Scottish Mining Website

1899 Accidents

Notes - The information in this page is mainly compiled from appendices to the reports of the Inspector of Mines and Collieries. 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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Information from Appendix to Inspectors Report
 Extra details
YearMonthDayName of CollieryWhere situatedOwner or CompanyFirst NameSurnameOccupationAgeCategoryCause of accident and remarks
1898December21Bothwell Castle No 1 PitLanarkWm Baird & Co LtdThomasLowContractor miner40Falls of roofSome props were knocked out on haulage road by hutches, and while putting a hutch on the rails the roof gave way. Injured on 21st December, 1898, and died on 11th August.  
1899January6TownhillFifeTownhill Colliery Co LtdPeterWilliamsonPithead labourer30Shaft Accidents – Falling into shaft from surfaceA pony was being sent down the pit in a net. and while it was being lifted off the shuts by the winding engine, deceased was steadying it and was pulled forward and fell down the shaft.  
1899January9Gilbertfield No 2 PitLanarkCambuslang Coal Co LtdThomasSteneMiner24Explosions of fire damp or coal dustOn entering his working place to commence work, his naked light ignited fire-damp, which the fireman affirmed was not present when he made his inspection. The bratticing was five yards back from the face.  
1899January10Pumpherston (Oil shale)EdinburghPumpherston Oil Co LtdArchibaldKerrMiner25Explosions of fire damp or coal dustDeceased was engaged near stooping in an inclined seam, and ignited some gas by his open light which had collected in the waste.

From Main body of report: Took place in an oil shale mine where stooping a highly-inclined seam was in operation. The evidence showed that a proper examination before work commenced was made, and that gas had not been previously seen at the place ; the deceased man had apparently gone near the waste and ignited gas at his open light. The ventilation arrangements were not satisfactory, and too much confidence appears to have been placed on the previous immunity from gas.		  
1899January13Holmes (Oil shale)LinlithgowHolmes Oil Co LtdPeterGallocherMiner40Miscellaneous underground – By explosivesAfter lighting two shots of gunpowder at the face of a crosscut mine, and retiring crying ''fire," he appears to have gone back on them, and was instantly killed.  
1899January17Craighead No 1 PitLanarkWm Baird & Co LtdJohnAitkenBottomer23Falls of sideFall of side on haulage road while it was being straightened and repaired.  
1899January18LongriggendLanarkJames Nimmo & Co LtdMatthewBaxterMiner52Falls of roofDeceased was engaged taking down coal, and when the coal fell the roof fell with it, and fatally crushed him.  
1899January19Eglinton No 1 PitAyrWm Baird & Co LtdWilliamGormonPony driver22Miscellaneous underground – By trams and tubsFound dead under the front hutch of a ''race " of ten full hutches which he was taking out a level.  
1899January23Twechar No 1 PitDumbartonWm Baird & Co LtdJohnHigneyMiner55Falls of sideWhile holing, a piece of coal and roof fell on him. Newspaper report - Dunbartonshire pages
1899January25Viewpark CollieryLanarkR Addie & Sons Collieries LtdJohnRobertsonWaggon shifter62On Surface – On railways and tramwaysHe stepped in front of an empty waggon in motion at the "screes" and was run over  
1899January27BalgonieFifeC B BalfourJamesGorieSignalman71On Surface – On railways and tramwaysDeceased was employed as a signalman on a private railway at a point where, after a sharp curve on a falling gradient, it passed under an over-bridge, on the further side of which there was a public footpath. After signalling that the road was clear, and in order to prevent anyone approaching by the public footpath, he crossed the railway in front of some trucks which were being pushed round the curve, and was run down by them and killed instantly.  
1899January27Bredisholm No 3 PitLanarkUnited Collieries LtdPeterBrysonMiner28Falls of roofFall of roof at working face while brushing his road.  
1899January30CowdenbeathFifeFife Coal Co LtdJohnCreeMiner42Falls of roofDeceased was working in a narrow place between two diverging hitches, when the roof suddenly fell, swinging out the timbers, and killing him instantly.  
1899February2MotherwellLanarkJohn Watson LtdWilliamCairneyWagon greaser15On Surface – On railways and tramwaysCrushed between wagons.  
1899February3NewbattleEdinburghLothian Coal Co LtdAlexanderSteeleMiner40Falls of roofDeceased was lying holing, when the roof fell and crushed him ; he managed to get clear, and proceeded to the roadhead, where he was found ; his injuries proved fatal two days afterwards.  
1899February7Blantyre No 1 PitLanarkWm Dixon LtdGavinLeishmanStone picker14On Surface – On railways and tramwaysHe was sitting on the rails under an empty waggon when a railway locomotive and waggons came up without warning and he was run over.  
1899February9NiddrieEdinburghNiddrie & Benhar Coal Co LtdFrancisBroganMiner28Haulage – SundriesDeceased was engaged with others in driving a cross-cut mine from the Stairhead coal to Great Seam at top of a brake incline. The carriage was lowered and the safety bar left open, and immediately after three heavy shots were fired, which caused the whole place to be filled with a dense smoke. It is supposed that deceased in making his way back to the mine face stumbled into the incline and fell a distance of 26 fathoms. The inclination was 75°.  
1899February10DalbeathFifeFife Coal Co LtdJohnTanneroverman39Haulage – By machineryDeceased was endeavouring to pick up a screw-key which had fallen underneath the framework which carried some haulage pulleys, when his head was caught by a projecting portion of a clutch revolving with the shaft, and crushed against the framework.  
1899February10Dalziel No 1 PitLanarkWishaw Coal Co LtdJosephWilsonRoadsman55Falls of roofWhile lifting rails in a haulage road close to where the stoops were being extracted the roof gave way, crushing through the timbering. Newspaper report
1899February15BalgonieFifeC B BalfourAlexanderListerMiner34Falls of sidesWhile holing the coal at the face of a longwall place in the lower leaf of the Dysart coal, a mass of coal and stone fell away from a back.  
1899February23CharlestownFifeCharlestown Lime CoRichardArmstrongMiner30Metalliferous MinesDeceased was working in a place 30 feet in height, when a stone, supposed to have been loosened by the concussion from a shot fired in an adjoining place, fell upon him, fracturing his skull.  
1899February23Nethercroy No 3 Pit (Ironstone mine)DumbartonCarron CoWm.NicolLabourer40On Surface – On railways and tramwaysRun over by loaded hutches on a surface haulage road. He seems to have been attempting to uncouple the rope.  
1899February25DouglasLanarkColtness Iron Co LtdRobertBellSinker22Shaft Accidents – Falling from part way downDeceased and two other sinkers were putting the permanent slides in the dip winding space of a new shaft. While leaning through betwixt the centre buntons to screw up the nut on a slide bolt, he was struck on the head by a descending cage attached to the rise winding rope as a counterpoise, dragged through between the buntons, and fell to the bottom, a distance of about 60 fathoms. He had been warned of the approach of the cage, but failed to understand, or to withdraw his head in time.  
1899February25Ellismuir No 3 PitLanarkUnited Collieries LtdCharlesHennanMiner21Falls of roofFall of roof on dook while repairing it. Caused by failing to put up props as directed by the overman.  
1899February28GlespinLanarkRobert SwannThomasSomervilleMiner41Falls of sidesDeceased was holing the last portion of a " cut coal," 6 ft. 6 ins. in length, while his son was drilling a machine hole to blast it off. The coal appeared to be hard and was not gibbed. It came away suddenly from an end crack, fell upon deceased, and killed him instantly.  
1899March2ViewparkLanarkR Addie & Sons Collieries LtdOwenMcQuigganBrusher46Falls of roofFall of roof at working face. He appears to have been in the act of knocking out props to put in a building.  
1899March3CarmuirStirlingCarmuir Coal Co LtdBenjaminGibsonDrawer14Haulage – By trams and tubsDeceased was, against the Special Rule, taking a hutch laden with clay down an inclined road by going in front of it: he was overpowered and run over.  
1899March11Roman Camp (Oil shale)LinlithgowBroxburn Oil Co LtdMichaelGreenDrawer24Haulage – On inclined and engine planesWhile travelling up a "cuddy brae" behind the empty hutch, it became disconnected from the rope and ran back carrying deceased with it and crushing him against the stoop side.  
1899March13Roman Camp (Oil shale)LinlithgowBroxburn Oil Co LtdPatrickBrownMiner26Falls of sidesWhile engaged at stooping in an inclined seam, a mass of shale fell away from a clay back and crushed him.  
1899March16Shield Mains CollieryAyrA. G. Moore & Co.Alexr.KerrMiner40Shaft Accidents – Falling from part way downHe supposed that the cage was at the mid working, where he was employed, when it was at the surface. His drawer opened the gate and he pushed a loaded hutch into the open shaft and fell with it to the bottom. There was no duly appointed bottomer.

From Main body of report: Only four men worked during the night at the mid-working, which was protected by gates connected with an indicator in the enginehouse in terms of Additional Special Rule 2. After their shift was finished the deceased and his drawer, a boy 15 years of age, came out to the shaft with a loaded hutch. There being no bottomer, they proceeded to send up the hutch to the surface. The boy opened the gate and told the deceased that the cage was there. The latter pushed forward the hutch, but as the cage happened to be at the surface, the hutch fell down the shaft, taking him along with it. Had there been a bottomer as required by the regulations, it is very unlikely that this accident would have happened.		  
1899March17ColtnessLanarkColtness Iron Co LtdJamesBuchananBrusher30Falls of roofDeceased and another brusher were engaged putting in buildings with debris which had been blasted from the roof for the roadway, and while doing so the roof was heard to burst; deceased shouted to his neighbour, and at the same time sprang to the roadhead, but he was caught by the falling stone and fatally crushed.  
1899March18Gartshore No 9 PitDumbartonWm Baird & Co LtdHughCarrMiner31Explosions of fire damp or coal dustApparently gas had lodged in a cavity caused by a fall, and a further fall seems to have dislodged the gas, which the air current carried to his naked light.  
1899March21Camp No 1 PitLanarkCamp Coal Co LtdAndrewO'HaraMiner38Miscellaneous underground – By explosivesHe was about to fire two shots of compressed gunpowder. He lit the fuse of one, but the fuse of the other did not seem to ignite, and he had to retire. On returning after one shot went off, the other went off also. Newspaper report
1899March28Blantyre No 4 PitLanarkWm Dixon LtdJamesRodgersWaggon trimmer26On Surface – On railways and tramwaysWhile spragging a railway waggon he fell, and the sprag crushed him against the ground.  
1899March30WilsontownLanarkWilliam Dixon LtdJamesWilliamsonLabourer56On Surface – On railways and tramwaysDeceased was engaged clearing debris from a tramway leading to the boiler fire-doors, when a bogie filled with dross ran him down.  
1899April3EarnockLanarkJohn Watson LtdThomasMcHaffiePony driver29Falls of roofDeceased was engaged as a driver between the faces and a horse lye, and while proceeding in-bye with an empty rake of two tubs, the roof fell on him. It was supposed that the horse had gone to one side and knocked out some roof supports. Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1899April4Drumpeller Nos 3 and 4 PitsLanarkSummerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co LtdGeorgeLindsayMiner38Explosions of fire damp or coal dustApparently gas had accumulated in an unventilated place near where he was working, and a fall of roof forced it out, when it was ignited by his naked light.  
1899April7TillycoultryClackmannanAlloa Coal CoDavidPeeblesMiner38Falls of sidesWhile taking out a piece of bottom coal, the top coal fell on deceased. The injury was supposed to be slight, but he died from its effects nine days afterwards.  
1899April9FerniegairLanarkArchibald RussellAlexanderTaylorAssistant ostler16Shaft Accidents – Whilst ascending or descending by machineryDeceased and another workman descended the shaft on the Sunday to feed the horses, and just as the cage arrived at a mid-working, the Main Coal, where both were to get off, he fell into the shaft to the Splint Coal, a distance of 11 fathoms. He was not the usual attendant on the horses, but was acting in the place of another man who had failed to turn out to his work. Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1899April9PoltonEdinburghLothian Coal Co LtdGeorgeBartiePumping engineman45Haulage – By machineryDeceased had gone in between the eccentric - rod and the unfenced flywheel of a pumping engine, and was screwing up the nut on a plummer block cover, when he was struck by the revolving flywheel, fell partly into the flywheel pit. and was killed instantly.  
1899April10Dumbreck No 2 PitStirlingWm Baird & Co LtdThomasRamsayDrawer17Miscellaneous underground – By trams and tubsWhile taking a full hutch down a road he was overtaken and crushed by a runaway full hutch. Newspaper report - Stirling pages
1899April15Glenbuck Galawhistle PitAyrCairntable Gas Coal Co LtdWm.ReidMiner53Falls of sideFall of coal while taking it down. Newspaper Report - Muirkirk pages
1899April17ViewparkLanarkR Addie & Sons Collieries LtdGeorgeO'BrienBrusher21Falls of roofFall of roof at road head while putting in a building.  
1899April20Little RaithFifeLochgelly Iron & Coal Co LtdAndrewMillarPitheadman35On Surface – On railways and tramwaysDeceased was a pitheadman, and part of his duties was to trim the wagons and run them to and from the screens. While taking two loaded wagons to the lye they collided with another standing on the same road, about 60 yds. away, which caused deceased to fall across the rail, and before he was able to get clear, the wheel of one of the wagons caught his left leg and inflicted a severe flesh wound at the thigh, to which injury he succumbed 14 days afterwards.  
1899April26WellsgreenFifeFife Coal Co LtdAdamHunterMiner42Haulage – On inclined and engine planesDeceased and others were engaged on a cut chain brae inclined 1 in 4, putting a loaded tub, which was derailed, on the rails, and when it was put on it ran away at a high speed, and while trying to cross to the opposite side to reach a place of safety the ascending empty tub struck him. He died from his injuries five days afterwards. No one seemed to think of pinning down the brake while the work of putting the tub on the rails was proceeding.  
1899May2Moorfield, Bogside, No 1 PitAyrJ & M Craig LtdWm.EcclesMiner17Falls of roofFall of roof at working face.  
1899May5Bogleshole No 4 PitLanarkJames Dunlop & Co LtdAllanNaismithLabourer50On Surface – MiscellaneousCollapse of an old wall, caused by digging a trench alongside of it.  
1899May5WhitehillEdinburghLothian Coal Co LtdArchibaldCunninghamAttending coal cutter53Falls of sidesDeceased was in front of a coal cutting machine, regulating its forward motion, when a piece of coal, 4 ft. in length, burst off the longwall face, swinging out a rance, and falling upon him, causing injuries which terminated fatally two days afterwards.  
1899May9MuiredgeFifeBowman & CoJamesPenmanMiner73Falls of roofA fall of roof relieved by a lype injured deceased, and he died on the 7th June.  
1899May11DysartFifeEarl of Rosslyn's Collieries LtdJohnKellySinker53Shaft Accidents – Falling from part way downThe shaft was being re-sunk from the level of the Dysart Main Coal Seam. Deceased, and two other sinkers descended on the cage to the Dysart Main Coal bottom, and while one of the men was preparing to fix the kettle rope to the winding rope in order to descend to a bucket-door of pump, 11 fathoms below, deceased walked into the shaft, and fell into the water 23 fathoms down. To reach the body grappling irons had to be used. No reason could be assigned for deceased's conduct. The temporary fence had been removed immediately before. Name on Frances Colliery Memorial Newspaper report - Fife pages
1899May13FoulshielsLinlithgowLoganlea Coal Co LtdWilliamWaughMiner34Shaft Accidents – Whilst ascending or descending by machineryDeceased and a boy got on to the cage at a mid-working, the boy signalled the cage away and deceased in some way fell off the cage to the bottom of the shaft. The gate fencing the shaft did not close readily, and he may have been attempting to close it after the cage moved away.  
1899May15Ayr-Drumley No 1 PitAyrGeorge Taylor & CoPeterSavageFireman35Miscellaneous underground – By explosivesWhile firing two shots of amvis by electricity one did not go off. He returned to examine the cable, and, having done this, told a miner to again try the battery while he was standing close to the shot. The miner did as he was told, and the shot went off. Ayrshire accident pages
1899May16Blackhill No 9 Pit (Ironstone Mine)LanarkSummerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co LtdJamesMcGuinessRoadsman59Miscellaneous underground – On inclined and engine planesWhile standing between a double line of rails on a dook when two "races" of hutches were passing, he got caught by the upgoing full "race."  
1899May16CadzowLanarkCadzow Coal Co LtdCharlesGormanMiner52Falls of roofDeceased was engaged withdrawing the props from under the head coal, when it suddenly fell on him. Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1899May16FoulfordFifeFife Coal Co LtdPeterFitzpatrickPit bottomer33Haulage – On inclined and engine planesDeceased, whose usual work was bottomer, was a handy man. and for the shift was engaged as dook runner. The rake, which usually consisted of twelve tubs, ran at an average speed of four miles an hour, and the runner had permission to ride in front of the loaded rake when ascending the dook, and behind in the empty rake when descending. No one saw the accident, but the attention of a driver was drawn by the rope striking the roof, and on examination part of the rake was found to be overturned at the top of the dook, and deceased under. He had apparently fallen off the front tub on which he sat.  
1899May17Dechmont No 1 PitLanarkArchd. RussellPeterMcCannMiner52Miscellaneous underground – On inclined and engine planesWhile travelling up a dook with a hutch attached by a tail chain to a "race" he got crushed against the side of the road.  
1899May18CadzowLanarkCadzow Coal Co LtdJamesRamsayMiner56Haulage – By trams and tubsDeceased left his working place, which was a rising one, and went to another to get a drink of water, and in returning without a light, he was met by a runaway tub which was being filled by his son. The tub was insecurely fixed.  
1899May18Daldowie CollieryLanarkDunn BrothersWm.YoungLabourer27On Surface – On railways and tramwaysWhen attempting to mount a locomotive which was putting waggons into the siding he fell, and was run over.  
1899May18PolkemmetLinlithgowJames Nimmo & Co LtdThomasMalcolmSinker36Shaft Accidents – Things falling into shaft from surfaceThe accident occurred in a sinking pit. Deceased and two other sinkers were preparing to fire several shots in the bottom, and prior to lighting the shots a canvas pipe was sent to the surface fixed by a sling chain: on arriving there the pipe was detached and the chain was thrown into the shaft, the weight of which was to take the winding rope down to the bottom. By mistake, the chain had also been detached from the rope, and it fell to the bottom and struck deceased. Newspaper report - Lothian pages
1899May22BenartyFifeLochore and Capeldrae Cannel Coal Co LtdMichaelCaseyRoadsman38Explosions of fire damp or coal dustDeceased with naked lights were accompanying the fireman, who had a safety lamp, when he was making his inspection before the entry of the miners, and going first up a rising road ignited fire-damp.

From Main body of report: The second fatal explosion of fire-damp caused the loss of two lives and injury to a third person. All were officials, the two deceased being roadsmen and the injured man a fireman. The roadsmen had been working in the pit all night, and the fireman had descended about 4 a.m. to make the inspection previous to the entry of the miners, which required to be made with a safety lamp as gas had been seen in the seam. The roadsmen appear to have accompanied the fireman in his inspection, and on arriving at the foot of an upset the roadsmen went first with naked lights, although the fireman stated he warned them that it was not safe to do so. The result was an ignition of gas, and all were seriously burned. Only one shaft was sunk to the seam in which the explosion took place. Two roads were being driven for the purpose of providing a second outlet. Other workings, including those near where the explosion occurred, were being prosecuted for the ordinary production of coal. As this appeared to me to be a direct breach of Section 16 of the Coal Mines Act, I asked for and obtained your authority to proceed against the manager, and the case was heard at Kinross on the 8th August, but the Sheriff dismissed the action and awarded the manager expenses. The owners, however, suspended all work in the seam, with the exception of that necessary for providing a second outlet, which was completed on the 17th August. 		Newspaper report - Ballingry pages
JosephHamiltonRoadsman44
1899May22ClackmannanClackmannanClackmannan Coal CoJamesRussellPony driver14Falls of roofWhile the deceased were riding on a rake of loaded hutches drawn by a pony, the pony appears to have stepped across the road in a lye and the tail chain came in contact with a tree set in the middle of the road and displaced it, causing a heavy fall of roof. White contravened a Special Rule in riding.  
JohnWhiteMiner21
1899May23KeltyFifeFife Coal Co LtdPeterMcCarronPony driver54Haulage – By trams and tubsWhile driving a rake of loaded hutches to the shaft, deceased went forward and opened a door and fastened it back; usually the hutches pressing against a bow on the door loosened the catch so that the door fell to after the rake had passed, but the horse stumbled against the door and loosened it before the rake arrived at it. and deceased, who was on the front hutch was crushed between it and the door.  
1899May24Woodhall No 1 PitLanarkBarr & HigginsThomasPatersonFireman38Explosions of fire damp or coal dustA blind pit was being pierced up a fault, and was 15 yards high. Owing to inadequate ventilation gas accumulated in the pit, and deceased was attempting to clear it out. His safety lamp went out, and he sent the miner working with him down the pit to relight it. The latter went back seven yards from the shaft, struck a match and ignited the gas, getting himself injured, while Paterson fell down the shaft. Two hours elapsed ere his body was got out.

From Main body of report: With reference to the explosion in Woodhall No. 1 Pit on 24th May, this is an instance of how ignorance and neglect of the regulations are the cause of explosions which ought never to happen. The road leading to the blind pit was bratticed, but the ventilating current was so feeble that operations ought not to have been carried on until a sufficient amount of ventilation was available. The deceased fireman and the injured miner were breaking the regulations by having matches and attempting to relight a safety lamp close to where a body of fire-damp was being dislodged, and in the circumstances any man of ordinary intelligence could have foreseen what might happen if a naked light were exposed.		  
1899May26NewcraighallEdinburghNiddrie & Benhar Coal Co LtdJohnDalySinker27Falls of roofDeceased was standing under a scaffold in a sinking incline, when the roof suddenly fell. Two shots, fired immediately before, had been bored into the roof and had broken it. The seam inclined 75 degrees.  
1899May27KeltyFifeFife Coal Co LtdAlexanderMillerLabourer49On Surface – On railways and tramwaysDeceased was run over by two empty wagons run forward by the colliery locomotive at the screens.  
1899June6Common No 10 PitAyrWm Baird & Co LtdAlexr.McPheatonPony driver17Miscellaneous underground – By trams and tubsRun over by a loaded hutch, which appears to have overpowered him, while illegally drawing in front of it.  
1899June12Broxburn (Oil shale)LinlithgowBroxburn Oil Co LtdDanielMurrayTrapper13Haulage – On inclined and engine planesDeceased was sitting leaning against a a prop on the inside of a sharp curve where a level road joined an engine plane at right angles. A set of nine loaded tubs was being lifted by the haulage rope, and, owing to the extra strain due to one of the rear tubs having become derailed, several of the leading tubs tilted over towards the inside of the curve. One of them struck deceased, crushing his head against the prop, and killing him instantly.  
1899June12WhitehillEdinburghLothian Coal Co LtdMichaelLoftusDrawer19Haulage – By trams and tubsDeceased was pushing an empty tub up a road rising 1 in 12, when he was run into by a descending loaded tub, said to have been double snibbled. The empty tub was driven back over him, causing injuries which resulted fatally five weeks afterwards. The view of the descending drawer was obstructed by a canvas screen. He shouted to warn any one who might be coming up, but deceased had apparently failed to hear him.  
1899June13Newton No 2 PitLanarkJames Dunlop & Co LtdDonaldMcKinlayMiner56Falls of roofFall of roof at working face. Several props were knocked out by the fall.  
1899June20BroadriggStirlingJohn Nimmo & Son LtdAlexanderHayLoco. Breakman21On Surface – On railways and tramwaysDeceased ran three wagons down toward two others standing on the main line in order to couple all together, on approaching the stationary, he stepped in between to couple, but as the points were not open to the main line, the wagons buffer-locked and he was fatally crushed.  
1899June20Holytown No 5 PitLanarkJames Nimmo & Co LtdLaurenceMcCannMiner25Explosions of fire damp or coal dustMcCann went into a level in which there had been no work for a week and which was not fenced off, when his naked light ignited an accumulation of fire-damp. The fireman admitted that he had not inspected the face of this level. In addition to the deceased, other five men were injured.

From Main body of report: The explosion in Holytown No. 5 Pit on 20th June, by which two men lost their lives and other five were injured, was also caused by a disregard of the regulations. Owing to bad management in laying out the workings a level had to be stopped for want of ventilation, and by taking down a screen, no air-current whatever passed to the level face. The fireman did not fence off this discontinued working place as he ought to have done, neither did he on the day of the explosion, according to his own admission, make the inspection of the level face required by Section 5 (1) of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1896. One of the deceased miners appears to have gone into the level face for a private purpose, when his naked light ignited a considerable accumulation of fire-damp, with the result stated.

Newspaper report- Bothwell pages

HenryConnellyMiner50
1899June28BentLanarkBent Colliery Co LtdEdwardWilsonBrusher35Falls of roofDeceased was taking out some props under the brushing at a longwall roadhead, preparatory to blasting it down, when a large stone fell from between two parallel lypes converging overhead, killing him instantly.  
1899June29DykeheadLanarkSummerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co LtdRobertScottRoadsman53Falls of roofDeceased was laying a hutch road in to a stoop which was about to be taken out, when a stone, 5 ft. by 4 ft. at extremes and 5 1/2 ins. in thickness, suddenly fell upon him, swinging out the props which had been under its lighter end. He sustained injuries to which he succumbed three days later.  
1899July3DurieFifeFife Coal Co LtdJohnLaingSurfaceman54On Surface – On railways and tramwaysWhile passing between two wagons, deceased appears to have struck his head against a bolt or other projection with fatal result.  
1899July3Woodhall No 1 PitLanarkBarr & HigginsThomasBowesFireman26Miscellaneous underground – By explosivesThey were found lying dead close to the face of a narrow mine, which was insufficiently ventilated. Apparently they had fired a heavy shot of gelignite, and on returning were overcome by the fumes.

From Main body of report: An unusual accident happened in Woodhall No. 1 Pit, and by it a fireman and a miner lost their lives. The miner was engaged in driving a narrow mine through on the face of a level, and on the day of the accident he was being assisted by the fireman, who reported having found fire-damp in the place that morning. Safety lamps were used. A connection with the level was expected to be made that day, and the fireman informed the overman that he would probably remain late to do so. As neither of the men came up the pit several hours after the day shift was over, the night fireman went to their working place to see what was detaining them, and found them both lying dead within a few feet of the face, with a lighted safety-lamp beside the bodies. Owing to the small quantity of air circulating round the bratticing, the air was so foul the day after the accident that it was not safe to venture to the face, but it appears that the deceased had charged a shot hole with a heavy charge of gelignite with the evident intention of trying to blow out the coal and communicate with the level. Apparently they were overcome by the fumes of the explosion on their return after firing the shot.

Newspaper report- Bothwell pages

ThomasStewartMiner36
1899July4KinneilLinlithgowKinneil Cannel and Coking Coal Co LtdDanielMcGheeShaftman45Shaft Accidents – Things falling from part way downDeceased was drilling a hole at the bottom of a sinking pit, when something— supposed to be a small piece of stone from an unlined portion of the shaft— struck him on the head, fracturing his skull.  
1899July8Rosehall No 7 PitLanarkR Addie & Sons Collieries LtdDanielMcDonaldPony driver19Miscellaneous underground – sundriesKicked by the pony he was driving. Newspaper report- Bothwell pages
1899July13ColtnessLanarkColtness Iron Co LtdJamesPatonRoadsman55Falls of roofDeceased was examining the roof where a fall had taken place on a haulage road. As he turned to leave it, a large stone fell at his side, tilted over on him and knocked him down, fracturing his thigh and some of his ribs, one or more of which pierced his lung. He died two days afterwards.  
1899July13DouglasLanarkColtness Iron Co LtdCharlesWilsonMiner21Falls of sidesAfter firing and working off a bursting shot in a 10 ft. room holed across its whole width, deceased appeared to have gone under the holed coal to " better" the holing, preparatory to firing a ut shot. A large block of coal came away suddenly and killed him instantly. No gibs or holing props appeared to have been set.  
1899July13EarnockLanarkJohn Watson LtdJamesMcCawleyMiner's boy14Haulage – On inclined and engine planesDeceased was walking out-bye immediately behind a set of loaded tubs drawn by a horse. On approaching the engine plane a set of loaded tube was allowed to run back upon them owing to a misunderstanding as to a signal. The horse set recoiled upon deceased and crushed him against a prop, causing severe abdominal injuries which terminated fatally half an hour afterwards. Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1899July19NiddrieEdinburghNiddrie & Benhar Coal Co LtdWilliamHoodMiner32Falls of sidesA fall of cannel coal and ironstone took place at the face of a longwall place in a highly inclined seam. The material came away suddenly from a lype and keen parting.  
1899July21ElginFifeThos. Spowart & Co LtdJohnBowerMiner48Falls of roofFall of blaes from the roof at the face of a longwall level going parallel to a trouble. The roof was lypey.  
1899July21Gilbertfield No 2 PitLanarkCambuslang Coal Co LtdWm.ThomsonMiner34Falls of sideFall of coal, owing to want of sprags. Another man was injured.  
1899July22NiddrieEdinburghNiddrie & Benhar Coal Co LtdSamuelWatsonMiner24Falls of sidesDeceased appeared to have been knocking out the gibs in a seam 5 ft. thick, dipping at 60°, and worked longwall, when a block of coal 8 ft. in length and averaging 3 ft. 6 ins. in width suddenly fell from a foul cleavage plane and killed him instantly.  
1899July26ChapelLanarkChapel Coal Co LtdThomasHayBottomer40Shaft Accidents – Falling from part way downDeceased was acting as assistant bottomer at a mid working, 25 fathoms above pit bottom. The bottomer and he had taken the empty tubs off a cage, and the former had closed the gate fencing the shaft, signalled for the cage to be raised, and told deceased to pass round to the other side of the shaft to be in readiness to receive the descending cage. Deceased turned away to do so, and by some means slipped into, and fell down the shaft, and was instantly killed. The fencing, gates, and signalling apparatus were said to be in order, and the bottomer and engineman agreed that all the gates were closed when the cage was raised from the landing. The gates were hung to close automatically, but subsequent examination showed that one of them tended to rebound from its stop from 6 to 20 ins., the signal in engine-house meanwhile indicating that it was closed.  
1899July29DysartFifeEarl of Rosslyn's Collieries LtdRobertCunninghamMiner45Falls of roofWhile cutting up into the head coal by the side of an old room, the head coal suddenly fell.  
1899August8Glenclelland No 1 PitLanarkKerr & MitchellWm.SchneiderMiner36Shaft Accidents – Whilst ascending or descending by machineryWhile descending the shaft on the lower deck of the cage he put out his head to listen to a companion speaking, and got jammed between the cage and the pit mouth. It was his first day at the pit. Newspaper report - Lanarkshire
1899August9Craighead No 1 PitLanarkWm Baird & Co LtdThomasWhiteMiner31Falls of roofFall of roof at working face. Several props were knocked out by the fall.  
1899 August 11 Bothwell Castle No 1 Pit Lanark Wm Baird & Co Ltd Thomas Low Contractor miner 40 Falls of roof See entry under 21 Dec 1898 at top of this page 
1899August15Wester GartshoreDumbartonJ & A F WallacePatrickColliganBrusher50Explosions of fire damp or coal dustSafety lamps were in use. The deceased worked alone when the explosion occurred. A tobacco pipe was afterwards found close to his working place, where a hurdle screen was erected to prevent gas from a feeder from accumulating.

From Main body of report: The fatal explosion in Wester Gartshore Colliery was also apparently caused by a contravention of the regulations. Safety lamps alone are used, and when the explosion happened the deceased was working alone in a place which gave off fire-damp. A tobacco pipe was afterwards found close to where he was working, and it is doubtful if there was sufficient ventilation to clear away the gas accumulated in a cavity in the roadway.		 Newspaper report - Dunbartonshire pages
1899August17NeilslandLanarkJohn Watson LtdThos.McKinnonMiner24Falls of roofA roadway was being widened and brushed for an inclined plane, and while deceased was taking a piece of coal off one side thereof suddenly fell.  
1899August18Fauldhead PitDumfriesJ I McConnellJamesBoneMiner30Falls of roofFall of roof at working face. Caused by want of propping. Newspaper report - Dumfriesshire pages
1899September8Holytown No 8 PitLanarkJames Nimmo & Co LtdJamesWilsonBottomer66Shaft Accidents – Falling from part way downHe opened the gate at a mid-working when the cage was not there, and apparently pushed a loaded hutch into the open shaft and fell with it to the bottom.

From Main body of report: The bottomer was alone at the mid-working, and it appears that being under the impression that the cage was there, he opened the gate and pushed a loaded hutch into the open shaft and fell with it to the bottom. At the time of the accident the engineman was in the act of raising two miners from another mid-working, these miners in the absence of the bottomer having, contrary to the regulations, given the signals to the engineman.		  
1899September8MotherwellLanarkJohn Watson LtdDonaldCampbellContractor sinker52Miscellaneous underground – By explosivesDeceased had a contract for deepening a pit, and kept a chest in an upper seam in which were explosives, both gunpowder and gelignite. While engaged at the chest, he appears to have had his lamp in his bonnet, and a spark from it ignited the gunpowder.  
1899September11Daldowie No 1 PitLanarkDunn BrothersWm.McGauchanMiner53Shaft Accidents – Ropes and chains breakingWhile descending a blind pit in a cage the rope parted from the hose and the cage fell. Riding in the cage was prohibited, but the prohibition was not attended to by the workmen.  
1899September14HerdshillLanarkColtness Iron Co LtdJamesWalkerMiner49Haulage – SundriesDeceased and a fellow - workman were kneeling side by side sumping a holing. The latter's pick swung through, meeting with less resistance than he had anticipated, and struck deceased on the outer side of the left knee. The injury was considered trifling, and he continued to work for some hours. Blood poisoning supervened, resulting in his death five days afterwards.  
1899September21BenartyFifeLochore and Capeldrae Cannel Coal Co LtdCorneliusDuffyDrawer26Haulage – By ropes and chains breakingDeceased had hung on an empty tub at the foot of a short wheel brae, and shouted to the drawer above to "shove over." As the tubs started the empty one became derailed, and the consequent jerk caused the chain to snap. The loaded tub ran down upon deceased, fracturing his thigh and causing injuries to which he succumbed five hours afterwards.  
1899October4DouglasLanarkColtness Iron Co LtdPatrickCallachinLabourer42On Surface – MiscellaneousDeceased was engaged cutting out a seat for a coal washing machine, when a fall of clay took place and fatally crushed him against a cart standing near.  
1899October4Grasshill No 1 PitAyrWm Baird & Co LtdGeorgeDalzielEngineman47On Surface – MiscellaneousWhen cleaning and oiling beam pumping engine while at rest, he slipped and fell backwards, a distance of nine feet.  
1899October5DalquhandyLanarkWaddell and SonJamesJefferyMiner's boy14Haulage – By trams and tubsDeceased was in front of a loaded tub in coming down a dipping road ; he attempted to stop it by stiffening his body so that it acted as a stay, and the pressure of the tub caused a compound fracture of the left leg from which he died a few hours later. Going in front of a loaded tub on an inclined road is prohibited by Additional Special Rule 5.  
1899October5NiddrieEdinburghNiddrie & Benhar Coal Co LtdHughRobertsPumping engineman50Haulage – SundriesDeceased had charge of an under-ground pumping engine situated near to a winding incline, which had a dip of 59 degrees To oblige a contractor, he had volunteered to "hang on" some loaded tubs on a carriage on this incline, and whilst so doing he fell down the incline, a distance of about 70 fathoms, and was instantaneously killed.  
1899October9Cobbinshaw (Oil shale)EdinburghCaledonian Mineral Oil Co LtdWalterRobertsonMiner42On Surface – MiscellaneousWhile assisting to place in position the shaft of a pumping engine, it canted and crushed his foot. Lock-jaw supervened.  
1899October10Hamilton Palace No 1 PitLanarkBent Colliery Co LtdWm.Armour, jun.Miner14Explosions of fire damp or coal dustThe fireman lit the fuse of a shot of compressed gunpowder. No sooner was the fuse lit than it ignited firedamp, and he, the deceased, and another miner were all injured by the explosion. The shot afterwards went off.

From Main body of report: The fatal explosion in Hamilton Palace Colliery happened in a seam where safety lamps alone are used. The fireman, who was the shot-firer, was about to fire two shots of compressed gunpowder in the coal face about 16 inches from the roof, in a heading 10 1/2 feet wide and 7 feet high. The roof was unbroken, and there was no place where gas could lurk unknown to the shot-firer, yet when he kindled the fuse of one of the shots, the sparks from it ignited fire-damp and caused an explosion which injured himself, the miner, and his boy, the latter fatally. It is apparent that the fireman either failed to make the prescribed inspection before firing the shot, or, if he made it, he found an accumulation of fire-damp and fired the shot before having cleared it away, contrary to the regulations. 		Newspaper report - Bothwellhaugh pages
1899October16BowhillFifeBowhill Coal Co LtdJamesSmithMiner25Falls of sidesDeceased was engaged cleaning up his place of some debris, when the coal suddenly burst out and crushed him against a tub at the roadhead.  
1899October16PrestongrangeHaddingtonSummerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co LtdHenry WilliamSimsAshwheeler32On Surface – MiscellaneousDeceased had been assisting one of the boiler furnacemen to trim forward the dross or "gum," which was stored in a large hopper erected in front of the stoke hole. He was seen leaving the hopper, but appears to have re-entered it unobserved, and to have slid down amongst the gum towards one of the shoots, from which it was shovelled into the furnaces. About an hour afterwards, his body gravitated to the shoot, and was discovered by one of the furnacemen. Death was due to suffocation.  
1899October19BentLanarkBent Colliery Co LtdPeter BurnsO'BrienMiner23Falls of roofFall of roof-stone at the face of longwall. A small trouble crossed the strata at the point, and appears to have relieved the stone.  
1899October19MurdostounLanarkJohn McAndrew & CoDavidHallMiner21Falls of sidesDeceased was backening out coal at a longwall face, when a stone 9 ft. by 2 ft. by 1 ft. came away suddenly from a lype and fell upon him, fracturing his skull. The fireman had passed him fifteen minutes previously, and had instructed him to secure one end of the stone which was then unsupported ; but deceased had apparently delayed doing so.  
1899October20Dalquharran CollieryAyrJ C KennedyRobertForrestBrigade fireman45Miscellaneous underground – By underground fireWhile attempting to put out an underground fire he was overcome by the fumes. Other men who were beside him were hardly affected.  
1899October21Broomrigg No 3 PitStirlingBanknock Coal Co LtdJamesMcPheeMiner51Falls of roofFall of roof at working place. The stone was not propped, although it fell from between two parallel lipes which previously were exposed to view, and a cross lipe.  
1899October24Carfin No 7 PitLanarkWm Dixon LtdJamesThomsonStone picker14On surface – By machineryWhile amusing himself his foot got caught between the pulley and belt of a conveyor.  
1899October25MotherwellLanarkJohn Watson LtdJosephDalbyStone miner26Miscellaneous underground – By explosivesWhile carrying gunpowder to the face with his lamp on his bonnet, a spark ignited the powder.  
1899October26Calderbank No 1 PitLanarkGlasgow Iron & Steel Co LtdMichaelHurllBrusher27Explosions of fire damp or coal dustThe deceased was brushing a road head, and had gone along the working face when his naked light ignited some fire-damp coming from a borehole extending from the surface. The borehole had been struck during the day, and the miner working in the place ignited gas, which he reported to the fireman. It was said that the deceased was told not to go along the working face.  
1899October31Polbeth (Oil shale)EdinburghYoung's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Co LtdJohnMcKenzieMiner33Falls of roofDeceased was breaking up some shale at a heading-face, when a stone, 4 ft. 9 ins. by 2 ft. 9 ins. at extremes, and 9 ins. thick at centre, suddenly fell upon him from between two props, causing internal injuries which terminated fataly on the following day.  
1899November2KeltyFifeFife Coal Co LtdJamesHodgeMiner29Haulage – On inclined and engine planesDeceased and other workmen were proceeding homewards after completion of shift, and while travelling on inclined plane the wheeler at top sent away a loaded rake; on the opposite end of the rope no empty tubs were attached, and the rake ran down at a high speed, and overtaking deceased struck him in passing.  
1899November3DysartFifeEarl of Rosslyn's Collieries LtdAndrewCrystalMiner61Falls of roofDeceased was taking bottom coal off the side of a stoop, when the roof-coal suddenly fell. There were no props up to the roof.  
1899November7Drumsmudden No 1 PitAyrDaunellington Iron Co Ltd [Dalmellington Iron Co Ltd?]JamesLundieMiner22Falls of sideFall of coal and stone from working face while holing.  
1899November14FordellFifeFordell TrusteesJohnToddMiner35Shaft Accidents – Whilst ascending or descending by machineryDeceased, carrying some of his tools, was ascending the shaft along with two other miners, and he fell off the cage.  
1899November15AllanshawLanarkAllanshaw Coal CoJosephMurrayreddsman40Falls of roofWhile engaged taking down stone to increase the height of a horse road, a mass of blaes suddenly fell.  
1899November15Meiklehill No 5 PitDumbartonJames Wood LtdJohnJarvieRoadsman45Miscellaneous underground – On inclined and engine planesWhile sitting in front of a "race" of hutches being drawn up a dook he fell off and was run over.  
1899November17Glengywn No 1 PitAyrWm Baird & Co LtdJohnDevlinBrusher55Falls of roofFall of roof while enlarging a road.  
1899November17LevenFifeFife Coal Co LtdRobertMcKinlayMiner32Falls of roofDeceased was in the act of putting a prop up to the roof, which he knew to be bad, when it suddenly fell and completely buried him.  
1899November17Rosehall No 3 PitLanarkR Addie & Sons Collieries LtdSamuelMcEwanPitheadman32Shaft Accidents – Falling from part way downThe shaft was being deepened, and in some unexplained manner he pushed a hutch of timber into the open shaft at a mid working and fell with it to the bottom.

From Main body of report: The shaft was in course of being deepened. The deceased acted as bottomer, or rather as pit-headman at a mid-working to which the debris was raised in hutches slung to the rope. In some unexplained manner he pushed a hutch of timber into the shaft and fell after it.		 Newspaper Report - Old Monkland pages
1899November22WhitehillEdinburghLothian Coal Co LtdDavidBainMiner19Falls of roofDeceased was taking some coal off a longwall face, when the sandstone roof suddenly fell in over an area 25 ft 0ins. by 4 ft. 6 ins., swinging out some props as it fell. A portion of it fell upon deceased, fracturing his collarbone and suffocating him. A fellow workman narrowly escaped with his life. Newspaper report
1899November30Cam'nethanLanarkThomas Barr's TrusteesWilliamYoungChainman15On Surface – On railways and tramwaysThe surface hutch road passes under a road by means of an archway, and deceased, while riding on the full rake, seems to have been caught at the archway and dragged some distance.  
1899November30WhitehillEdinburghLothian Coal Co LtdJamesLangCranefooter15Haulage – By ropes and chains breakingDeceased was hanger-on at the foot of a wheel brae. 60 fathoms in length, and having a gradient of 1 in 5. The road was double throughout, and the tubs were raised and lowered by an overhead endless rope passing round horizontal pulleys at top and bottom. The brake was attached to the bottom pulley and was under the charge of deceased. The tubs were run in sets of two, and were attached to the rope by a coupling chain coiled four times round the rope, and hooked back upon itself immediately behind the coils. The security of the attachment could only be tested when the load got on the incline, and therefore beyond the control of the drawer hanging it on. The attachment of two loaded tubs slipped on the rope, the tubs ran away and struck deceased killing him instantly. He had only commenced to work in the mine on the previous day. Newspaper report
1899December1Dalziel No 1 PitLanarkWishaw Coal Co LtdGeorgeHendersonMiner24Falls of roofFall of roof at working face. He had just returned after firing a shot which seems to have knocked out some props.  
1899December2KinneilLinlithgowKinneil Cannel and Coking Coal Co LtdWilliamPhillipsScreenman47On Surface – On railways and tramwaysCrushed between wagons.  
1899December2Souterhouse No 1 PitLanarkSouterhouse Collieries CoJohnDuffyMiner37Falls of sideFall of coal and stone at stoops. Caused by failing to set sprags. Newspaper Report - Old Monkland pages
1899December6KinneilLinlithgowKinneil Cannel and Coking Coal Co LtdAndrewMillerBrusher31Explosions of fire damp or coal dustDeceased were brushing a branch road in a section of the mine which was dry and somewhat dusty, in which fire-damp had frequently been seen and reported, and which was worked with safety lamps. The night fireman having absented himself from work, the oversman, in the temporary absence of the certificated manager, took it upon himself to appoint a contractor from another section as fireman and shot-firer. The man so appointed failed to make any inspection of the scene of the accident, and arranged with the deceased that they should light their own shots. They did so, and an explosion took place, resulting in the death of both men.

From Main body of report: The third fatal explosion of fire-damp, causing the loss of two lives, took place at Kinneil Colliery, Furnaceyard Pit, in the same section of the Six Feet Seam workings as the explosion of 31st March 1898 described in my last year's Report, when three men lost their lives, and as on that occasion disclosed a lamentable state of matters.
The principal breaches of the Mines Acts in connection with the explosion were :—
(1) There was no manager or under-manager exercising daily personal supervision of the mine.
(2) The brushers were firing their own shots.
(3) No inspection was made by a fireman.
The two men who lost their lives were the only persons working in the section at the time of the explosion, and consequently no direct evidence as to the cause of the explosion was available. In the explosion of 1898 a survivor was able to prove the firing of a shot as the proximate cause. But in the present case it was clear that three or more shots had been fired, and it appeared to me that the most probable cause of the explosion was the firing of the last shot. Some, if not all the shots, had been fired by fuse and Bickford's Patent Lighter, a system described in my last year's Report, and which, as I there stated, I understood the Company had discarded in favour of electrical firing. It appears, however, that after a trial of electrical firing it had been given up and the old system returned to ; this return to the use of the patent lighter was not known to the owners, and the manager did not inform me of it.
The explosion was not an extensive one, and had the deceased men not attempted to escape with the air current they might have survived.
The manager was absent on his honeymoon at the time of the explosion. He stated he had arranged with an under-manager at another pit, owned by the same Company, to exercise daily personal supervision during his absence, but this the under-manager did not understand, and did not in fact take any charge of the pit in which the explosion took place. In any case the duty is placed by the Act on the owner or agent to nominate in writing an under-manager, and therefore the owners were liable and were proceeded against, and on pleading guilty were fined £12.
The manager was charged with a contravention of Section 2(&) of the Explosives in Coal Mines Order, in respect that shots were not fired by means of electricity, or some means equally secure against the ignition of fire-damp or coal dust, but the case against him broke down owing to a defect in the complaint.		  
WilliamRussellBrusher43
1899December6Tannochside No 1 PitLanarkArchd. RussellJamesTaylorWaggon shifter54On Surface – On railways and tramwaysWhile bringing forward an empty waggon he appears to have been crushed by other two waggons which, unobserved, had run forward by gravitation. Newspaper report- Bothwell pages
1899December8Cadder No 15 Pit (Ironstone Mine)LanarkCarron CoJamesPringleBencher21Miscellaneous underground – By ropes and chains breakingWhile walking up a dook close behind a "race" of full hutches, a coupling broke and the hutches ran back on him.  
1899December9LoanheadEdinburghShotts Iron Co LtdThomasFrameMiner56Falls of sidesDeceased was taking down some coal in a seam having a dip of 45°, when a stone estimated to weigh about a cwt. fell suddenly from the coal head and struck him on the side, fracturing one of his ribs and puncturing his lung. He did not consider himself seriously injured,and remained at work for about seven hours. He died three day a afterwards. Newspaper report
1899December14North Motherwell CollieryLanarkMerry & Cunninghame LtdJohnMeikleForeman40On Surface – MiscellaneousWhen tipping a hutch of frozen debris over the refuse heap the hutch fell over and he fell with it.  
1899December19CadzowLanarkCadzow Coal Co LtdPeterCorriganMiner40Haulage – By trams and tubsWhen bringing a loaded hutch from the face of a low stooping place, deceased was in front of it, and was crushed against the timber.  
1899December19Haugh No 2 PitStirlingWm Baird & Co LtdGabrielBullockMiner60Falls of roofFall of roof at working place. Caused by failure to put up props as directed by the fireman.  
1899December19NewbattleEdinburghLothian Coal Co LtdPeterCurrieMiner39Falls of roofDeceased was taking some coal off a long-wall face when the roof suddenly fell away from an unseen lype and a keen top parting, swinging out some props as it fell. A large stone fell upon his shoulders and back, pressing his face into the dross at his feet and causing suffocation.  
1899December21BowhillFifeBowhill Coal Co LtdDavidBlackMiner37Falls of roofDeceased and another miner were breaking away a new seam from one side of a shaft when the roof fell.  
1899December21Castlecary Mine (Limestone Mine)DumbartonCastlecary Fire-clay CoJohnWhiteMiner37Falls of roofFall of roof while redding a large fall on road.  
1899December22LoanheadEdinburghShotts Iron Co LtdWilliamMoffatPithead runner17On Surface – On railways and tramwaysDeceased was getting into a truck to shovel out some snow, when it was struck and driven forward by some other empty trucks, which were being run forward to the screen. He was driven under and crushed against an overhead gangway, receiving injuries which terminated fatally on the same day.  
1899December25LongriggendLanarkJames Nimmo & Co LtdRobertFergusonFireman22Explosions of fire damp or coal dustDeceased was making the statutory examination of the working places, &c. before the miners commenced work, when he ignited some fire-damp, and was suffocated by the after-damp. A Davy lamp was found near to his body ; its bottom was screwed on but not locked, and a hole 3/16 in. in diameter was discovered in the crown of the inner gauze. An ordinary miner's open lamp was found hooked to his cap a few yards off. Ventilation was induced by a furnace which was said to have been under deceased's charge during the whole of the previous day. Two days after the accident the current was unable to turn the vanes of an anemometer in an airway 3 ft. by 2 ft. 2 in.

From Main body of report: The fourth fatal explosion of fire-damp took place in a colliery worked with open lights, but in which as fire-damp was occasionally seen the fireman's examination before the entry of the miners required to be made with a safety lamp. This necessary precaution appears to have been rendered nugatory by the fireman carrying an open light as well.		 Newspaper report - Lanarkshire
1899December27Hattonrigg No 3 and 4 PitsLanarkSummerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co LtdEdwardCallacherBrusher59Falls of roofFall of roof at brushing face while taking it down. Newspaper report- Bothwell pages
1899December27Ingliston (Oil shale)EdinburghYoung's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Co LtdHughErskineMiner39Explosions of fire damp or coal dustDeceased and two others worked in a room which was stripping a fault. When making his statutory inspection, the fireman found a quantity of gas at the face, and warned the miners not to enter the place until he had cleared it out. He entered the place alone, and proceeded to waft out the gas with a piece of canvas. Deceased went in in the dark to speak to him, and the two others shortly afterwards lifted a canvas screen and entered the place with naked lights. A violent explosion occurred, whereby the whole four were severely burned. Deceased succumbed eight days afterward.

From Main body of report: The last fatal fire-damp explosion took place in an oil shale mine, and disclosed carelessness on the part of both fireman and miners in the presence of a known quantity of gas. The fireman discovered gas when making his first inspection, but appears to have allowed the miners to approach the place with open lights while he was attempting to remove it.		  
1899December28Hamilton Palace No 1 PitLanarkBent Colliery Co LtdWm.BruntonMiner28Miscellaneous underground – By trams and tubsWhile acting as pony driver he fell in front of his "race," and was run over by the front hutch.  
1899December29DysartFifeEarl of Rosslyn's Collieries LtdDavidPowMiner33Falls of sidesA mass of coal and stone fell upon him from the side of a room.  

 

Last Updated 9th September 2012