Dunbartonshire Accidents

This section contains newspaper reports on accidents in Dunbartonshire. Please check the indexes in the Accidents Section for reports by the Inspector of Mines and accidents in other areas.

May 15 1858

Fearful Colliery Explosion – Four Lives lost - On Saturday morning early a fearful explosion of fire damp took place in Mr Dunn's Colliery, near Duntocher. Up till Monday afternoon three of the bodies had been recovered; great exertions are being made to reach the place where it is supposed the fourth body will be found. The explosion must have been very violent. One of the bodies was fearfully burned, no trace of clothing could be found on it. Hutches, &c., were driven in one mass to the bottom of shaft, and one of the boxes was blown right up the shaft a distance of nearly 100 fathoms. The Procurator Fiscal has visited the colliery. Mr Alexander, Government Inspector of Mines, and the manager have had a consultation; they afterwards descended the shaft and examined the works. In exploring, great care and caution is required, as the fire damp still lurks in the openings, and is only forced out as the airways advance. [Hamilton Advertiser May 22 1858]

26 July 1862

Dumbarton – Two Men Killed at a Coal Pit - Between three and four o'clock on Saturday afternoon, Matthew M'Kinnon and William Hunter, shankers in No. 1 Croy sinking pit, in the parish of Cumbernauld, were precipitated from the mouth of the shaft to the bottom, a distance of forty fathoms, and killed. The two men had been lowered down the shaft to the distance of fifteen fathoms for the. purpose of bringing to the pit-head an iron cistern. An iron chain was attached to each end of the cistern and secured by bolts . The men were in the cistern, and were being drawn up and when within four feet from the pit mouth , the edge of the cistern came into contact with the side of the shaft, simultaneously the bolts snapped and men and cistern were precipitated to the bottom, in which were five fathoms of water, M'Kinnon's body was got in the course of an hour, and Hunter's body in four hours after the accident. Both the unfortunate men were married, and resided in Kilsyth. The Procurator-Fiscal is inquiring into the circumstances of the case. [Scotsman 29 July 1862]

29 November 1862

Coal Pit Accident - On Saturday morning, while a miner, named Robert Durie, residing at Auchinairn, was employed at No. 4 Springfield ironstone pit, he was seized with a fit, and began foaming at the mouth. The fit continued about 20 minutes, and when the poor man got better he was advised by his fellow-workmen to to home, but he refused. After working for some time, he said he would go home, and went to the bottom-man and asked to be sent to the surface. He then went into the cage, and the bottom-man gave the signal to the engineman to raise the cage; and the machinery was accordingly set in motion. When the cage reached the pit mouth the head of Durie was observed hanging over the side of the cage, and before the engine could be stopped his head came in contact with the "sneck," whereby his neck was dislocated, and death immediately ensued. It is supposed that the poor man, who is only 17 years of age, had taken a fit while the cage was ascending. [Glasgow Herald 2 December 1862]

30 January 1866

Fatal Accident At Kilsyth – On Tuesday forenoon, a joiner in the employment of Messrs Baird, Gartsherrie Iron Works, named Daniel Laverry, aged 44 years, residing at Smellie's Land, New Dundyvan, was killed at No 6 Pit Gartshore, Kilsyth. It seems that he had been sent down from the works, along with a number of other men, to erect an enginehouse, and while working near the fly wheel it was unfortunately set in motion, but how we did not learn. The deceased was jammed between the wheel and the wall and killed. The body was brought home to his house that same aft in a cart. He has left a widow and ten of a family, four only of the latter being at home, the rest are working. [Hamilton Advertiser 3 February 1866]

20 July 1878

A colliery explosion, involving the loss of three lives and causing great destruction of property, occurred on Saturday evening at the Wester Gartshore Collieries, Kirkintilloch. The shaft at which the explosion occurred is named No 2, and the shaft was being sunk in order to get at a coal seam known as “Braes O'Zetts' Main.” The depth to which the shaft had been sunk was 37 fathoms, being within about 17 ft of the coal. The shifts of men, 5 each in number, who were employed at the work about two weeks ago, it is said, discovered signs of fire damp in the shank. The shaft was regularly examined, and as only one shift of men required to use lamps, the other working in daylight, and the lamp used being the Davy, no danger was apprehended. The fireman examined the place on Saturday morning, and, though conscious of the existence of one or two “feeders” at the bottom, did not think there was any danger to life. About 20 minutes to 6 three men named James Harper, Edward Griffin and Robert Gray were accordingly sent down and had completed the process of drilling holes for the dynamite cartridges employed in sinking the shaft. Hot iron had been sent down for sinking the fuse, and the men, it is believed, were about the ascend when the explosion took place. The pit head frame and surface gearing was blown away by the shock, and the sides of the shaft fell in and buried the three men in the ruins. The explosion is supposed to have been caused by firedamp rather than through too rapid ignition of dynamite. [The Times July 22 1878]

8 May 1879

Singular Colliery Accident Near Kirkintilloch – Two Men Killed - An accident, involving the loss of two lives, has occurred at No. 1 pit of the Kilsyth Coal Company, Solsgirth Collieries, near Kirkintilloch. The pit, which is 137 fathoms deep, is worked by means of a double cage, and on Thursday evening when the men were ceasing work for the day, five colliers entered the cage for the purpose of ascending to the surface, two of them taking the upper cage, and the other three, named Hugh Paterson, James Irvine, and Thomas M'Guinis, the lower. On the cage approaching the pithead , it was discovered that of the three men in the lower cage Paterson was missing while Irvine was hanging halfway out and when extricated it was found that he had sustained severe injuries about the head and upper parts of the body. He only survived about half-an-hour. The narrative of M'Guinis is that when about 70 fathoms up, while sitting with his back to the two men, he was startled by a cry, and turning round missed Paterson, while he found Irvine falling out of the cage. He grasped him by the feet, and held on till the cage was stopped. The body of Paterson was afterwards found in the "sump" at the pit-bottom in a dreadfully mangled condition, and life quite extinct. Paterson was about 24 years of age, unmarried, and a native of Fifeshire. Irvine is stated to have been younger, is married, and is a native of Ayrshire. [Scotsman 10 May 1879]

October 1882

On Saturday forenoon, while a young man named John McGingan was engaged at the screen at Wester Gartshore Colliery, he was caught between one of the upright beams and a waggon brake, and so severely crushed on the head that he died in a few hours. [Scotsman 16th October 1882]

7 March 1884

On Friday afternoon, a miner named Maxwell, 19 years of age, met with a serious accident at Baird & Co's No 2 Gartshore pit, which had ended fatally. A stone had become detached from the shank of the pit, and falling upon his legs, bruised them so severely that he was taken to the Infirmary; but death ensued early on Saturday. [Scotsman 10 March 1884]

21 April 1893

Kirkintilloch - Fatal Pit Accident - Yesterday morning William Taylor, an underground manager at Lumloch Pit, Cadder, was killed by a fall from the roof while he was at work there. Taylor was superintending a number of men who were engaged shot-firing, and was returning to the place where the shot had been fired when a stone fell on his head and killed him. He was a middle-aged man, who had for many years been employed as manager in different pits in the neighbourhood, and resided in Kerr Street, Kirkintilloch. [Glasgow Herald 22 April 1893]

28 December 1907

Fatal Mining Accident At Kirkintilloch - On Saturday morning a young man named David Riddell (19), residing at Drumgrew was killed while at work in No. 11 pit Gartshore. Along with another drawer, he was taking out a rake of hutches from the working face, and had gone in front to attend to the points. Several of the hutches broke away, and although deceased made for the nearest manhole he was overtaken and so severely crushed that he died from his injuries.  [Scotsman 30 December 1907]

28 January 1916

Kirkintilloch Man Killed - Charles M'Luckie, employed at the coke ovens at Wester Gartshore Colliery, and residing at Waterside, Kirkintilloch, has died from injuries received at his work on Friday afternoon. He was 50 years of age, and leaves a widow and grown-up family. His brother, Private Robert M'Luckie, 1st Scots Guards, received the D.C.M. a fortnight ago. [Scotsman 31 January 1916]

10 February 1916

Kirkintilloch Miner Killed - James M'Guire, 40 years of age, pit-drawer at St Flannans' colliery, and residing at Black Bull Close, Kirkintilloch, has been killed while at work. He was buried in a fall from the roof. He was unmarried and resided with his widowed-mother. [Scotsman 12 February 1916]

27 September 1918

Court of Session - Miner's Smoke Leads To Explosion - Woodilee Coal and Coke Co Ltd vs Mrs Robertson - Judgement was given in an appeal, in an arbitration under the Workmen's Compensation Act between the Woodilee Coal and Coke Company (Ltd.), Lenzie, and Mrs Annie Robertson, 5 Ledgate , Kirkintilloch, widow of Kenneth Robertson, for herself and her two children. Robertson, who was a miner in the appellants employment, was personally injured by an explosion which occurred about six o'clock on Friday, 27th September 1918, while on the afternoon shift in their Meiklehill Colliery. He died as the result of his injuries. The explosion occurred on his striking a match to light his pipe, after finishing his piece, at the customary knock-off in the middle of the shift. The possession and use of matches in that pit were prohibited by the Coal Mines Act, 1911, and these prohibitions were known to Robertson. Sheriff-Substitute Kippen at Dumbarton found that the explosion was an accident arising out of and in the course of the employment and in law that the appellants were liable to pay £300 of compensation to the widow. The Division reversed that finding, holding that the deceased added a new peril to his employment by striking a match against prohibitions. What he did was for his own purpose, and was innocent enough but did not arise out of his employment. [Scotsman 21 June 1919]

3 October 1925

Croy Pit Fatality - William Law (18), pit bottomer, Barrhill Rows, Twechar, was on Saturday instantly killed in Gartshore No. 1 pit, Croy, belonging to William Baird & Co. (Ltd.) Law had tried to cross the cage at the bottom of the shaft just as it was about to ascend to the surface. He was caught and jammed between the cage and the framework of the shaft. [Scotsman 5 October 1925]

4 February 1927

Gavin Hair, miner, residing at Queenzieburn, Kilsyth, was at work at Auchenreoch Colliery yesterday morning along with his sons, when a fall from the roof occurred, burying him. A few hours elapsed before Hair was extricated. When found he was dead. Deceased returned from Canada only a short time ago. [Scotsman 5 February 1927]

29 March 1927

Peculiar Accident In Coal Mine.—William Sneddon , miner , met with a serious accident in Messrs Wm Baird & Co.'s Auchenreoch Colliery yesterday afternoon. While lying on his side at the coal face using a pick, a fall of coal unexpectedly came away, hit the pick, and drove it into his chest in the neighbourhood of the heart. He was removed to hospital in a serious condition. Sneddon, a married man, resides in Kirkintilloch. [Scotsman 30 March 1927]

23 January 1929

Kirkintilloch Miner Killed - John M'Dade (60), a miner, who resided at 36 Industry Street, Kirkintilloch, met his death in Wester Gartshore colliery early yesterday morning. While at work he was crushed by a large stone falling from the roof, his injuries being internal. Deceased was a widower. [Scotsman 24 January 1929]

11 February 1929

Kirkintilloch Miner Fatally Injured - Robert Abercrombie, miner, who was injured by a large stone falling upon him in Auchenreoch Colliery. Stirlingshire, on Saturday afternoon, yesterday succumbed to his injuries in Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Deceased, who was a young married man, resided at Kilsyth Road, Kirkintilloch. [Scotsman 12 February 1929]

20 June 1929

Kilsyth Miner Killed - James Easton, colliery oncost worker, Charles Street, Kilsyth, was yesterday afternoon instantly killed in Gartshore Pit, Croy. Easton was coming out of the workings at the finish of his shift when a stone fell upon him from the roof of the workings. Deceased was a single man, of fully seventy years of age. [Scotsman 21 June 1929]

19 August 1929

Fire Clay Pit Fatality - Charles Bryson, fireclay miner, residing at Stirling Street, Cumbernauld, was yesterday fatally injured in Messrs J. G. Stein & Co.'s Castlecary fireclay pit. He was at work below ground when a. fall of material unexpectedly occurred, and he was pinned down. Deceased, who was a married man of about 50 years of age, leaves a family of five. [Scotsman 20 August 1929]

19 October 1929

Youth Electrocuted - Kilsyth Pithead Fatality - Hugh Smith (18), apprentice electrician, son of Mr James Smith, colliery manager, 1 Barrhill, Twechar, was on Saturday electrocuted at Messrs William Baird &.Co.'s,No. 11 Gartshore Colliery, Croy. Along with another youth, he was on an iron framework connected with the electric, transformers on the pithead, about 15 feet from the ground. He was engaged cleaning the insulators, when he inadvertently touched a live wire, and was instantaneously killed. His clothing was badly burned. His companion immediately dropped to the ground and escaped injury. [Scotsman 21 October 1929]

2 November 1929

Killed In The Pit - James Neil (46), residing at Auchinloch, near Lenzie, met his death under tragic circumstances on Saturday at Messrs James Nimmo & Company 's Wester Auchingeich Colliery, Auchinairn, Bishopbriggs. Neil was engaged as a machineman, when he was buried by a fall. Assistance was procured, and the debris removed. Dr Jamieson Chryston tried artificial respiration, but life was extinct. Neil leaves a widow and two children. [Scotsman 4 November 1929]

21 November 1929

Mining Fatality - William M'Elhaney (17), miners drawer, who resided at Brick Buildings, Campsie, Stirlingshire, has succumbed to injuries received while at work in the Wester Gartshore Colliery, Eastern Dumbartonshire. The youth was caught by a runaway hutch and very severely injured. He died in the infirmary. [Scotsman 22 November 1929]

27 October 1930

Miner Electrocuted - Thomas Smith, miner, Auchinstarry, Croy, Dumbartonshire, was yesterday afternoon electrocuted in Gartshore Colliery, Croy. An electric cable had fused and fallen on to the iron plates on which Smith was standing, and the current passed through the plates and killed him instantly. Deceased was about 40 years of age, and leaves five children. [Scotsman 28 October 1930]

5 May 1933

Croy Pit Fatality - Alexander Truten (16), pithead worker, residing at Twechar, was fatally injured last night while a work at Gartshore No. 3 Colliery, Croy. He had been at work at the coal-washing plant when he was caught by a hutch and so severely injured about the neck and chest that he died almost immediately. [Scotsman 6 May 1933]

7 October 1933

Miner Fatally Injured - Hugh Keegans, miner's drawer, son of Hugh Keegans, miner, Westport Street, Kilsyth, was fatally injured when struck by a runaway hutch in Easter Gartshore No. 3 Colliery, Croy, on Saturday. He died within a few minutes of reaching the infirmary. Deceased, who was about nineteen years of age, was a very promising young football player, and was to have played in a Kilsyth District League match on Saturday afternoon, but the game was postponed at the last moment on news being received that he had succumbed to his injuries. [Scotsman 9 October 1933]

13 November 1933

Miner Killed At Croy - Peter Daly, miner, Park Lane, Kilsyth, was killed last night in Number 11 Gartshore Colliery, Croy, by a fall of material from the roof. Daly, who was about 48 years of age leaves a young family. [Scotsman 14 November 1933]

5 June 1935

Young Miner Fatally Injured - Patrick Kelly, miner, Courthill, Kilsyth, was yesterday involved in an accident with a number of hutches in Gartshore No. 11 Colliery, Eastern Dumbartonshire, and received fatal injuries. Kelly, who attained his 19th birthday yesterday, was employed as a chain-runner. [Scotsman 6 June 1935]

November 1935

The first accident occurred at Wester Gartshore Colliery, where John M'Cormack (52), a brusher, was buried by a fall of stone while working at a part of No. 1 Pit known as "Cloven Coal Section," situated approximately 1200 yards from the pit bottom. Death was certified as being due to suffocation. [Scotsman 23 November 1935]

11 February 1936

Boy Killed and Father Injured at Twechar, Dumbartonshire - David Boyd, jun.. a lad of 15 years, of Burnbrae , Twechar, Dumbartonshire, was killed in Messrs William Baird & Co.'s Easter Gartshore No. 11 Colliery Croy, on Tuesday night. He had been working alongside his father, David Boyd (42), coal cutting machineman, in a section on the backshift when an explosion took place, the boy being killed outright . The father was severely burned, but succeeded in reaching a telephone and warning the pitheadman. Rescuers who found the boy applied artificial respiration methods for an hour without success. The father was removed to the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow. The day shift lay idle yesterday as a result of the tragedy. [Scotsman 13 February 1936]

Second Death In Croy Pit Explosion - David Boyd, sen., coal cutting machineman, Burnbrae, Twechar, Dumbartonshire, has succumbed in the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, to burning injuries received in an explosion in Easter Gartshore No. 11 Colliery, Croy, last week. Deceased, who was 43 years of age, was walking along with his 15-year-old son David when the explosion occurred, the boy being killed instantaneously. The father managed to reach a telephone in the underground workings and inform officials at the pithead regarding the accident. He was immediately removed to the Infirmary, where, as stated, he has died from his injuries. [Scotsman 20 February 1936]

8 July 1936

Colliery Oversmans Fatal Accident - The death occurred yesterday in the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, of Harry Bauld, colliery oversman, Monieburgh Road, Kilsyth, who had been removed there as the result of an accident in No. 12 Easter Gartshore Colliery, Croy Dumbartonshire. A large stone which fell from the roof of the workings fractured his spine. Deceased, who was 59 years of age, leaves a wife and grown-up family. [Scotsman 9 July 1936]

22 April 1937

John Sneddon (16), colliery bencher, Cronulla Place, Kilsyth, succumbed yesterday, in the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, to injuries received in the Easter Gartshore No. 3 Colliery, Croy. He had been at work on an underground road when he was struck by a runaway hutch. [Scotsman 23 April 1937]

26 October 1937

Young Croy Miner Succumbs To Injuries - Edward Gribbon (17), colliery bencher, Hillside , Croy, succumbed in Glasgow Royal Infirmary yesterday to injuries he received on the previous clay when at Easter Gartshore No. 3 Colliery, Croy. He was knocked down by several runaway hutches. [Scotsman 27 October 1937]