Notes - The information in this page is mainly compiled from appendices to the reports of the Inspector of Mines and Collieries - William Alexander for the Western District of Scotland and Robert Williams for the Eastern District of Scotland. Additional details from the main body of the report are given where available. Many accidents are not listed in these reports and additional names have been added from newspaper reports and other sources - information not sourced from the mine inspectors reports is indicated by a shaded gray background
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| Year | Month | Day | Name of Colliery | Where situated | Owners name | Person(s) killed | Occupation | Age | Category (if given) | Cause of death and remarks | |
| 1874 | January | 8 | Millburn | Thomas Kyle | Death not listed in Inspectors report | Newspaper report - Dalserf pages | |||||
| 1874 | January | 9 | Heathery Knowe | Baillieston | Broom & Brownlie | George David | Drawer | 22 | In Shafts | Fell from a midworking (from splint to Kiltongue coal) From Main body of report: The shaft where this accident happened is 77 fathoms deep. There are four distinct workings at different levels; three of them are known as mid workings, and are situated as follows :-The first at 22 fathoms from the surface, the second at 35 fathoms, and the third at 65 fathoms. The deceased was a drawer, and worked in the second working, at 35 fathoms from the surface. By the 14th General Rule of the Mines Regulation Act it is provided that "The top and all entrances between the top and bottom of every working or pumping shaft shall be properly fenced, but this shall not be taken to forbid the temporary removal of the fence for the purpose of repairs or other operations if proper precautions are used." And by the special rules of the colliery " the bottomer shall attend during the working shifts in the mine to regulate the number of men who shall ascend on the cage at a time, to keep order among the drawers arriving with loaded hutches at the pit bottom, to see that the loaded hutches are carefully placed on the cage, " &c. It appears that a fence, as provided for by the 14th General Rule, had been constructed at the second working, but was out of use for some weeks before the accident. From some cause the regular bottomer was absent on the morning of the accident, and when the deceased, who was a drawer, approached the pit with a loaded hutch, he unwittingly pushed it into the shaft, and fell to the bottom with it, a distance of 42 fathoms. A neighbouring drawer, who was following close after him, also pushed his hutch into the shaft, and made a narrow escape in not falling down with it. If the pit had been fenced, as it ought to have been in terms of the 14th General Rule, the accident would have been prevented ; or if the bottomer had been present, as provided for by the 42nd Special Rule, in all probability this unfortunate occurrence would not have taken place. The manager and oversman were charged by the Procurator Fiscal with culpable homicide, or culpable violation or neglect of duty, at the Spring Circuit Court, Glasgow. The oversman was found not guilty, and in consequence of the result of his trial the case against the manager was not proceeded with. |
NB The accused were William Forsyth, married, age
51, manager, Heathery Knowe colliery, address: Heatheryknowe (native of
St Ninians parish, Stirlingshire) & John Ramsay, married, age: 42,
fireman and oversman, Kiltongue pit, Heatheryknowe colliery, address Old
Monkland (native of Carmyle). Ramsay was tried at High Court, Glasgow,
27 Apr 1874 - source NAS catalogue Newspaper Report - Old Monkland pages |
| 1874 | January | 12 | Glenboig | New Monkland, LKS | Glenboig Fire-Clay Co | Robt. Lockhart | Miner | -- | In fire-clay mines | Fall of roof | |
| 1874 | January | 14 | Eglinton Colliery | Kilwinning | Archd. Kenneth | James Lawson | Oversman | 59 | In Shafts | Fell down the shaft. Occasioned by the cage which was out of the guides displacing two guide rods which fell upon him | |
| 1874 | January | 19 | Rosehall No 10 | Coatbridge, LKS | Robert Addie & Sons | Alexander Mace | Collier | 48 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof at face. From Main body of report: Reference is made to this accident principally on account of the unusual severity of it. The deceased, three in number, were engaged in their usual working place, Longwall working, and not more than nine feet distant from each other, when a large mass of freestone fell suddenly upon them, and they were crushed under it. It does not appear that the roof had shown any decided symptom of weakness, or was otherwise known to be defective, and I understand that the oversman passed under where the roof fell about five minutes before the accident. I doubt if, practically speaking, anyone could have foreseen danger. The break extended 15 feet along the face, and backwards into the waste. There was a complete fracture, and there were none of the usual "backs" or "rents" which are so often traceable as the direct cause of such accidents. | Newspaper Report - Old Monkland pages |
| Robert Mace | Collier | 18 | |||||||||
| Peter Duffy | Collier | 40 | |||||||||
| 1874 | January | 28 | Britton Pit | Coatbridge, LKS | W S Dixon | John Fitzpatrick | Collier | 27 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof | |
| 1874 | January | 31 | Grougar No 4 | Hurlford | Eglinton Iron Co | William Scobbie | Collier | 18 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof near his working face | |
| 1874 | January | 31 | Linridge | Shotts, LKS | Robt. Forrester | Andrew Kerr | Collier | 26 | Falls of Roof | At “stoops”. Seam 9 feet thick | |
| 1874 | February | 2 | Wellwood No 1 | Muirkirk | Eglinton Iron Co | Walter Campbell | Collier | 41 | Miscellaneous underground | Was injured whilst putting a hutch onto the rails | |
| 1874 | February | 10 | Auchlochan | Lesmahagow, LKS | Colin Dunlop & Co | Alex. Waddell | Bottomer | -- | In Ironstone mines | Crushed by cage coming down on him. | Newspaper report |
| 1874 | February | 13 | Netherjohnstone | Dalziel, LKS | Glasgow Iron Co | Thos. Henderson | Collier | 18 | Falls of Roof | In waste (stoop and room) | Newspaper report |
| 1874 | February | 14 | Gartshore, No 5 | Kilsyth | Wm Baird & Co | David Brown | Bottomer | 28 | In Shafts | Was raised without a signal while engaged on the cage From Main body of report: The deceased was the responsible bottomer, and one of his duties was to communicate the signals to the engineman at the pithead when men or materials required to be raised. I understand that on the day of the accident a hutch containing propwood was lowered on the cage, and the deceased had gone on to it for the purpose of handing off the wood. According to the explanation given by his assistants, he was in the act of handing out the second "tree" when the cage was suddenly raised. He had the presence of mind to call to them to make a signal, which they did, but to no purpose, for the engineman continued to raise the cage a distance of 150 fathoms, and landed it at the pithead. The deceased sustained severe injuries from contact with the shaft or otherwise, and died from the effects of them a few hours after. According to the special rules of the colliery the engineman was bound to observe the signals made from the pit bottom, and raise or lower the cage accordingly. It appears, however, that he raised the cage on which the deceased was engaged at the time contrary to special rule 20, and disregarded rule 21, which provides for arresting a cage in motion. He was charged by the public prosecutor with culpable homicide, and pled guilty, and was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment. | |
| 1874 | February | 16 | Swinhill | Dalserf, LKS | Millar & Rodger | John Morrison | Collier | 27 | Falls of Roof | At face (stoop and room) | |
| 1874 | February | 17 | Glenlogan No 2 | Cumnock | Eglinton Iron Co | James Hall | Roadsman | 19 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of coal while examining the working faces | |
| 1874 | February | 18 | Bathville | Bathgate, Linlithgow | John Watson & Sons | John Lynn | Collier | 27 | Falls of Coal | At face (Long wall) | |
| 1874 | February | 18 | Greenhead | Cambusnethan, LKS | Coltness Iron Co. | Edward Lockhart | Collier | 30 | Falls of Roof | At face (stoop and room) | Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages |
| 1874 | February | 20 | Bog | Hamilton, LKS | Hamilton, McCulloch & Co | William Barr | Labourer | 62 | Miscellaneous on surface | Jammed by wagons at screens | |
| 1874 | February | 20 | Longrigg | Slamannan, STI | James Nimmo & Co | Peter Higgins | Bottomer | 50 | Miscellaneous in shaft | Crushed by cage coming down on him. He crossed the shaft instead of taking the proper road by end of it | |
| 1874 | February | 27 | Ironstone pit, Blantyre | Bernard Roy | Death not listed in Inspectors report | (natural causes) Newspaper report - Blantyre pages | |||||
| 1874 | March | 2 | Blantyre | Blantyre, LKS | Wm Dixon Ltd | John Kerr | Brusher | 25 | Explosion of Firedamp | These men descended 10 minutes before to work at a new furnace within 20 yards of the shaft. No one else was in the seam. Being experienced men they were permitted to examine the place themselves, and neglected to do so with a safety lamp. | Newspaper report - Blantyre pages |
| Hugh Pollock | Brusher | 50 | |||||||||
| 1874 | March | 3 | Westfield of Capeldrae | Ballingry, FIF | Westfield of Capeldrae Oil Co Ltd | Andrew Hutton | Miner | 20 | In Oil Shale Mines | Fall of shale at face (Long wall) | |
| 1874 | March | 5 | Govan No 5 | Glasgow | W S Dixon | Hugh Connol | Brusher | 28 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof while engaged securing it | |
| 1874 | March | 5 | London No 1 | Galston | Eglinton Iron Co | Hugh Dykes | Collier | 26 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of coal at face while undermining it | |
| 1874 | March | 6 | Braehead No 1 | Coatbridge, LKS | Dunn Brothers | James Frew | Roadsman | 19 | In Shafts | Jammed between the cage and “doorhead” From Main body of report: It appears that on the morning of the accident a drawer whilst engaged putting a full hutch upon the cage, had in some way allowed it to get off the rails, and it was jammed against one of the arms of the cage. The deceased who was near the pit bottom at the time, in rendering assistance, had occasion to go on to the cage, and it was while he was in that situation that the cage was suddenly lifted. The hutch being partly on the cage, fell back, and when clear of the cage fell to the bottom of the pit. The deceased, however, got caught between the cage and the shaft, and was drawn up perhaps two fathoms, and afterwards fell down into the cage seat. The bottomer and others who were standing close by observing what was going on, state without hesitation that no signal was made, and under the circumstances it would certainly have been an extraordinary proceeding to have made one. On the other hand, two of the persons engaged at the pithead stated that a distinct signal was made before the engineman raised the cage. Proceedings were taken against the engineman who was charged with culpable homicide ; the trial was fixed to take place at the Autumn Circuit Court, Glasgow, but in consequence of the absence of the principal witness the case was not proceeded with. | |
| 1874 | March | 9 | Shields | Dalziel, LKS | John McAndrew & Co | James Hamilton | Roadsman | 36 | Explosion of Firedamp | He and the fireman were repairing brattice. Gas had collected while the brattice was down, and it came upon their naked lights. They ought to have had safety lamps | Newspaper report |
| 1874 | March | 12 | Maryville | Bothwell, LKS | John Hendrie | Mark McGoff | Collier | -- | Falls of Roof | At face (stoop and room) | Newspaper report- Bothwell pages |
| 1874 | March | 13 | Palace Craig, No 6 | Airdrie, LKS | Wm Baird & Co | Hugh McDoll | Brusher | 63 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof | Newspaper report - New Monklands |
| 1874 | March | 17 | Bathville | Bathgate, Linlithgow | John Watson & Sons | John Longan | Collier | 20 | Falls of Coal | At face (Long wall) | |
| 1874 | March | 17 | East Greengaris | New Monkland, LKS | John Rankine | Edward Hughes | Collier | 48 | Falls of Roof | At face (Long wall) | |
| 1874 | March | 18 | Darngavil | New Monkland, LKS | Patrick Rankine | John Gallochar | Brusher | 33 | Falls of Roof | In road whilst drawing a prop from a stone which he intended to take down (Long wall) | Newspaper report - New Monklands |
| 1874 | Gavieside | West Calder, Edinburgh | West Calder Oil Co Ltd | John Spence | Miner | 30 | In Oil Shale Mines | Fall of shale at face (Long wall) | [Died March 21 - date not given in report] | ||
| 1874 | March | 23 | Fordell | Dalgety, FIF | GWM Henderson | Alex McAndrew | Bottomer | 23 | Things falling from surface | Struck by a coal falling down shaft | |
| 1874 | March | 27 | Braidhurst | Dalziel, LKS | Gavin, Addie, & Son | Henry Smith | Fireman | 48 | Explosion of Firedamp | Clearing out a travelling road. Some gas had lodged “at a fall” within 20 feet of where they were working, and it came out on their naked lights | Newspaper report [?Newspaper gives name as Henry Mullen |
| 1874 | March | 30 | Garallan | Cumnock | Jas Eaglesham | Jas Dunsmuir | Roadsman | 64 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof | |
| 1874 | March | 30 | Stonelaw | Rutherglen | J& R Reid | Jas Clifford | Bottomer | 42 | In Shafts | Overwinding From Main body of report: It appears that some time before the accident liberty had been granted by the manager to a young man to learn to work the engine, with the restriction, however, that he was not to be allowed to raise or lower men in the shaft. The deceased was the bottomer, and on the day of the accident, at midday, he signalled to the surface to be raised. The engineman was not in the engine-house at the time, but Hutchison, the person referred to as learning to work the engine, who had been winding coals for an hour before, in raising the cage overwound it, and the deceased was thrown out and fatally injured. As explained by Hutchison "I cannot say how it happened, I got confused, and lost control of the machinery. I have drawn men frequently before, but on such occasions the engineman was alongside of me" The engineman and Hutchison were charged by the Procurator Fiscal at the Autumn Circuit Court, Glasgow, with culpable homicide or culpable neglect of duty, but after a number of witnesses were examined the case was withdrawn. | |
| 1874 | March | 31 | Over Dalserf | Dalserf, LKS | Wm Barr and Sons | Andrew Reid | Collier | -- | Falls of Coal | At “stoops” | Newspaper report - Dalserf pages |
| 1874 | April | 4 | Auchlochan | Lesmahagow, LKS | Colin Dunlop & Co | David Kerr | Labourer | 59 | Falling into shaft from surface | Run a hutch into the pit at the low scaffold when the cage was not there. Gate standing open. | |
| 1874 | April | 6 | Legbrannock | Bothwell, LKS | Simpson Wilson & Co | James Craig | Collier | 39 | Falls of Roof | At face (Long wall) | |
| 1874 | April | 9 | Greenfield | Hamilton, LKS | Hamilton Coal Co. | John Millar | Engineman | 34 | Boilers bursting | This and other 5 boilers were 10 years old, egg-ended, 30 feet long by 5 ½ feet diameter From Main body of report: There was one fatal boiler explosion at Greenfield Colliery. The boiler was one of a range of five, which had been working for ten years. It was egg-ended, 30 feet long, 5 feet diameter, and the plates were 7/8ths of an inch thick. It burst into three pieces ; the central part flattened out, and the two ends kept their shape. One of the ends, about 20 feet long, was blown a distance of 150 yards, tore off the roof's of five workmen's houses, and finally landed on and fell through the roof of a school-room where about 30 persons were assembled. Three children were killed and several persons injured. One of the enginemen was killed, his name appears in the " list." I had the assistance of Lawrence Hill Esq., in investigating this accident. We did not detect that the boiler had been short of water; it seemed to us that it had leaked about the water line, was a good deal corroded, and thoroughly worn out. At our suggestion the owners took out the whole range, and replaced them by double flued boilers. It is satisfactory to find that in most of the new fittings double flued boilers are used, which are capable of being safely worked at 50 to 60lbs. on the square inch. | |
| 1874 | April | 10 | Shawfield | Carluke, LKS | John Wilson | James Fell | Collier | 19 | Falls of Roof | At face (stoop and room) | Newspaper report |
| 1874 | April | 11 | Bothwell Park | Bothwell, LKS | Wm Baird & Co | James Flim | Sinker | -- | Things falling from part way down | Fall of stone from shaft side (Sinking pit) | Newspaper report- Bothwell pages |
| 1874 | April | 15 | Kenmuir No 2 | Tollcross | James Dunlop & Co | Danl. Kean | Waggon shifter | 36 | Above ground | Crushed between waggons | |
| 1874 | May | 4 | Linnwood No2 | Johnstone | James Dunlop & Co | David Gray | Engineman | 18 | In Ironstone mines | By getting entangled with the machinery | |
| 1874 | May | 6 | Hill of Beath | Beath, FIF | Ord Adams | Duncan Morgan | Drawer | 27 | Falls of Roof | At face while waiting of a hutch being filled (Long wall) | Newspaper report - Beath pages |
| 1874 | May | 13 | Aikenhead | Glasgow | Geo Crookstone | Sam Berkley | Brusher | 20 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof | |
| 1874 | May | 13 | Fauldhouse | Whitburn, Linlithgow | Wm Dixon Ltd | William Millar | Driver | 14 | Miscellaneous on surface | Run over by wagons close to the pit, while going from his work | |
| 1874 | May | 15 | Bredisholm | Bothwell, LKS | Provanhall Coal Co | Robt. Russell | Engineman | 40 | By machinery on surface | The “fan” engine also drove a grindstone | |
| 1874 | May | 27 | Greenhead | Cambusnethan, LKS | Trustees of late Robt. Brand | John Maxwell | Collier | 44 | Falls of Coal | At “stoops” | Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages |
| 1874 | May | 30 | Blantyre | Blantyre, LKS | Wm Dixon Ltd | John Morrison | Brusher | 33 | Falling from part way down | Fell from the Ell Coal, about 30 fathoms. He was removing temporary buntons when one of them overbalanced him. He might have had it secured by a rope. | Newspaper report - Blantyre pages |
| 1874 | June | 3 | Arniston | Cockpen, Edinburgh | Arniston Coal Co. Ltd | David Brown | Brusher | 35 | Falls of Roof | In a road which he was “brushing” | |
| 1874 | June | 12 | Common, No 2 | Lugar | Eglinton Iron Co | Wm McDonald | Miner | 53 | In Ironstone mines | Fall of roof at face. | |
| 1874 | June | 13 | Kinneil | Bo'ness, Linlithgow | George Wilson & Co | William Paterson | Truckman | 34 | On inclined planes | Fell off truck coming up an incline | Newspaper report - Lothians pages |
| 1874 | June | 15 | Cambusnethan | Cambusnethan, LKS | D & I Sneddon | Hugh Lavery | Wagon shifter | 35 | Miscellaneous on surface | Jammed by wagons at screens | |
| 1874 | June | 18 | Phoenix | Coatbridge, LKS | John Spencer | Mich. Corcoran | Collier | 26 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof at face. | |
| 1874 | June | 19 | Blair No 2 | Dalry | Eglinton Iron Co | Thos McMalley | Miner | 36 | In Ironstone mines | Fall of roof at face. | |
| 1874 | June | 19 | Greenhall | Blantyre, LKS | Colin Dunlop & Co | Robt. Paxton | Sinker | 35 | In Ironstone mines | Knocked off a “needle” by the sinking kettle. It had caught in the shaft and then fell on him | Newspaper report - Blantyre pages |
| 1874 | June | 20 | Stonecraigs | Cambusnethan, LKS | Coltness Iron Co. | Thomas Brown | Bottomer | 52 | Miscellaneous on surface | While disloading a wagon the door fell upon him | Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages |
| 1874 | June | 20 | Prince of Wales | Stevenston | M Cunningham | William Kelly | ----- | 15 | Miscellaneous underground | Run over by tubs | |
| 1874 | June | 20 | Springhill | Baillieston | Springhill Coal Co | Pat Rodger | Sinker | 35 | In Shafts | Breakage of winding rope | |
| 1874 | June | 25 | Canonbie | Canonbie | Duke of Buccleuch | Wm Dickson | Drawer | 26 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof | |
| 1874 | June | 26 | Arniston | Cockpen, Edinburgh | Arniston Coal Co. Ltd | Thomas Flockhart | Collier | 22 | Falls of Coal | At face while “holing” (Long wall) | |
| 1874 | June | 30 | Ashgill | Dalserf, LKS | Andrew Spencer | John Findlayson | Fireman | 43 | Explosion of Firedamp | Explosion of firedamp which ignited while they were putting in brattice with naked lights instead of safety lamps | Newspaper report - Dalserf pages |
| Andrew Forrest | Engineman | 22 | |||||||||
| 1874 | July | 1 | Espieside | Coatbridge, LKS | Wm Baird & Co | John Gillespie | Collier | 25 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof | Newspaper Report - Old Monkland pages |
| Wm Forsythe | 26 | ||||||||||
| 1874 | July | 10 | Allanton | Hamilton, LKS | Austine & Co | Pat McFadyen | Collier | 20 | Falls of Roof | At face (stoop and room) | |
| 1874 | July | 13 | Bredisholm | Bothwell, LKS | Provanhall Coal Co | Stephen Gemmell | Fireman | -- | Explosion of Firedamp | A small quantity of firedamp had gathered in a bratticed place standing “up stoop” and he went in amongst it with his naked light when examining the place. He ought to have used a safety lamp. | |
| 1874 | July | 16 | Longlee | Dalserf, LKS | Lesmahagow & Longlee Coal Co | George Smith | Bottomer | 35 | Miscellaneous in shaft | Crushed by cage against “door heads”. It was supposed he was about to cross the cage seat instead of going round the edge of the pit where there was a passage | Newspaper report - Dalserf pages |
| 1874 | July | 21 | Barkip No 10 | Dalry | Merry & Cunningham | John Connolley | Sinker | 43 | In Ironstone mines | Fell down the shaft while engaged lifting a scaffold | |
| 1874 | July | 21 | Stravenhouse | Carluke, LKS | James Thornton | John Cullen | Collier | 60 | Sundries underground | The coal from a “shot” fell upon him before he was clear | Newspaper report |
| 1874 | July | 23 | Barkip No 7 | Dalry | Merry & Cunningham | James Miller | Drawer | 15 | In Ironstone mines | Fall of roof | |
| 1874 | July | 23 | Shieldmuir | Dalziel, LKS | Summerlee Iron Co | James Patrick | Roadsman | 50 | Falls of Roof | At “stoops” while assisting to draw timber | Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages |
| 1874 | July | 28 | Glenlogan No 11 | Lugar | Eglinton Iron Co | Mattw Patrick | Miner | 46 | In Ironstone mines | Fall of roof | |
| 1874 | July | 31 | Burnfoot, No 11 | Dalmellington | Dalmellington Iron Co | Robt. Stevenson | Boy | 13 | In Ironstone mines | Fall of ironstone | |
| 1874 | August | 5 | Balmulloch | Kilsyth | Brown & Rennie | Crawford Fleming | Collier | 22 | Miscellaneous underground | Injured by an explosion of gunpowder 25th July | |
| 1874 | August | 10 | Bellsdyke | New Monkland, LKS | Bellsdyke Coal Co | David Speedy | Collier | 30 | Falls of Coal | At face (Long wall) | |
| 1874 | August | 12 | Rochsolloch | New Monkland, LKS | Geo. Cowie & Son | Hector McAllister | Roadsman | -- | Miscellaneous in shaft | He was standing under the cage and it came down on him. The engineman mistook his signal to stop it | |
| 1874 | August | 14 | Drumpeller | Coatbridge, LKS | Summerlee Iron Co | Wm Jenkins | Collier | 35 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof | Newspaper Report - Old Monkland pages |
| 1874 | August | 18 | Burnt Broom | Tollcross | Dunn Brothers | Jas. Calwhoola | Collier | 55 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof | |
| 1874 | August | 20 | Knownoble | Shotts, LKS | James Dick | William Holms | Bottomer | 35 | Falling from part way down | Fell from a mid-working with a loaded hutch. He neglected to shut the gate | Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages |
| 1874 | August | 20 | Sundrum | Ayr | J T Gordon | Wm Neville | Collier | 45 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof | |
| 1874 | August | 25 | Tannochside | Bothwell, LKS | Monkland Iron & Coal Co Ltd | Michael Deoine | Drawer | 15 | Sundries underground | In coming down a brae in front of a loaded hutch his head caught a crowntree | |
| 1874 | August | 27 | Barrwood | Kilsyth | Wm Baird & Co | Alex Patrick | Bottomer | 53 | Explosions of fire-damp | Explosion of fire damp. From Main body of report: Took place at a pit lately sunk, 146 fathoms deep. It is known as one of the most fiery pits in the district. The work being performed at the time was of a preparatory nature, and principally confined to forming a connection with a shaft to the " rise." There were only three places in the course of extension, and the fireman in making his examination in the morning had discovered an unusual accumulation of gas in one of them. The workmen were prevented from going to their work; and it was about midday, while exertions were being made to dislodge the gas, that it is supposed to have been ignited at the pit bottom. The bottomer who was the sufferer, and reported to be a careful man, was alone at the bottom of the pit at the time; his lamp, a gauze one, was I understand, found entire after the accident, and the question is, whether the gas ignited at his lamp or at an open light. The overman and fireman were in the pit at the time, in the neighbourhood of the accumulation, but the effects of the explosion were entirely confined to the shaft and pit-bottom. | |
| 1874 | August | 28 | Kippbyre | New Monkland, LKS | James Nimmo & Co | William Paterson | Collier | 22 | Falls of Roof | At face (Long wall) | |
| 1874 | September | 7 | Burnt Broom | Mount Vernon | Dunn Brothers | Jas Donnelly | Fireman | 47 | Explosions of fire-damp | Explosion of fire damp. From Main body of report: Happened at a new working, also in the act of being opened out. The fireman was alone, and was at the time of the accident making his examination. It is conjectured that he was using an open or unprotected light when the explosion took place. | |
| 1874 | September | 7 | Hillhead No 7 | Kilmarnock | J & M Craig | Robert Walker | Collier | 16 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof | |
| 1874 | September | 9 | Harthill | Whitburn, Linlithgow | Coltness Iron Co. | John Johnston | Brusher | 33 | In Ironstone mines | Firing of a shot. He failed to get away from it | Newspaper report |
| 1874 | September | 12 | Shankston | Cumnock | Eglinton Iron Co | Matthew Weir | Contractor | 33 | In Ironstone mines | While engaged in making alterations, a beam and a wallplate fell upon them | Newspaper Report |
| Michael Hughes | Labourer | 40 | |||||||||
| 1874 | September | 17 | Balquatstone | Slamannan, STI | John Watson | Robert Forbes | Joiner | 35 | Miscellaneous on surface | Jammed between the buffers of two wagons while shifting them by hand | |
| 1874 | September | 21 | Hurlford | Hurlford | John Howie | Jas Mitchell | Collier | 27 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof at face. | |
| 1874 | September | 23 | Twechar No 1 | Kilsyth | Wm Baird & Co | Wm Aitken | Oversman | 33 | In Ironstone mines | Fell down the shaft while engaged putting the cage into the guides | Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages |
| 1874 | September | 28 | Caledonian Fire Clay Works | Paisley | Speirs, Gibb & Young | Robert Newton | Oversman | 50 | In fire-clay mines | Fall of roof while engaged taking it down | |
| 1874 | September | 29 | Dunnikier | Kirkcaldy, FIF | Walter Herd | John McLeish | Sinker | 40 | Suffocation by gases | Fell out of the kettle while ascending a sinking pit 8 fathoms deep. He was overpowered with choke damp. No mid-wall in. From Main body of report: One man was suffocated by choke damp in a sinking pit. It was only 8 fathoms deep, and was worked with a windlass. There was no mid-wall in it. Some choke damp was found in the bottom of the previous shift; deceased was not aware of this, and when he descended next morning he was overcome with it. His companions at once raised him, but he fell off the rope before reaching the surface. Water was thrown down, and the bad air displaced, but before assistance reached him he was dead. It was found that no examination of the place had been made before he commenced work, and you authorised a prosecution of the manager for breach of the 1st and 3rd General Rules, which resulted in his being fined £5 for each offence. | Fife accidents |
| 1874 | October | 2 | Brownieside | New Monkland, LKS | ----- | A Pettigrew | Collier | -- | Falls of Roof | At face (Long wall) | |
| 1874 | October | 4 | Drumpeller | Coatbridge, LKS | Henderson & Dimmack | John Mitchell | Collier | 30 | Explosions of fire-damp | Injured by an explosion of fire damp 14th August From Main body of report: Occasioned by a workman going in to a place, not at the time being worked, by creeping over a fall of roof, where a small quantity of gas had accumulated. He ignited it and was burned, and though it was considered not dangerously, he died from the effects about six weeks after | |
| 1874 | October | 6 | Ballochnie | New Monkland, LKS | John Robertson & Son | Murdoch McNab | Collier | 57 | Falls of Coal | At face (stoop and room) | Newspaper report - New Monklands |
| 1874 | October | 12 | Hill | Dalserf, LKS | Jas Smith & sons | Peter Lees | Drawer | 18 | Falling from part way down | Fell from a mid-working Was crossing on cage buntons | |
| 1874 | October | 12 | South Arnloss | Slamannan, STI | James Watt | Andrew Baxter | Brusher | -- | Falls of Roof | While widening a road (Long wall) | Newspaper report - Stirlingshire pages |
| 1874 | October | 15 | Fauldhouse | Whitburn, Linlithgow | Wm Dixon Ltd | Hugh Ferrie | Miner | 26 | In Ironstone mines | Fall of roof at face (Long wall) | |
| 1874 | October | 18 | Douglas No 3 | Johnstone | Merry & Cunningham | Francis Maldoun | Boy | 15 | In Oil Shale Mines | Was caught by the cage at the pit bottom | |
| 1874 | October | 20 | Garnkirk | Garnkirk | Garnkirk Fire clay Co | Hugh Gordon | Bottomer | 30 | In fire-clay mines | A piece of clay fell from a hutch while being raised and struck him at the pit bottom | |
| 1874 | October | 22 | Craigston No 4 | Lugar | Eglinton Iron Co | James Oates | Miner | 29 | In Ironstone mines | Fall of roof | |
| 1874 | October | 24 | Cuttlehill | Dunfermline, FIF | Henderson, Wallace & Co | Thos. Cunninghame | Fireman | 50 | Falls of Roof | A loose stone fell, which he and another were endeavouring to take down (Long wall) | |
| 1874 | October | 26 | Lanemark No 2 | N Cumnock | Lanemark Coal Co | Robert Ross | waggon shifter | 19 | Above ground | Crushed between the buffers of two waggons | |
| 1874 | October | 31 | Drumchapel | Maryhill | Merry & Cunningham | Henry Murphy | Collier | 37 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof at face. | |
| 1874 | November | 3 | Greenfield | Hamilton, LKS | Hamilton Coal Co. | Owen O'Hare | Labourer | 40 | Miscellaneous on surface | Five wagons ran away from the man who was braking them down to the screens, and coming in contact with the one on which deceased was standing, he fell off and was run over. | Newspaper report - Hamilton pages |
| 1874 | November | 4 | Foulshills | Whitburn, Linlithgow | Robt. Henderson | John McKenzie | Engineman | 42 | By machinery on surface | Crushed by a bell crank, which he carelessly sat too near while steadying a crane rope during repairs | |
| 1874 | November | 14 | Callendar | Falkirk, STI | Callendar Coal Co | Wm Dalgliesh | Labourer | 55 | Falling into shaft from surface | He ran a hutch into the pit when the cage was not there, and the gate standing open | |
| 1874 | November | 28 | Hill of Beath | Beath, FIF | Ord Adams | John Morris Muir | Driver | 17 | Falls of Roof | By hutches getting off the rails and knocking out props (Long wall) | Newspaper report - Beath pages |
| 1874 | December | 1 | Niddrie | Liberton, Edinburgh | Niddrie Coal Co Ltd | David Anderson | Collier | 19 | Falls of Coal | At “stoops” (Edge coal workings) | |
| 1874 | December | 2 | Stonecraigs | Cambusnethan, LKS | Coltness Iron Co. | John Shaw | Collier | 21 | Falls of Coal | At “stoops”. Head coal fell while filling a hutch | Newspaper report - Cambusnethan pages |
| 1874 | December | 2 | Westburne | Cambuslang | Robert Forrester | Joseph Robertson | Sinker | 23 | In Shafts | Was caught between the midwall and kettle when being raised in the shaft | Newspaper report |
| 1874 | December | 3 | Law | Carluke, LKS | John Wilson | Henry Radcliffe | Contractor for “stooping” | 27 | Falls of Roof | At “stoops” while drawing props | |
| 1874 | December | 5 | Auldton | Dalserf, LKS | Andrew Spencer | David Wilson | Collier | 50 | Falls of Coal | At “stoops” | |
| 1874 | December | 7 | Bartonholm | Kilwinning | Eglinton Iron Co | Alexander Cupples | Collier | 16 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof | |
| 1874 | December | 7 | Benhar | Shotts, LKS | Benhar Coal Co Ltd | George Martin | Brusher | 26 | Falling into shaft from surface | He came up the shaft with an unwell man at 12.30am and on returning about 10 minutes afterwards he walked into the shaft. Apparently the man expected the cage would be waiting where he left it. Gate standing open | Newspaper report |
| 1874 | December | 11 | Ashyard | Galston | James Eaglesham | John Gray | Collier | -- | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of coal and roof | |
| 1874 | December | 12 | Chalmerston | Dalmellington | Dalmellington Iron Co | John Turnbull | Collier | 43 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof | |
| 1874 | December | 12 | Hardcroft | Dalry | Merry & Cunningham | Jas Johnstone | Bottomer | 56 | In Ironstone mines | Died from the effects of injuries received in November by the cage crushing him at the pit bottom | |
| 1874 | December | 12 | Milnwood | Bothwell, LKS | John Christie | James McLuckie | Driver | 14 | By trams & tubs | Fell in front of a “race” of hutches, one of which rested on him | |
| 1874 | December | 17 | Sanquhar | Sanquhar | Misses Whigham | John Dargavel | Collier | 32 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof | Newspaper report - Dumfriesshire pages |
| 1874 | December | 21 | Baljaffray | New Kilpatrick | James Young & Sons | Andrew McSherry | Collier | 20 | Falls of roof and sides | Fall of roof | |
| 1874 | December | 22 | Brunstane | Penicuik, Edinburgh | Sir Geo. Clerk, Bart. | James Watson | Collier | 46 | Falls of Coal | While straightening a road (Long wall) | |
| 1874 | December | 30 | Souterhouse | Coatbridge, LKS | Pettigrew & Spencer | John Sophir | Sinker | 50 | In Shafts | Fell from the kettle while being lowered From Main body of report: The pit was originally sunk to the position of the Blackband ironstone, but has been abandoned for a number of years. The present lessees have of late re-opened the shaft, and at present they are extending it to the "under seams " of coal. The shaft was fitted up with guide rods as far as the position of the ironstone, but not beyond it. Since sinking has been resumed, the kettle is guided between the guides by a skeleton cage, which works into the guides much in the same way as a cage, but below the guides (the shaft is now extended four fathoms under them) the kettle is suspended in the usual way. In practice, when the kettle is raised from the bottom to within fifteen feet or thereby of the skeleton, a muzzle or projection upon the rope catches the skeleton and raises it between the guides to the pit mouth. In this way the kettle is kept steady and clear of the guides, and when it requires to be returned, the skeleton resting on the muzzle or projection upon the rope, is lowered to the bottom of the guides, where it rests, and the rope working through an opening in the skeleton is lowered as required. I understand that the deceased, who was contractor for sinking the shaft, had on the night of the accident, in company with one of the workmen, been raised to the surface. The frost at the time was very severe, and in consequence of the falling water (in the shaft) ice collected at different parts of the shaft. This was known to all. The accident happened while the deceased and his companion were being lowered, and was occasioned by the skeleton from some cause catching, and afterwards falling away upon them, before the kettle had passed below the bottom of the guides. The projection upon the rope did not altogether stop the descent of the skeleton, and the deceased, who was standing upon the kettle, was struck by it, and fell to the bottom, a distance of twelve fathoms or thereby. Apparently sufficient precaution had not been taken to clear away the ice from the sides of the shaft or the guides. I am of opinion that it was an accumulation of ice upon the guides which checked the skeleton and was the direct cause of accident. | |