| Year | Month | Day | Name of Colliery | Where situated | Owners name | Person(s) killed | Occupation | Age | Category (if given) | Cause of death and remarks | Extra Information |
| 1873 | January | 10 | Cromlet | New Monkland, LKS | Thomas Jackson | Hugh Richardson | Collier | 30 | Falls of Roof | Fall of roof while repairing the drawing road | |
| 1873 | January | 14 | Tigethaugh | Denny | Wm Baird & Co | Joseph Quin | Miner | -- | In Ironstone mines- Falls of Coal & Roof | Fall of roof | |
| 1873 | January | 20 | Addiewell | West Calder, Edinburgh | Youngs Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Co Ltd | John Miles | Labourer | 52 | In Shale mines | Jammed between two wagons | |
| 1873 | January | 23 | Cowdenbeath | Beath, FIF | Cowdenbeath Coal Co. | Robt. Crighton | Joiner | -- | Miscellaneous on surface | Crushed by an engine-beam. He was about to do some work to a window, and forgot the beam was in motion | |
| 1873 | January | 31 | Lodge | Slamannan, STI | John Watson | Chas. Melville | Bottomer | -- | Falling from part way down | He fell from a mid-working (splint coal) to the bottom a distance of 14 ½ fathoms | |
| 1873 | February | 4 | Thrashbush | Bothwell, LKS | Thrashbush Coal Co | J Bernard Toll | Collier | -- | Falls of Roof | Fall of roof at “stoops” | |
| 1873 | February | 6 | Linridge | New Monkland, LKS | Forrester & Robson | John Cowan | Collier | 19 | Falls of Coal | Fall of coal at face | |
| 1873 | February | 7 | Kenmure No 2 | Tollcross | James Dunlop & Co | James Moodie | Collier | 18 | Miscellaneous | Inundation of water from an adjoining pit | The first is of a sad and painful nature ; it was occasioned by an inundation of water, and created a great deal of excitement at the time of its occurrence. The scene of this disaster, Kenmure No. 2 pit, situated near Glasgow, is 75 fathoms deep, and the workings in "Main" and Ell Coal," about 7 fathoms apart, were separated by a barrier of coal from an abandoned mine, No. 1, situated to the "rise," lying full of water. The situation of the "waste" was well known, and upwards of a year before the accident it was tapped in the Ell Coal seam at A on plan. The water was not run off, but preparations were in course for the purpose of withdrawing it to an adjoining shaft at a lower level, No. 1 pit Bogleshole, where suitable arrangements were made for pumping it. The deceased, Archd. McBeth, and his companion, James Moodie, were engaged forming a continuous course for the water from the main coal to the splint, and this was to be accomplished by means of two large bore holes near to each other, one of which was completed at S. The deceased were about 110 fathoms distant from the shaft, and the first indication of danger was discovered at the completed bore hole, by the parties on the opposite side, who were working at or near the lower end of it. They felt an unusual rush of air through the bore hole, and called M'Beth's attention to it, who, with Moodie, apparently lost no time in rushing to the pit bottom; but the water had unquestionably reached that point before them, and as there was little or no "standage" there, it would rise rapidly. The engineman heard four distinct signals given a little after the time the accident must have happened, and after making the return signal twice, without receiving the usual ascent signal one, he lifted the cage, which was empty. Though some account for the signals being made by the water and stones falling from the "Ell Coal" upon the handle of the signal hammer, I think there can be no doubt that the deceased reached the pit bottom, and that the signal four was made by them in desperation, and no doubt meant first three, and then one to raise the cage. The water which of course came from the "Ell Coal" would rush down the shaft with tremendous force, and the slight delay in raising the cage appears to have cut off their last chance of escape. It is true the cross-cut mine from the Main to the Ell Coal, M. M., would have led them to the outlet, but I think it is very likely they would remain as long as possible at the pit bottom trusting to being raised, and before they thought of the cross-cut, the water would be so high as to prevent their escape by it, and, if so, they had no chance after the water rose in the pit bottom but to retreat to the "rise" in the Main Coal as the water rose in the workings. There is evidence that they advanced to the "rise" part of the works to which the water did not reach, and afterwards returned as the water subsided, and from the place the bodies were found, at F, a point to which the water could not have abated in less than 14 days after the accident, there is undoubted proof that they lived for 14 days or more. They were found lying together, with one of their jackets partly covering both of them, and my belief is, that after enduring for at least 14 days the pangs of hunger, and the bitter anguish of despairing hope, they at last succumbed to the vitiated air of the mine. A melancholy interest is attached to one of the flasks found beside the bodies, such as underground workmen use for carrying tea. I did not see it, but I understand that the following, supposed to have been written in darkness with a nail or pin, was intelligible, and must have been written by M'Beth, his companion being unmarried : “My dear wife, long after you and all other people thought we were dead I had great hopes of seeing you. I bid you farewell, hoping God will comfort and take care of you and them.” (Meaning the children.) In this case the management was misled by the plan of the No. 1 pit, which did not truly represent the extent of the workings. [See Fig] |
| Archd McBeth | Collier | 30 | |||||||||
| 1873 | February | 15 | Chalmerston No 3 | Dalmellington | Dalmellington Iron Co | John Wilson | Collier | 19 | Falls of Coal & Roof | Fall of roof | |
| 1873 | February | 15 | Jelliston No 2 | Dalmellington | Dalmellington Iron Co | Pat Pindergrass | Pony driver | 40 | Miscellaneous | Fell before hutches and was found under them | |
| 1873 | February | 18 | Cliftonhall No 2 | Coatdyke | Cliftonhall Coal Co | Peter Robertson | Bencher at top of plane | 14 | Miscellaneous | Was run over by two hutches upon the incline | |
| 1873 | February | 20 | Hayside | Kilmarnock | James Oastler & Co | William Tympany | Drawer | 42 | In Shafts | By falling from a mid-working. 10 fathoms | At this mine, Hayside, two seams of coal are worked, the "main" and "splint," the former being situated ten fathoms above the latter. The deceased was a "drawer" or "putter," and was employed in the upper seam. It appears that on the day of the accident he went with a loaded hutch to the pit, but unfortunately in the absence of the cage he pushed it into the open shaft, and fell to the bottom with it, a distance of ten fathoms. There was no bottomer to direct the drawers, but each placed his own hutch upon the cage, and made the required signals. By the 14th General Rule of the statute it was the duty of the owners to provide a fence at the midworking in the Main Coal seam, so as to prevent drawers and others from passing inadvertently into the shaft, but this they failed to do. They were charged with a contravention of the 14th General Rule, the case was tried by Sheriff Anderson in the Court-house, Kilmarnock, they were found guilty, fined in £2 10s, each, with the alternative of suffering ten days' imprisonment. Newspaper Report |
| 1873 | February | 20 | Springwells | New Monkland, LKS | Dundas Simpson | Wm Sewcing | Bottomer | -- | Miscellaneous on surface | Fell from scaffold at pit top on to the rails. The place is now fenced all around | |
| 1873 | February | 23 | Starryshaw | Thomas McInnes | Not listed in report | Shotts pages - newspaper report | |||||
| 1873 | February | 24 | Dykehead | James Reid McGuire | Not listed in report | Death certificate only - with thanks to Janice Bryans for this information | |||||
| 1873 | February | 27 | Dykehead | Hamilton, LKS | Summerlee Iron Co | Gardner Bell | Roadsman | -- | Falls of Roof | Fall of roof. A prop was knocked out accidentally by a tub he was drawing | Newspaper Report |
| 1873 | February | 28 | Calderhead | Shotts, LKS | Shotts Iron Co | Peter Smith | Roadsman | -- | Falls of Roof | Fall of roof | [Actually Robert Smith - with thanks to Janice Bryans for this information] Shotts pages - newspaper report |
| 1873 | March | 1 | Gartshore, No 1 | Kilsyth | Wm Baird & Co | John McNaught | Fireman | -- | In Ironstone mines - In Shafts | Was fatally injured while changing a bucket | |
| 1873 | March | 4 | Ayr (Gadgirth) | Ayr | Geo Taylor & Co | Edw. W. Crorie | Collier | 40 | Falls of Coal & Roof | Fall of roof at face. | |
| 1873 | March | 4 | Overtown Station | Cambusnethan, LKS | James Waddell | Richard Hodge | Collier | -- | On inclined planes | Jammed by a train of loaded hutches | |
| 1873 | March | 6 | Kinneil | Bo'ness, Linlithgow | George Wilson & Co | John Bow | Collier | 38 | Falls of Roof | Fall of roof in the drawing road | |
| 1873 | March | 10 | Benhar | Shotts, LKS | Robert Addie & Sons | Robt. Salisburgh | Miner | -- | In Ironstone mines | Fall of stone from roof at face | |
| 1873 | March | 11 | Bartonholm No 3 | Kilwinning | Eglinton Iron Co | Hugh McGowan | Pit-head man | 46 | In Shafts | Fell into the shaft while putting wood upon the cage | |
| 1873 | March | 13 | Drumpeller, No 4 | Coatbridge, LKS | Henderson & Dimmack | John Scullion | Collier | 56 | Falls of Coal & Roof | Fall of coal | |
| 1873 | March | 14 | Coalheughglen | Dalry | Merry & Cunningham | Thomas McIvor | Miner | -- | In Ironstone mines - In Shafts | Crane got out of gear and he was precipitated to the bottom of the shaft | |
| 1873 | March | 22 | Neilston | Kilsyth | James Wallace & Co | Wm. Hamilton | Asst. fireman | 22 | Explosions | Explosion of fire damp. | The first took place in a part of a mine which from some cause had become untravellable ; the ventilation was weak, and firedamp had collected in it. The deceased, for the purpose of making some temporary alterations with the view of improving the ventilation, attempted to go in to it without a light, but unfortunately ventured beyond the limit of safety, and before he could be extricated had succumbed to the noxious gases with which the place was filled. |
| 1873 | April | 3 | Huttonhill | Dalziel, LKS | Scott & Livingstone | Alex Adams | Collier | -- | Falling from part way down | He fell from a mid-working (ell coal) with a hutch to the bottom, a depth of 14 fathoms. The place is now fenced | |
| 1873 | April | 5 | Stonelaw, No 1 | Rutherglen | J R Reid | James Simpson | Drawer | 14 | Falls of Coal & Roof | Fall of stone on drawing road | |
| 1873 | April | 8 | Shieldmuir | Dalziel, LKS | Summerlee Iron Co | Robt. Kilpatrick | Collier | -- | Falls of Roof | Fall of roof at the face. The stone came with the coal which he was bringing down | |
| 1873 | April | 12 | Auldton | Dalserf, LKS | Andrew Spencer | James Kerr | Collier | -- | Falls of Coal | Fall of coal at the “stoops” | |
| 1873 | April | 13 | Cambusnethan | Cambusnethan, LKS | D & J Sneddon | John Gibb | ----- | -- | Falling from part way down | Fell from the ell coal, 8 fathoms to the bottom, while repairing the shaft | |
| 1873 | April | 15 | Auchintrarvie No 3 | Saltcoats | Kenneth & Whitefield | Robt. McTadzean | Boy | 14 | Falls of Coal & Roof | Fall of roof at face. | |
| 1873 | April | 21 | Cambuslang | Cambuslang | Archd. Russell | Richd. McGinn | Redsman | -- | Falls of Coal & Roof | Fall of roof | |
| 1873 | April | 21 | Gartnavel, No 7 | Maryhill | Robert Addie & Sons | James Todd | Drawer | -- | In Ironstone mines | Fell with a hutch down an ironstone bing | |
| 1873 | April | 22 | Shieldmuir | Dalziel, LKS | Glasgow Iron Co | John Smith | ----- | 35 | Falls of Roof | He was drawing props in the main coal seam when one sprang out and struck him on the breast | Newspaper report |
| 1873 | April | 29 | Allanton | Hamilton, LKS | Austine & Co | And. Meikle | Hutch runner | 50 | Miscellaneous on surface | Fell from scaffold at the “lift” for bringing coals when the cage was down | Newspaper - Hamilton pages |
| 1873 | May | 3 | Cambuslang | Cambuslang | Archd. Russell | John Mellay | Collier | -- | Miscellaneous | Fell from a train of loaded hutches | |
| 1873 | May | 13 | Thankerton | Bothwell, LKS | Monkland Iron & Coal Co Ltd | James Gray | Boy | -- | Miscellaneous on surface | By wagons passing over him while thoughtlessly creeping through beneath them | |
| 1873 | May | 14 | Lanemark, No 1 | N Cumnock | Lanemark Coal Co | Andrew Rae | Collier | -- | Falls of Coal & Roof | Leg injured by a fall, and amputated. Died from the effects of the injuries | |
| 1873 | May | 15 | Airdriehill | New Monkland, LKS | Wm Black & sons | John Reid | Brusher | -- | Falls of Roof | Fall of roof in the road which he was “brushing” | |
| 1873 | May | 16 | Blairhall | Culross, PER | Carron Iron Co | William Stein | Sinker | -- | In Ironstone mines | While filling the “kettle” after a shot, in a sinking pit, a stone fell on him | |
| 1873 | May | 16 | Shieldmuir | Cambusnethan, LKS | Summerlee Iron Co | Pat Larken | Collier | -- | Falls of Coal | Fall of coal at the “stoops” | |
| 1873 | May | 20 | Cluny | Kirkcaldy, FIF | Anderson & Goodall | John Rankine | Sinker | -- | In shafts – ropes & chains breaking | By breaking of a crane rope they fell 8 or 9 fathoms. The rope was completely decayed at the point of fracture, it was 6 years old and had been laying 3 years in a store | |
| John Rankine | Sinker | -- | |||||||||
| 1873 | May | 28 | Bogleshole No 4 | Tollcross | James Dunlop & Co | James Allan | Driver | 15 | Miscellaneous | Was run over by hutches | |
| 1873 | May | 29 | Lochgelly | Lochgelly, FIF | Lochgelly Iron & Coal Co | Angus Low | Incline bottomer | 13 | By tubs and trams | The chain of the incline broke, and he was struck by one of the tubs | |
| 1873 | May | 30 | Govan No 6 | Glasgow | W S Dixon | Chas. Kean | Roadsman | 50 | Falls of Coal & Roof | Fall of roof while engaged securing it | |
| 1873 | May | 31 | Redding | Polmont, STI | Redding Colliery Co | James Easton | Loco. Brakesman | 21 | Miscellaneous on surface | He was thrown off a “race” of wagons, and run over by one of them | |
| 1873 | May | 31 | Souterhouse No 2 | Coatbridge, LKS | Souterhouse Coal Co | John Battles | Bencher | 24 | Miscellaneous | Was run over by a hutch at the foot of an incline | |
| 1873 | June | 5 | Addiewell | West Calder, Edinburgh | Youngs Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Co Ltd | James Black | Sinker | -- | In Shale mines | Squeezed against a “bunton” at the pit-head whilst ascending a sinking pit in a “kettle” | |
| 1873 | June | 6 | Kerse | Lochwinnoch | Hamilton & McGinnes | David Hunter | Collier | 24 | Falls of Coal & Roof | Fall of coal at face | |
| 1873 | June | 9 | Rameldrie | Markinch, FIF | James Thomas | Robt. Gourdie | Assistant banksman | -- | Falling into shaft from surface | For want of thought, he ran a tub into the shaft when the cage was at the bottom, and he fell with it. There were no gates on the pit mouth. The cages had only been in operation for two days and the gates were not finished. | |
| 1873 | June | 23 | Rosehall No 3 | Coatbridge, LKS | Robert Addie & Sons | Michl. Downie | Fireman | 35 | Explosions | Explosion of fire damp. | The second was occasioned by sheer carelessness; the victim was the regular fireman, whose duty it was to descend the pit and examine the working places before the workmen were allowed to enter to their work. It is supposed that in making his round of examination he had, with the utmost apparent indifference to results, used an open light, and on coming unexpectedly in contact with an accumulation of gas it exploded, and he was fatally injured. |
| 1873 | June | 24 | Kilmux | Kennoway, FIF | Glasgow Iron Co | Ed. Brown | Miner | -- | In Ironstone mines | Fall of stone from roof at face | |
| 1873 | June | 24 | Overtown Station | Cambusnethan, LKS | James Waddell | David Armstrong | Collier | Falls of Coal | Fall of coal at face | ||
| 1873 | June | 28 | Common, No 5 | Cumnock | Eglinton Iron Co | John Clark | Miner | 36 | In Ironstone mines- Falls of Coal & Roof | Fall of roof at face. |
