; and, 2d, Whether the •defenders’ engineman neglected his duty and failed to raise the workmen to the pit head for some hours after the explosion had occurred, thus aggravating their injuries and lessening their chance of recovery. The following are the issues in the case of Mrs. Lenaghan and her children:- • It being admitted that the defenders are proprietors or lessees of a pit at or near Gartlee, near Airdrie, known by the name of Number Four Brownsburn Pit, and that they were in the occupation thereof during the year 1852: Whether, on or about the 23d or 24th March, 1852, the said deceased James Lenaghan, when engaged in the service and employment of the defenders in forming or driving a stone mine, or road, in said pit, with a view of searching for ironstone on behalf of the defenders, sustained severe bodily injury, in consequence of an explosion of fire-damp in said pit, caused by the fault of the defenders? And whether he, the said deceased, after being injured as aforesaid, sustained further severe bodily injury from being detained for several hours at the bottom of the said pit, by reason of the person or persons in charge of the same, and of the engine and cage an apparatus connected therewith in neglect of the proper signal to raise the same and of his or their duty - unduly delaying to raise the said deceased from the bottom of the said pit, or by reason of the engine, gearing, and cage not being in proper working order, and fit for the purpose for which they were intended? And whether the death of the said deceased was occasioned by the said injuries, or by one or other of them, and by the fault of the defendants, to the loss, injury, and damage of the pursuer’s?•Damages laid at £1000 sterling. The issues in the other case were in precisely the same terms, the damages being laid at £2000. The cases, by agreement, were tried together. Upon the conclusion of the evidence for both parties, the jury were addressed by Mr. Pattison for the pursuers, and by the Dean of Faculty for the defenders, after which Lord Deas summed up. He indicated his view that the evidence did not seem to lead to the conclusion that the explosion was the result of any fault on the part of the defenders but upon the second question - viz., as to the neglect of the engineman - he thought the proof much more difficult, and it was for the jury to say how far they were satisfied that neglect had not occurred on the part of the engineman (for whom the defenders were responsible) in raising the deceased workman from the pit bottom. The pursuers tendered an exception at the conclusion of the judge's charge upon matter of law. After the absence of nearly half an hour the jury returned and found a verdict for the pursuers in both cases, assessing the damages to Mrs. Lenaghan and her children at £200, and to Mrs. Callaghan and her children at £300. [Glasgow Herald 5 May 1856]

10 February 1853

John Sloan and Charles McCart pleaded not guilty to a charge of culpable homicide, and also culpable violation or neglect of duty in so far as, they being employed in No 3 ironstone pit, Palace Craig, in the Parish of Old Monkland and the Shire of Lanark, a drawer and putter respectively, they did on the 10th day of February, 1853, in a violation of duty, push a loaded hutch from a side or branch road, and let it down by a rope on a heading road or incline with an undue degree of speed, in consequence of which the loaded hutch came in collision with an empty hutch in charge of Richard Deans, drawer in said pit, by which he received such injuries that he died on the 14th day of February, 1853. The prisoners pleaded not guilty. After the examination of a number of witnesses, the Advocate Depute abandoned the charge against the putter, McCart. The jury returned a verdict of culpable neglect of duty against Sloan, and he was sentenced to three months imprisonment. [Herald May 9 1853]

The Accused:
Charles McCard, son of Elizabeth Wilson or McCard widow, age 20, putter, residing with his mother, Aitchison Street, Airdrie (native of County Tyrone, Ireland)
John Sloan, age 28, drawer, Hillhead, Old Monkland (native of County Antrim, Ireland) [Source NAS catalogue]

9 March 1854

Fire Damp Explosion - Two Men Killed - On Thursday morning week, one of these events happened at the No. 4 Brownsburn Pit, near Airdrie, that show the dangerous nature of the miner's employment. Early that morning, Hugh Brown, the fireman of the pit, accompanied by two labourers named Reilly and Duffy, went down for the purpose of seeing that the places were in a fit state for the miners entering to follow their employment. Not long after their descent the sound and blast felt in an adjoining pit told too plainly that an explosion had taken place, and numbers soon hurried to the spot where it had occurred. On a brief search, the man Duffy was found shockingly roasted and bruised. From the accumulation of choke damp, consequent on the explosion, a considerable time elapsed before the other two men could be discovered. On being found, they were both quite lifeless - a circumstance that had resulted from the damp following the explosion. The two men were both married. Brown has left a wife and three children, and Reilly a wife but no family. How the event took place is a mystery, and is likely to remain so. The probability is that the two men killed had commenced what is called waffing, that is, driving the gas out of the places ; and it must have found its way to Duffy's lamp, and thus exploded. It cannot have originated with the men themselves, as the Davy lamp was found in a perfect state after the explosion. The pit is the property of the Monkland Iron and Steel Company. [Glasgow Herald 17March 1854]

3 July 1855

On the forenoon of Tuesday the 3rd inst., Alexander Cook, a drawer was killed in the Rawyards No 5 coal pit. The man was in the act of placing a hutch on the cage at the humph coal seam, when the enginekeeper suddenly lifted the cage without signal, and both the man and the hutch were dashed to the bottom, a distance of 40 fathoms. It were needles to say that the man was instantly deprived of life. He left a wife and five children to mourn his loss. Robert Young the enginekeeper was at once arrested and lodged in prison on a charge of culpable neglect of duty. [Glasgow Herald July 6 1855]

6 August 1855

Fatal Accident – A man named Joseph Simpson was killed while at work in Mr Livingstones pit, Flowerhill, on Monday last by a stone falling from the roof. We understand the accident was a result of his own carelessness. He has left a widow and one child. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser August 11 1855]

7 August 1855

A Man Killed – On the morning of Tuesday last, a man named Robert Wright was killed in No 3 pit, in the Race Course Airdrie. The deceased, after kindling the match, was ascending from a shot, when, it is supposed, looking over the kettle to see if the match was burning, his head came in contact with the bucket-door and he was precipitated to the bottom; he was killed on the spot. We understand it was only the second day he had been working in the pit. He has left a widow and five children to mourn his fate. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser August 11 1855]

20 September 1855

Airdrie Fatal Accident - On the afternoon of Thursday week, William Bissell , a pitheadman on the No 5 Cliftonhill, fell down the pit and was killed. The distance he fell was 55 fathoms.[Glasgow Herald October 1 1855]

NB mine inspectors report gives name as Russell

22 September 1855

Boy killed - On Saturday afternoon, James Boyd, a lad of fifteen years of age, was running some empty hutches for his own amusement along the pithead of the Whitehill Coal Pit, near Airdrie. Going too near the pitmouth with his hutch, he was carried into the pit, and dashed to the bottom, a distance of nine fathoms or thereby. He was so much injured that he died a few minutes after being got out of the pit.[Glasgow Herald October 1 1855]

18 December 1855

Airdrie – Melancholy Accident - On Tuesday morning an accident took place in the Wellpark pit, a short distance from the town. The men were commencing in the morning, while it was dark, to raise the stones to the pit-head. John Mulrone, one of the runners in the pit, went to put a hutch in the cage. Unfortunately for him, the engineman had raised the cage several feet above the plates; the man, on going forward, dashed the hutch into the pit, and the force with which he went carried him along with it. He fell to the bottom, a distance of 64 fathoms, or 384 feet. The remains, on being taken up by some of the men, who were in the bottom at the time, presented one of those spectacles that is almost only to be met with at a coal-pit accident- they appeared a mass of bones and flesh, rather than those of a human being. The deceased was the sole support of an aged mother, whom he has left to regret his death. [Caledonian Mercury 22 December 1855]

25 April 1856

Coal Pit Accident At Airdrie - On Friday night a dreadful accident occurred at the Sebastapol coal-pit on the race-course at Airdrie. The pit in presently being shanked; and, when several men were engaged at the bottom of the pit, a part of the earth fell in upon five of them. Four of the men were rescued from their perilous position ; but the fifth was dead before he could be dug out from the mass of soil in which he was buried. The whole of his body, with the exception of the head, was buried in the earth; and he spoke to some of those who endeavoured to extricate him for a few minutes after he had been engulfed. [Scotsman 30 April 1856]

1 July 1856

AUTUMN CIRCUIT COURT - John Ballantyne, engineman, was accused of the crime of culpable homicide, in so far as on Tuesday the 1st of July last, a awhile being employed as an engineman by the Monkland Iron and Steel Company to manage the steam engine at No. 5 coal- pit at Chapelhall, and when he was about to lower the now deceased John O'Donnell, coal drawer, Patrick O'Donnell, collier, Owen Crossan, coal drawer, and Henry Orrock, junior, coal drawer, down the dip side of the shaft of the pit to the mouth of the seam of splint coal therein, he did, in culpable neglect of his duty, fail to insert the gib key between the plumber block and the shoulder or snug of the sole plate, or at least to insert it in a secure and proper manner, and the said John O'Donnell, Patrick O’Donnell, Owen Crossan,, and Henry Orrock, having entered a cage for the purpose of being lowered, and he having thereafter put the engine in motion, and lowered the cage for a short distance, the plumber block, in consequence of his neglect, was pushed aside by the action on one another of the toothed wheels fixed on the shaft of the axle, and the toothed wheels were thrown out of gearing, and freed from the control of said engine, in consequence of which the cage descended with great rapidity to the bottom of the pit, 90 fathoms in depth, whereby John O'Donnell and Henry Orrock were mortally injured, and soon thereafter died, and Patrick O’Donnell and Owen Crossan were suffocated by being thrown into a pool of water. Mr. Moncrieff appeared for the prisoner, who pleaded not guilty
After a lengthened trial, the jury, by a majority, returned a verdict finding the prisoner not guilty; and the foreman stated that if permitted, they would add a vote of censure against the proprietors of the pit for the bad condition of the machinery. [Glasgow Herald 3 October 1856]

21 May 1858

Three Men Buried Alive – Miraculous Escape - An accident occurred on Friday last in one of the Garnkirk Company's clay pits at Garnkirk, occasioned by the falling in of a portion of the roof of the pit, whereby two men and a lad, named respectively James Moore, William Christie, and James Christie (the latter only thirteen years of age), were buried in the pit. They were employed at the south workings of the pit, when suddenly a portion of the roof of the room in which they were engaged fell in, completely enclosing them in the vacant space and shutting them out from the main roads. They immediately began operations to free themselves from their prison-house ; but they had only been a short time engaged in the attempt when they heard another fall of a part of the roof of the main road. This second casualty had a great effect on the spirits of the poor men, who thought all hopes of escape were now useless, and gave themselves up for lost. The pit at this part is about sixty feet deep, and immediately on the accident being observed, energetic measures were resorted to by the workmen for the purpose of rescuing their companions. A “working” or mine was commenced, and by dint of eager labour the men were rescued on Monday morning about one o'clock, after a passage of about fifty yards in length had been made. The men when communicated with were found to be in a very exhausted state, but fortunately they are all recovering. - Glasgow Herald. [Scotsman 29 May 1858]

17 January 1859

Man Killed – On Saturday last a miner named John Donaldson, residing at Faskine, was killed while at work in No 7 Pit, Palacecraig, by a fall of stone from the roof, which it is said had not been properly secured. He was married, and has left a widow and family. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser January 22 1859]

21 February 1859

Coal Pit Accident – Thomas Gemmell, collier, residing at Burnbrae, while at work on Monday in No 3 coal pit, Rochsolloch, received such injury by a fall of stone from the roof of the pit, as to be considered in a very dangerous state. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser February 26 1859]

NB Thomas Gemmell died February 21 1859 at Burn Brae Road, Airdrie

22 February 1859

Accident – John Wilson, collier, Ballochney, was severely hurt on Tuesday last, when going to ascend No 1 coal pit, Meadowhead, the property of Provost Davidson. It seems that two other men were on the cage for the purpose of ascending the shaft. They had rung the bell and as the cage was ascending, Wilson attempted to jump on, but missing, was caught at the doorhead. His collar bone is broken and his body very severely bruised. He is not expected to recover. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser February 26 1859]

7 March 1859

Fatal Pit Accident – On Monday afternoon about 3 o'clock John Dodds, employed by Messrs Robertson and Eddie, coalmasters in their pit No 3 at Kipsbyre, which is at present in process of being sunk, was so severely injured by a stone which fell out of the shank upon him, a distance of about 70 fathoms, that he died about two hours after being brought home. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser March 12 1859]

9 March 1859

Accident – John M'Cantyre, brusher, residing at Stanrigg, was severely hurt on Wednesday, in No 5 Coal and Ironstone Pit (Arbuckle's). It appears he had been going into the hutch in order to ascend the pit but when in the act of doing so the hutch was raised and he was crushed against the door head and thrown from the hutch to the bottom of the pit, by which he got two ribs broken and was otherwise bruised. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser March 12 1859]

25 April 1859

Fatal Pit Accident – Charles Jackson, a boy 14 years of age, residing with his father at Clarkston, was killed on Monday the 25th inst., by falling down the shaft of No 8 coal pit, Moffat, near Clarkston. The deceased was employed at this pit in driving a gin, and also, in the absence of the pit headman, he put hutches on the cage, in order to be lowered to the bottom of the pit. It appears that the boy had thoughtlessly been in the habit when thus engaged of going backwards towards the pit, drawing the hutch with him, and passing over the cage on the pitmouth. In this instance the cage was not up, consequently when he came to the pit mouth he went down the shaft, and was instantly killed. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser April 30 1859]

9 May 1859

Explosion of Fire Damp – John Seddons, collier, Flowerhill Street, Airdrie, was so severely injured by an explosion of fire damp on the morning of Monday the 9th inst., that he died on the 13th. We do not know whether any blame attaches to any one for the accident, but it seems to us rather odd that although the pit is within a few hundred yards of the police office, the accident itself was not entered into the police books until after the man was dead. Deceased has left a widow and two children. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser May 21 1859]

20 May 1859

Serious Accidents From Fire Damp – An explosion of fire damp occurred on Friday, 20th inst., in No 5 ironstone pit, Rawyards, by which Thos. Baird, drawer, and Robert M'Geoch, a putter – both residing in Hallcraig Street – were severely burned. It appears that they were passing along one of the roads with a full hutch, when the gas was ignited at the roof, and caused the explosion. M'Geoch is so severely burned that little hope is entertained of his recovery. Baird is in a more hopeful condition. Another explosion occurred this forenoon in an ironstone pit at Drumbathie, by which William Brown, a drawer, was much injured. [Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser May 28 1859]

2 August 1859

Airdrie – Pit Accidents - On the morning of Tuesday last, John Hughes, collier, Airdrie, whilst at work in No. 1 coal pit, Canal Bank, was severely injured by a fall of stones from the roof. - Neil Mitchell, collier, Airdrie, on same morning, met with his death in No. 1 coal pit, Carnbroe, when he was at work, by a large stone falling from the roof, crushing him instantly to death. Two of his fellow workmen rendered him every assistance by removing the stone from off his person, but life was extinct. Serious Accident By Gunpowder - Early on the morning of Tuesday, James Hamilton, miner, Whytflatt, when in the act of lighting his fire, took by mistake a flask of powder, taking it to be a flask of oil, and held it deliberately above the smouldering embers, when it immediately exploded in consequence of which he was severely burned in his person, and the little finger of his right band broken. [Glasgow Herald 4 August 1859]

3 January 1860

Coal Mine Fatality - The North British Mail states that on Wednesday two men were killed by the fall of part of the roof of a pit at Airdrie Race-course. Mr Brown, son of the contractor, had just passed through below the portion of the roof that fell, and was in the act of taking off his coat to begin work, when the great mass of stone came away, which buried his two companions, put out his own light, and left them all in total darkness. Assistance had to be got from another pit before they could be extricated from their position. Mr Brown says he heard one of his companions speak once, but only once, after the stones fell. [Caledonian Mercury 6 January 1860]

NB Identified from death certificates as John Jamieson age 38 & Leonard Dunwoody age 23, both ironstone miners

23 January 1860

Fatal Accidents At Airdrie - On Monday last, while John Penman, collier, Nackerty, and Stewart M'Queen, Uddingston, were descending No. 3 pit, Nackerty, for the purpose of changing a bucket, a stone fell down the shank and struck Penman, instantaneously depriving him of life. [Caledonian Mercury 27 January 1860]

25 January 1860

On Wednesday morning a man named Henry Walker, residing in Airdrie, was killed while at work in No. 1 coal-pit, Rochsilloch, the property of George Cowie, coalmaster, Airdrie, by a fall of about three cwt. of brushing from the roof. Deceased, who was forty years of age, was married, and has left a widow and three children to mourn his untimely fate. [Caledonian Mercury 27 January 1860]

20 April 1860

Melancholy and Fatal Accident – A rumour reached this yesterday that about 6 o'clock in the morning a boiler explosion, attended with loss of life took place at Summerlee Pit, Airdrie. We have not heard the cause of the accident, but we understand that three men were killed on the spot, and another is so severely injured that there is little hope of his recovery. So great was the force of the explosion that the boiler was carried over an adjoining house. [Hamilton Advertiser April 21 1860]

Fatal Boiler Explosion – On Friday morning, shortly after 6 o'clock, one of the boilers connected with the pit belonging to the Summerlee Company, and situated close to the north part of the old town of Airdrie, burst with a terrible explosion. The report was so loud as to cause those at a great distance who were fast asleep to start suddenly from their couches in utter bewilderment. The shock to some of those in close proximity to the pit was so tremendous that they did not recover from its effects for hours afterwards. The pit has 2 engines – one used for water and the other for winding up the ironstone, the former of which is said to be about 40, and the latter from 20 to 30 horse power, and having 3 boilers. The cause of the explosion is as yet unknown. At the time it occurred the manager, named Ramage, was standing on the boiler that exploded, and the engineman, named Miller, was close to him pointing out some defects, when in a moment the terrible catastrophe occurred, and they were both blown a distance of 50 yards and instantly killed. The fireman was also blown a distance of 30 yards, and shared the same unhappy fate. The bodies were found afterwards in different directions – that of Ramage to the south, Miller's to the west, and the firemans to the north. A miner who was in the act of cutting sleepers on the pithead was also blown some distance and covered over by some debris, a large and heavy stone falling upon him and breaking the poor fellows back. Another workman was also sitting at the mouth of the pit, waiting for the arrival of his neighbour to be lowered down the shank, when the explosion occurred, but he escaped unhurt. Some idea may be formed of the terrific force of the explosion from the fact that a great piece of the boiler, weighing about 30 cwt, ploughed its way down a park, leaving a trench behind it, tearing up by the roots a large tree 4 feet in circumference, and distant about 200 yards, and breaking or cutting it in two as if it were a walking stick. Another portion of the boiler was buried 18 inches deep in a field to the westward, and at a point 150 yards from the pit. Another large piece was blown over a two storey house, alighting upon the outer edge of the roof and falling into the street, after rebounding against and damaging materially a house on the opposite side of the street. Another portion fell also on the roof of a house in which it made a large hole, causing a weighty stone to fall on a bed in which were an aged woman and a child, but fortunately both of whom remained unhurt. Nearly the whole of the houses in Airdrie were shaken by the explosion, and the windows of the neighbouring houses were shattered to pieces, while the brick stack in connexion with the pit was hurled into the air, and descended like a hailstorm, covering the neighbouring parks and gardens with bricks, some of which were blown a distance of many hundred yards, and others doing considerable damage to several buildings. All the machinery has been torn to pieces and completely destroyed. The explosion was heard several miles off. The deceased men have left widows and children to mourn their melancholy end. [The Times 24 April 1860]

28 June 1860

Accidents - Henry Neil, brusher, Airdrie, was so severely injured by a fall of stones from the roof while at work in No. 5 pit, Hillhead, on Thursday, that he is not expected to recover. [Airdrie, Coatbridge, Bathgate & Wishaw Advertiser 30 June 1860]

3 July 1860

Man Killed - On Monday last, a collier named James Graham, was killed while at work in No. 5 pit, Faskine, by a quantity of coals falling upon him. - Henry Neil, the individual who was so severely injured in the same pit last week, we understand is getting better. [Airdrie, Coatbridge, Bathgate & Wishaw Advertiser 7 July 1860]

9 July 1860

Pit Accident – James Nimmo, engineman, residing at Arbuckle, met with an accident on the 9th inst., at No 12 coal and ironstone pit, Stanrigg. It appears that he had gone to the top of the pithead frame for the purpose of oiling the pulley wheels, and while thus engaged he lost his balance and fell to the ground, a distance of about 20 feet, whereby he had some of the small bones of his legs and arms broken, and was otherwise severely bruised. [Hamilton Advertiser July 14 1860]

20 July 1860

Melancholy and Fatal Accident – It is our painful and melancholy duty to record the death of a young man named William Buttery Colquhoun, youngest son of Baillie Colquhoun here, who was on the 20th inst. suddenly deprived of life. The young man was an assistant engineman at one of his father's pits, situated at Airdrie Hill; and he had, by some means unknown, got entangled with the gearing of the crank when the engine of the pit in which he he was in charge was in full operation pumping water, the consequence of which was that he was so dreadfully mangled and bruised that his remains had to be tied up in a sheet and carried home to his bereaved parents. This sudden and premature death is deeply deplored, and has cast a gloom over the district, especially over those of his young associates, with whom he joined in a cricket match the previous Saturday, in the Academy Park here – the match being between the Coatbank and Airdrie clubs. The deceased was only between 16 and 17 years of age. [Hamilton Advertiser July 28 1860]

11 August 1860

The Late Accident in the Sebastapol Pit, Airdrie – Trial of Engineman - William Smith, engineman, Shanks St, Airdrie, was tried on Friday before Sheriff Logie and a jury on a charge of culpable violation or neglect of duty. The jury, by a majority, found the charge against the prisoner not proven, and he was accordingly dismissed from the bar. [Hamilton Advertiser August 11 1860]

October 1860

Fall of a Scaffold – An accident which might have had a fatal termination occurred at No 6 Pit, Palace Craig (Mr Weir contractor), one day last week. Two females were engaged on a scaffold propelling hutches, when the scaffold gave way, and one of them, Christina Campbell, Bell Street, was violently precipitated to the ground and severely injured, although no bones were broken; the other female contriving to cling to a hook until rescued from her perilous position. The scaffold, although recently erected, has, we understand been declared insufficient. The position of both females was somewhat perilous, the accident occurring so near the mouth of the pit. [Hamilton Advertiser October 27 1860]

21 January 1861

Explosion of Fire Damp – On Monday morning, while a miner named Patrick Glen, residing in Bell Street was employed at No 3 Pit Faskine (Mr J Love's) an explosion of fire damp took place and the unfortunate man was severely burned chiefly about the head and face. We are happy to state that though very much injured, hopes are entertained of his recovery. [Hamilton Advertiser January 26 1861]

2 February 1861

Fatal Pit Accident – On Saturday morning, about half past 6 o'clock, a young man named James Swan, residing at Stonerigg, was killed at New-pit, near Arbuckle Stalk (W Black, Esq., Whiterigg), through an explosion of fire damp. The body was terribly mangled, every stitch of clothing, and the hair on the head being literally burned to ashes. The only article left on the body was a leather belt. Swan was unmarried. [Hamilton Advertiser February 9 1861]

18 February 1861

Fatal Pit Accident at Burnbrae – One of those harrowing casualties, unfortunately of so frequent recurrence in Airdrie and District, occurred on Monday at No 2 coal pit, Burnbrae (Mr John Russell, contractor). A miner named John Mackay was, it would appear, riding either on a hutch or on the chain by which it was attached – the hutch being drawn by steam power- when his head and body were crushed between the hutch and the roof of the roadway, and he was so severely injured internally, that he expired when on his way to Davidson's Place in the Old Town where he resided. Mackay was about 20 years of age and unmarried. [Hamilton Advertiser February 23 1861]

30 April 1861

Fatal Pit Accident at Coatbridge -On Tuesday morning a fireman, named Joseph Paterson, employed In No. 3 Ironstone Pit, Palacecraig, was killed by choke-damp, and, but for timely rescue, an oversman named Love would have shared the same fate. The men had gone to a portion of the pit to discover an obstruction to the ventilation, which had caused a quantity of fire-damp, and both fell down after inhaling the deadly gas known as choke-damp, within six feet of each other. A workman named Ross guided himself with a rope, and, succeeded in reaching Love and bringing him out apparently lifeless. He, however, shortly afterwards recovered. Six hours elapsed before the body of Paterson was brought up. [Dunfermline Saturday Press 4 May 1861]

17 March 1862

Accidents – William Hunter, miner, William Russell, miner, and Peter Donnelly, collier, all residing in North Stanrigg, were burned by an explosion of fire damp while at work, on Monday, in No 5 coal pit, Arbuckles, the property of William Black, Esq., Whiterigg. Hunter and Russell had a contract for driving a mine in the pit, and previous to going down to their work were warned by Richard Shanks, the oversman and fireman, that the mine was dangerous from the presence of firedamp, and that they were not to go into it until they “waffed” it out. Hunter went in, and was in the act of “waffing” the gas out with his jacket, when Russell came in with his lamp lighted, and the gas catching the flame, immediately exploded, burning Hunter and Russell severely about the face and arms, and Donnelly more slightly. The latter was not at work in the mine, but merely went in with the other men to see the working and get a smoke. [Hamilton Advertiser March 22 1862]

24 March 1862

William Robertson collier, Roughrigg, was severely bruised on Monday last, by the fall of a large stone from the roof of a room in No 2 Coalpit, Roughrigg, where he was employed. [Hamilton Advertiser March 29 1862]

28 October 1862

Airdrie - Accident – On Tuesday, James Dennison, collier, Greenends, got his left hand frightfully magled, and his body severely crushed, by a fall of coal from the working face of the Todd pit, Calder. There are serious apprehensions entertained that the injuries sustained by the unfortunate man may prove mortal. [Scotsman 30 October 1862]

26 November 1862

Airdrie – Fatal Accident – On Wednesday evening last, James Black, mason, Shanks Street, fell down No. 1 coal-pit , Meadowfield, and died shortly afterwards. [Scotsman 28 November 1862]

13 January 1863

Airdrie – Pit Accident – James Torrance, collier, Gartness, was killed instantaneously by a fall of stone on Tuesday afternoon, while engaged in brushing the roof of his working in No 6 Broadlees coal and ironstone pit. [Hamilton Advertiser 17 January 1863]

22 April 1863

Fatal Accident - An accident of a melancholy and fatal nature occurred on Wednesday morning, at Drumbathie Coal-pit, contracted for by the Messrs Martin and Son, whereby James Cherrie, the pit head man, was instantly killed. It was the duty of Cherrie to attach and detach the hutches at the pit-mouth, and when in the act of pushing forward an empty hutch to put it on the cage - the absence of which he had not observed, it being then at the bottom of the shaft - he and the hutch were, in consequence, precipitated to the bottom of the pit, his head striking the iron cage with so much force as to cause immediate death. The accident was observed by a boy passing at the time, who instantly gave the alarm. [Caledonia Mercury 24 April 1863]

21 May 1864

Airdrie – Pit Accident – Chas Agnew, miner, Craighead, was severely cut on the head by a fall of stone on Friday the 21st, from the roof of No 1 ironstone pit, Duntilland, where he was employed. [Hamilton Advertiser 4 June 1864]

22 August 1865

Airdrie – Fatal Pit Accident - About 10 o'clock yesterday morning, John Hamilton, residing in Welleynd Street, Airdrie, while engaged at his work in No. 6 coal-pit, Faskine, was instantaneously killed by a fall of stone from the roof of the workings. The pit is contracted for by Mr. John Weir, Faskine. [Glasgow Herald 23 August 1865]

28 October 1865

Fatal Accident - Two Men Drowned - On Saturday morning last, a melancholy accident occurred at a coal and ironstone pit at Breadenhill, about two miles north of Airdrie, whereby two men were drowned, a third miraculously escaping a similar fate. It happens that the pit referred to is an old ironstone pit, which was wrought out some time ago, consequently water had accumulated in the old workings to a considerable extent. From the bottom of this shaft shanking operations had been carried on for some time, for the purpose of reaching the Kiltongue seam of coal. At the time the accident occurred the shankers had got to a depth of 10 fathoms below the old workings, and while engaged at their work the accumulated water burst in upon them from above, filling in a few seconds the bottom of the shaft to a height of three fathoms. Two of the men - named Robert Beveridge, shanker Glenmavis, and John Montgomery, shanker, Drumgelloch were drowned. The third, named William Mitchell, shanker, Glenmavis, made his escape by climbing up a plummet line to the old workings, and was soon afterwards rescued from his dangerous position. Beveridge has left a wife and three children, and Mitchell is also a married man. We understand that an engine was kept working for the purpose of pumping off the water. [Glasgow Herald 30 October 1865]

NB Men drowned were Robert Beveridge and William Mitchell

17 January 1866

Airdrie – Accident – On Wednesday last, Wm Stirling, a collier, residing at No 57 Wellwynd Street, Airdrie, had his right leg broken at the ankle while engaged at his work in No 6 coal pit, Palacecraig, Old Monkland. It appears that he was taking a piece of coal from the face of the workings in order to put up a prop, when the roof gave way and a large quantity of stones and dirt fell upon him, inflicting the injury above mentioned. [Hamilton Advertiser 20 January 1866]

24 April 1866

Airdrie – Pit Accidents – On Tuesday afternoon a collier, about 40 years of age, named George Hamill, met with an accident which resulted fatally in No 6 coal pit Palacecraig. Hamill was employed about 5pm in his usual working place, when a large quantity of stone and rubbish fell from the roof of the pit, covering him to the depth of two or three feet. The noise of the fall attracted the attention of two fellow workmen, who did all in their power to rescue him, being guided to the exact position where he lay by the moans of the dying man. They were successful in getting him out alive but he expired immediately afterwards. - On the same day, a collier named Thomas Walker was hurt in No 3 Coal Pit Cliftonhill. A quantity of coal fell unexpectedly, injuring him severely about the breast and breaking several of his ribs. He was attended immediately afterwards by Drs Cowie, Airdrie & Nimmo, Coatbridge, but little hopes are entertained of his recovery. [Hamilton Advertiser 28 April 1866]

Fatal Pit Accidents - On Monday, James Thomson, aged 29 years, collier, residing in North Square, Gartsherrie, was killed in No. 2 open cast pit belonging to the Messrs. Baird. It appears he was employed in taking down some props from the roof, and while doing so a large stone (about 16 cwt.) fell from the side of the road, crushing him so severely that he died in a very short time afterwards. -On Tuesday a collier, named George Hamill, aged about 47 years, residing at Clark Street, Airdrie, was killed in No 6 Pit, Palacecraig, belonging to the Messrs. Baird, Gartsherrie. It appears that the poor fellow had got done with his work for the day, and was preparing to leave, when a fall of stones came down from the roof and killed him on the spot Deceased has left a widow and two children to lament his loss. [Glasgow Herald 26 April 1866]

Pit Accident - On Tuesday, Ferguson Sommerville, collier, residing in Bank Buildings, Coatbridge, while at work in No. 1 coal pit, Gunny, the property of the Messrs. Baird, a large piece of stone fell upon him from the working face, whereby his left leg and left shoulder bone were broken, and his body otherwise severely injured. He was taken home, and attended by Drs. Stewart and Allison. On the same day, at Clifton Hill Pit, No. 3, belonging to the Clifton Hill Coal Company, a collier, named Thomas Walker, residing in Fells Land, was severely crushed by a fall of coal coming down upon him from the working face, whereby several bones were broken, and otherwise bruised about the body. He was attended by Dr. Cowie of Airdrie. [Glasgow Herald 26 April 1866]

10 September 1866

Pit Accident - On Monday, a pit-bottomer at Faskine Colliery, named Weir, residing at Calderbank, met with a very severe accident. He was in the act of removing some obstacle from the pit bottom just as the cage was descending, and before he could get out of the way the edge of the cage caught him above the nose, and literally striped the flesh down off his face on to his breast. Dr Robert Wilson attended to the sufferer, who was taken home immediately afterwards. [Dunfermline Saturday Press 15 September 1866]

29 January 1867

Airdrie – Serious Mistake – On Tuesday morning last a miner, named George Paterson, employed at No 1 coal pit, Longriggend , lifted what he supposed to be his tea flask , and put it on the fire to heat. It turned out , however, that the vessel contained not tea but 6 lb of blasting powder, and an explosion immediately followed. Paterson, and three men named Lindsay, Hunter, and , Fleming, , who were along with him, were severely burned about the face and body. [Scotsman 1 February 1867]

11 May 1867

Fatal Pit Accident - Two Men Killed. - On Saturday an accident, resulting in the instantaneous death of two miners, named respectively John Baff, aged thirty-seven, and Richard Scullion, aged twenty one - the former residing at Rawyards, and the latter at Clarkston - occurred in Springbank Pit situated near the village of Clarkston. The unfortunate men were engaged at their usual employment when a large quantity of stone and loose earth fell from the roof and killed them on the spot. William Baff, who was working near the same spot, escaped with his life, but was severely cut and bruised about the back. [Falkirk Herald - Thursday 16 May 1867]

11 July 1867

Airdrie – Fatal Pit Accident at Clarkston – On Thursday David M'Vee, a miner, residing at Clarkston, was killed about 3 o'clock a.m., while at work in No 1 Coal Pit, Colliertree, the property of Messrs Wilson and Thomson, by a quantity of coal falling on him from the face of his working place. Deceased was 22 years of age and unmarried. [Hamilton Advertiser July 13 1867]

6 August 1867

Airdrie – Serious Pit Accident – Between one and two o'clock on Tuesday morning last, Bernard Quinn, 32 years of age, a collier, residing at Quilhill in the parish of Old Monkland, was severely injured while engaged at work in No 2 coal Pit, Heatheryknowe, by a fall of fire clay from the roof of the workings, which broke his right leg and severely bruised his body. The injuries he has sustained are so serious he is not expected to recover. [Hamilton Advertiser August 10 1867] 

17 December 1867

Fatal Pit Accident - On Tuesday, an accident occurred in No. 1 Coal-Pit, at Kirkwood, Airdrie, belonging to Mr John Hendry, whereby a young man named Francis M'Lean, a miner, was instantaneously killed. The deceased had been engaged at his usual avocation along with his brother-in-law, Michael Devine, when he sat down for the purpose of taking his dinner, his companion continuing to clear away some rubbish from a large piece of coal, which suddenly separated itself from the working, and falling upon M’Lean, killed him on the spot. The poor fellow was completely buried by the mass of coal, which is supposed to have weighed about seven tons. Devine miraculously escaped unhurt. [Dunfermline Saturday Press 21 December 1867]

27 February 1869

Airdrie - Pit Accident - On Saturday last James Hunter a miner, 21 years of age, met with a serious accident at No. 7 Ironstone Pit, Arden, He was engage in pushing a hutch of ironstone from the face to the bottom of the pit when the fore wheels went off the rails. This caused the hind part of the hutch to come up so violently against him as to break his left leg. Dr Alston of Airdrie attended. [Glasgow Herald 2 March 1869]

25 June 1869

Melancholy Accident At Avonhead – Two Men Killed and One Injured - On Friday night, between eight and nine o'clock, a melancholy accident occurred at Avonhead, by which two men lost their lives, and one was seriously injured. The men were engaged sinking a pit at Avonhead, and had been firing a shot. They came up to the top of the shaft till the shot went off, after which they took their places on the kettle to be lowered again. It appears that the engine-keeper, named John Anderson, had neglected to put the key in that put the machinery in winding gear, and the kettle, with the three men in it, went at once down to the bottom of the pit. Two of the men who had been standing on the kettle when the accident occurred were instantaneously killed, and the third, who had been tying along the bottom of the kettle, was seriously injured. The names of the men who were killed, and who were only working on their first shift at the time of the accident, are Michael Queen, residing at Meadowfield, and James Murdoch, residing at Arden. The name of the man who was seriously injured is John Henderson, residing at Arden. Anderson, the engineman, has been taken into custody pending an investigation into the cause of the accident. [Airdrie Advertiser, quoted in Scotsman 28 June 1869]

Airdrie – The Fatal Accident At Avonhead - Yesterday John Anderson, the engine-keeper at the pit at Avonhead, where the fatal accident occurred on Friday last, was brought before Sheriff Logie for examination on a charge of culpable neglect of duty, and committed for trial. He was liberated on finding bail for £15. [Scotsman 29 June 1869]

15 April 1870

Airdrie - Pit Accident - Yesterday, James Paterson, miner, Garden Square, got himself severely injured internally while at work in No 6 Coal Pit, Kippsbyre Colliery. He was engaged clearing away some rubbish at the “face” of the workings, when a fall of coal came down on him. Drs Torrance and O'Hear attended. [Glasgow Herald 16 April 1870]

19 April 1870

Airdrie - Fatal Pit Accident. - On Tuesday forenoon, a miner named John Shanks, residing in North Bridge Street, was instantaneously killed up No. 5 Coal Pit, Kippsbyre Colliery, the property of Messrs Robertson & Eddie, coal-masters. Shanks was employed at his usual work, when he was buried among stones which fell from the roof. When extricated life was extinct. [Falkirk Herald 23 April 1870]

23 August 1870

Man Killed in a Pit - On Monday afternoon, a miner named William Nugent, while employed at No. 5 Coal Pit, Kippbyre Colliery, met with a fatal accident. Deceased was working, and his two young sons were near him, when a large quantity of stones from the roof fell on him, killing him instantaneously. [Falkirk Herald 25 August 1870]

10 October 1870

Airdrie – Fatal Pit Accident – On Monday afternoon, a fatal pit accident occurred at the New Pit, belonging to the Bellsdyke Coal Company, Airdrie. A man named John Miller and a boy named Anderson were engaged working in the pit. While so employed, a large stone weighing upwards of three tons, came away suddenly from the roof and falling upon the unfortunate man Miller, killed him on the spot. Anderson, though he is very severely hurt on the head, and has three of his ribs broken, escaped with his life. [Hamilton Advertiser 15 October 1870]