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1881 Deaths listed in Mine Inspectors Report

This table is compiled from appendices to the reports of the Inspector of Mines and Collieries. Unless stated otherwise, the extra details are from the main body of the report.

Please note the copy of the report that these transcriptions are taken from was very poor quality

Names not listed in the inspectors report are highlighted in red

Year Month Day Name of Colliery Where situated Owner or Company Person(s) killed Surname Occupation Age Category Cause of accident and remarks Extra details
1881 January 3 Baton Shotts, Lanark Shotts Iron Co Thos. Docherty Screenman -- Miscellaneous on surface Jammed between two empty waggons at screens  
1881 January 4 Fauldhouse No 12 Whitburn, Linlithgow Wm Dixon Ltd Hugh McCoul Drawer 12 1/2 In ironstone mines Fall of roof while filling a hutch at face. Long wall  
1881 January 5 Devon, Furnace Bank pit Clackmannan Alloa Coal Co Wm. Moodie Manager 56 In shafts – falling from part way down Washed off a bunton into 50 fathoms of water. The pump had ceased to discharge water, and the sinkers were going to look at the bucket at the clack-door, which had been taken off. When the bucket was lowered to the door water rushed out upon him unexpectedly.  
1881 January 11 Fairybank No 2 Newhouse, Holytown Miller and Henderson Thos. Gibson Driver 14 Falls of roof On horse road; long wall  
1881 January 25 Broxburn, Hayscraig mine Uphall, Linlithgow Broxburn Oil Co Ltd Wm. Armstrong Miner 29 In shale mines While riding up the mine, between two water barrels, his head struck the roof. It was against orders to ride on the incline.  
1881 January 26 Newbattle, Shaw's pit Newbattle, Edinburgh Marquis of Lothian Peter Allan Collier 53 Falls of sides While “shearing” a part of the “mid” coal fell. Stoop and room  
1881 February 7 Chapelside No 2 New Monkland, Lanark Ferrier & Strain John King Drawer 18 In shafts – falling from part way down Fell with a hutch from Kiltongue (mid-working) to Drumgray seam. There was a gate, but it had been left open.  
1881 February 19 Burnbank & Ladyton Galston Boyd, Gilmour & Co. John Brown Collier 17 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1881 February 22 Braehead Lugar Eg. Iron Co. James Collins Brusher 38 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1881 February 27 Cadder No 15 Bishopbriggs Carron Iron Co James Lynch Drawer 30 Explosion of fire damp Explosion of firedamp The first [explosion of firedamp] happened to a young man, a drawer, who it appears, had gone into an abandoned mine used sometimes as a “stow” road, and partly filled with debris, in which there was no circulation of air beyond a few feet past the entrance. He ignited some firedamp, and was so severely injured by the explosion that he died next day from the effects therof. The fireman admitted that he had not been in the road for a some days previous to the explosion, that it was used as a “stow” road, and previous to the accident firedamp was not known to exist in it. He was charged at the instance of the Procurator Fiscal with culpable violation, or neglect of duty as fireman, and having failed or neglected before the men entered, to examine the mine as required by the 34th Special Rule, or otherwise with failing or neglecting to place a fence across entrance of said mine. He pled guilty to the first alternative charge, and was fined the sum of 60s., failing payment to suffer 21 days imprisonment.
1881 February 28 Donibristle, Isabella pit Aberdour, Fife Grieve & Nasmyth Geo. Beveridge Inclinesman 54 Miscellaneous underground – on inclined planes Jammed by runaway hutch at foot of incline (cut chain)  
1881 March 2 Lumphinnans No 7 Ballingry, Fife Lumphinnans Iron Co John Bowman Collier 16 Falls of roof At roadhead, six feet from face; long wall  
1881 March 5 Carfin No 2 Bothwell, Lanark Carfin Coal Co Charles Law Collier 43 Falls of roof At face; long wall Newspaper report
1881 March 10 Camp Wilkieson Wm. Torrance Laurence Murray Miner 35 In metalliferous mines Fall of a block of limestone at face  
1881 March 12 Meadowhead No 3 Dalziel, Lanark Glasgow Iron Co James Lindsay Bottomer 20 Miscellaneous in shafts While adjusting a hutch on the cage a signal was accidentally given, and deceased was squeezed between the cage and door-heads  
1881 March 14 North Motherwell No 2 Dalziel, Lanark Merry & Cunninghame John Queen Collier 29 In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery Fell out of cage while ascending from his work with two others, it was supposed in a fainting fit.  
1881 March 24 Brownyside No1 New Monkland, Lanark Wm Black & Sons John Black Brusher 50 Falls of roof At face of brushing while putting in a building; long wall  
1881 March 28 Dolphingstone, No 2 Prestonpans, Haddington Prestongrange Coal & Iron Co Ltd John Cullen Collier -- Miscellaneous underground – on inclined planes Jammed by a runaway hutch at foot of incline  
1881 March 29 Leven No 1 Wemyss, Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd Robt. Gillies Wagon shifter -- Miscellaneous on surface While shifting a loaded waggon his head came in contact with a steam pipe. He was riding on the wrong side of the waggon.  
1881 March 31 Stonecraigs No 4 Cambusnethan, Lanark Coltness Iron Co Adam Mains Driver 18 Miscellaneous underground – by tubs and trams Hutches went off rails at a curve, and he was jammed against side. He had neglected to put in all the snibbles.  
1881 April 2 Barrwood No 2 Kilsyth W Baird & Co James Mitchell Collier 36 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1881 April 7 Greenhead No 3 Cambusnethan, Lanark Coltness Iron Co John Hamilton Bottomer 66 Miscellaneous in shafts Cage came down on him while crossing cage seat. There was a good road by the side of shaft.  
1881 April 7 Niddrie, No 11 Liberton, Edinburgh Benhar Coal Co Ltd Robt. Spiers Collier -- Miscellaneous underground – explosions of gunpowder Shot had exploded; he was found dead. Stoop and room. Edge coal  
1881 April 9 Addiewell No 2 Muirhall West Calder, Edinburgh Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Co Ltd Jas. McAvoy Miner 36 In shale mines Struck by empty hutch at top of an incline plane. The hutches were lowered and raised by gravity, and he allowed the empty to go past the landing at the face. It contained two props, and one of these or the hutch jammed him.  
1881 April 11 Shawfield Carluke, Lanark John Wilson Alex Scott Wagon shifter -- Miscellaneous on surface He was attempting to pass between two waggons while the locomotive was shunting a train, and was squeezed between the buffers Newspaper Report
1881 April 12 Motherwell No 4 Hamilton, Lanark John Watson John Waugh Collier 23 Falls of roof While drawing props at the stooping in main coal Newspaper Report
1881 April 15 Cleland No 3 Bothwell, Lanark Wm Dixon Ltd Terence Reilly Collier 55 Falls of sides While “holing” the coal and “falling” fell upon him. Long wall  
1881 April 16 Highfield No 2 Beith M & Cunningham John Allen Miner 48 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1881 April 20 Brownlee Carluke, Lanark Archd. Russell Robt. Scott Collier -- Falls of sides While “holing” at the stooping a piece of coal fell upon him. Died 4th May. Stoop and room  
1881 April 22 Westfield West Calder Wm Baird & Co Sylvester Morrison Miner 25 In metalliferous mines Fall of limestone at face  
1881 April 30 Afton, Old Main's pit Alloa, Clackmannan Alloa Coal Co Joseph Hunter Yates Collier 45 Falls of roof At face while taking off coal; long wall  
1881 May 2 Hurlford No 18 Hurlford A Gilmour & Co Jos. McKillop Collier 29 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal  
1881 May 2 Largoward No 1 Kilconquhar, Fife Thos. Brown & Sons Thomas Smith Collier 32 Falls of sides At face, while “holing” the coal. Long wall  
1881 May 3 Carfin No 7 Bothwell, Lanark Wm Dixon Ltd James Cairney Collier 24 In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery The accident happened in a new shaft. The deceased and two others were breaking away the levels in the main coal before cages were put in. While ascending at end of shift, a wrong signal was given, and deceased fell off the kettle while it was going too quickly.  
1881 May 7 Caprington No 35 Kilmarnock W S Cunningham Chas. Houston Collier 20 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1881 May 10 Govan No 5 Glasgow W S Dixon Edw. O'Neil Brusher 50 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof. Died on 23rd June  
1881 May 10 Govan No 6 Glasgow W S Dixon Andw. Izatt Collier 24 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal Newspaper report
1881 May 14 Arniston, Emily pit Cockpen, Edinburgh Arniston Coal Co Robt. Simpson Collier 50 Falls of sides While drawing the sprags from the coal it fell upon him. Great seam. Stoop and room  
1881 May 23 Kilbirnie No 31 Dalry M & Cunningham Hugh Grant Miner 21 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof at face  
1881 May 23 Newbattle, Engine pit Newbattle, Edinburgh Marquis of Lothian Alex Lawson Shaftsman 30 Miscellaneous in shafts Jammed between cage and landing at a mid-working. His foot slipped while in the act of signalling. Newspaper report
1881 May 23 (?Illegible) Dalharco No 2 Dalmellington Dalmellington Iron Co Thos Johnstone Trimmer 22 Above ground Fell across the rails accidentally whilst “breaking” a waggon Was run over by a waggon which he was shifting at the scree, and endeavouring to “brake.”
1881 May 27 Ferniegare No 1 Hamilton, Lanark Archd. Russell John McKendrick Fireman 48 Falls of roof While drawing props at the stooping in main coal Newspaper report
1881 June 9 Polkemmet Whitburn, Linlithgow Coltness Iron Co David Struthers Miner 36 In ironstone mines Fall of roof on main road. Long wall  
1881 June 10 (? Illegible) Burgh No 1 Irvine M & Cunningham John Boyd Pitheadman 29 In shafts Fell off a scaffold whilst engaged putting in a “gable” Along with a neighbour workman, was being lowered upon a scaffold, in a shaft being sunk, with materials for securing the guide rods, when the scaffold on which they were standing suddenly canted, and they were both thrown down; the deceased fell away and onwards to the bottom of the shaft, a distance of 110 yards, whilst his neighbour retained his hold of the chain and was rescued uninjured. As to the cause of the accident, apparently one side of the scaffold had got slightly jammed, and afterwards dropped, it is supposed, 6 feet.
1881 June 11 Auldhouseburn Muirkirk John Watson James Gilmour Roadsman 26 In shafts Fell off the cage as appeared to his fellow workmen in a swoon So far as I could learn, fell off the cage, where he had been engaged with the oversman repairing the shaft, whilst in a fainting fit or swoon.
1881 June 11 (?illegible) Mainhill No 1 Baillieston W Baird & Co MIchael Cowen Brusher 26 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof whilst building under it  
1881 June 13 Craigmark No 1 Dalmellington Dalmellington Iron Co James Smith Collier 38 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal. Injured on the 7th; died on the 13th  
1881 June 23 (?Illegible) Redburn No 4 Kilwinning Eg. Iron Co. Andw. Stewart Collier 17 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof on main drawing road  
1881 June 23 Garriongill No 7 Cambusnethan, Lanark Coltness Iron Co Andrew Rae Fireman 38 Miscellaneous underground – by tubs and trams He was connecting the pump rod to a crank, and another crank in motion squeezed him against an upright post.  
1881 June 30 Loanhead, Ramsay pit Lasswade, Edinburgh Shotts Iron Co Robt. Jones Collier 53 In shafts – falling from part way down Fell with a hutch down incline. Edge coal  
1881 July 1 Commondyke No 1 Lugar Eg. Iron Co. Peter Mains Miner 45 Falls of roof & sides Fall of ironstone  
1881 July 5 Kinneil, Snab pit Bownees, Linlithgow [Bo'ness] Kinneil Iron Co Richd. Sneddon Drawer 33 Miscellaneous underground – on inclined planes While turning an empty tub at top of incline it got away and carried him down the incline  
1881 July 13 Flemington Cambuslang Flemington Coal Co James Corrigan Collier 52 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof Newspaper Report
1881 July 14 Muiredge, Rosie pit Buckhaven, Fife Bowman & Co William Semple Fireman -- Miscellaneous in shafts He was assisting the bottomer, and while pulling the second empty tub out the cage was lifted, and he was squeezed against the door-heads. The bottomer said no signal was given, but the engineman said there was one made.  
1881 July 15 Auchenraith Blantyre, Lanark Merry & Cunningham Jas. Beacroft Shot firer -- Miscellaneous underground – explosions of gunpowder Shot had exploded; he was found dead. Long wall Newspaper Report
1881 July 15 Pentland Loanhead, near Edinburgh Clippens Oil Co Ltd Thos. Connelly Miner 30 In shale mines Fall of shale.  
1881 July 20 Twechar No 2 Kilsyth W Baird & Co Jas. Abercrombie Miner 34 Falls of roof & sides Fall of ironstone  
1881 July 28 Bellfield Hurlford Bellfield Coal Co. Wm. Gold Collier 40 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal. Injured on the 24th; died on the 28th  
1881 August 3 North Motherwell No 5 Dalziel, Lanark Merry & Cunninghame William Reid Screenman 18 Miscellaneous on surface Jammed between a waggon upon which he was riding and a scaffold; at screens  
1881 August 6 Clydesdale, No 3 Cambusnethan, Lanark Archd. Russell Alex. Wotherspoon Stone picker 14 Miscellaneous on surface Fell off the buffers of a waggon which was being shifted forward at screen. It is supposed that he struck the scaffold.  
1881 August 6 Earnock No 1 Hamilton, Lanark John Watson Daniel Gray Driver 27 Miscellaneous underground – by tubs and trams He was in front of a train of loaded hutches; his foot slipped, and he fell in before them  
1881 August 11 Bogleshole No 4 Tollcross Jas Dunlop & Co. Thomas Swan Collier 75 In shafts Fell from the cage whilst ascending; he had worked 68 years in pits Happened to an aged workman who, it was reported, had been employed for upwards of 65 years in mines; he was being raised on the cage with a neighbour workman, and when about 16 fathoms up he suddenly fell away. It is possible that he may have been taken suddenly ill and fallen away. It was the opinion, however, of his neighbour that he had overbalanced himself whilst endeavouring to adjust his dress or fasten a belt which he wore round his waist.
1881 August 12 Eldin No 1 Bonnyrigg, Edinburgh Eldin Colliery Co Thos. Dawson Bottomer 40 Falls of roof On road, within four yards of shaft (New pit); long wall  
1881 August 22 Bredisholm No 2 Bothwell, Lanark Provanhall Coal Co Ed. McGraw Shaftsman 30 In shafts – falling from part way down Fell from main coal to splint coal. He was incautiously stepping across the corner of winding shaft, when the cage struck him  
1881 August 24 Twechar No 1 Kilsyth W Baird & Co Wm. Ross Miner 27 Miscellaneous underground By blasting Took place by some misunderstanding as to the time when a shot was to be fired, and the unfortunate sufferer, being within the range of the shot, got severely injured, and died from the effects thereof two days after.
1881 August 25 Rawyards No 4 New Monkland, Lanark Rawyards Coal Co Ltd James Dallett Brusher 40 Falls of roof At face of brushing. The stone fell while he was knocking out props from under it to make the shot work better; long wall  
1881 August 29 North Motherwell No 2 Dalziel, Lanark Merry & Cunninghame Alex Jack Roadsman 30 Falls of roof On drawing road at a junction; long wall Newspaper Report
John Brooks Roadsman 25
John Mulligan Collier 18
1881 August 29 Orchard Giffnock Baird and Stevenson Patrick Fox Miner 24 In metalliferous mines Fall of roof  
1881 September 8 Stepends No 1 Cumnock Eg. Iron Co. Alex Steel Miner 21 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1881 September 9 Enterkine No 9 Ayr G Taylor & Co. Alex Park Collier 32 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1881 September 12 Cowdenbeath No 3 Beath, Fife Cowdenbeath Coal Co James Allan Brusher 26 Falls of roof While repairing a road within 30 yards of the shaft; long wall Newspaper Report
1881 September 14 Overtown No 3 Cambusnethan, Lanark John Wilson Hugh Mullen Stoker 45 In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery He went down in the cage to get water in the shaft, and, after signalling to ascend, is supposed to have fallen off.  
1881 September 17 Craignethan Lesmahagow, LKS Craignethan Gas Coal Co Wm. Steel Chain runner 14 Miscellaneous underground – on inclined planes Run over by tubs on an engine plane  
1881 September 18 Annandale No 9 Kilmarnock A Finnie & Son Thos. Stewart Collier 17 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1881 September 18 Calderbank No 2 Baillieston P Hall Coal Co Henry Lafferty Collier 20 Explosion of fire damp Explosion of firedamp The third explosion occurred much in the same way as the first described. The deceased, when passing the entrance to a place not at the time in course of extension, either for some reason or inadvertently, went into it, and ignited some gas, by which he was injured, and died from the effects a few days after. In this case the fireman admitted that when he made his examination he found a little gas, but had displaced it. This, however, did not prevent it collecting again as there was not sufficient brattice to maintain a circulation of air, under the circumstances the proper course would have been to ventilate the place.
1881 September 19 Lucknow Stevenston Eg. Iron Co. Wm. Wallace Collier 56 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1881 September 26 East Plean Bannockburn Paterson & Thomson Chas. Stevenson Collier 14 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1881 September 28 Gartshore No 2 Kilsyth W Baird & Co James Star Miner 21 In shafts Overwinding by an unauthorised engineman Two [accidents due to overwinding] happened when the regular engineman were not working the engine. It would scarcely be correct to state they were absent, for they were near, but practically speaking the engine was not being worked under their control, but by persons who had nothing to do with the machinery. Referring to the first, the overman of the pit, at the change of a shift, apparently with the concurrence of the regular engineman, in reply to a signal from below, commenced to raise the cage with two workmen upon it, and continued to raise it above the usual landing. One of the men was seriously injured by being drawn over the pulley, but his neighbour leapt or fell from the cage and down the shaft, a distance of 256 yards, and was killed. [See also Dec 24 1881]
1881 September 30 Barrwood No 2 Kilsyth W Baird & Co James Irvine furnaceman 18 Above ground Got entangled with the machinery Got entangled with the pumping machinery whilst attempting to enter the enginehouse in an irregular way.
1881 September 30 Genclelland No 1 Dalziel, Lanark Kerr & Mitchell William Linn Collier 27 Explosion of fire damp Gas was lying in a hole within 6 feet of the side of the road which deceased used, and he ignited it as he passed. He died in the Infirmary. The fireman said he found no gas in the morning  
1881 September 30 Hamilton Hill No 2 Glasgow Stone Coal Co John Faulds Sinker 42 In shafts While looking over the cage he came in contact with a bunten, and fell down the shaft Whilst looking over the cage when in motion, came in contact with a “bunton” and fell down the shaft.
1881 September 31 Pennyvenie No1 Dalmellington Dalmellington Iron Co James O'Neil Collier 32 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1881 October 4 Camp No 2 Dalziel, Lanark J Williams & Co David Brown Brusher 50 Falls of roof At face of brushing while drawing props from below it; long wall  
1881 October 5 Knightswood No 9 Maryhill Summerlee Iron Co John Hay Collier 26 Explosion of fire damp Explosion of firedamp The second [explosion of firedamp] occurred in a mine which was in the act of being opened up, the only work at the time being of a preparatory kind, such as arranging pitbottom, and forming a second means of egress. At the time of the accident there was only one place in the course of extension. It appears that the deceased, two brothers, had contracted to carry on the work with three shifts in the 24 hours. The first shift commenced at 6am, the second at 2pm, and the third at 10pm. In this way the work was carried on continuously in shifts of eight hours, the only cessation being from Saturday night till Monday morning. I understand that it was customary for the overman, who at the time also acted as fireman, to be the first to go down the pit on the Monday mornings, and examine the mine before the first shift commenced, but as each shift was relieved by the one that followed it no further special examination was made during the week. The continuity of the work was interrupted by the illness of one of the workmen, and on the morning of the accident when the deceased reached the pit, they apparently, without let or hindrance, got possession of a safety lamp, and went to their work. They were the only person in the mine, and it was stated by the engineman that when they left him to go on the cage to be lowered, they had a safety lamp, lighted, and also carried an open light, and I believe with these they entered the mine. After leaving the pit bottom they had gone towards their working place, where they encountered the fire damp, which produced the explosion, and which, in all probability, was ignited by one of their open lights. A fall of roof had taken place during the night, about 12 yards back from the face, which deranged the brattice, and this, in all likelihood, was the cause of the accumulation of firedamp. The quantity of gas, considering the contracted space, and the amount of damage done, could not be great. The deceased were both badly burned, and though rescued alive died soon after from the effects of the injuries. It appears that previous to the accident no accumulation of gas had been known to exist, and the workmen used open lights. It was known to the fireman that deceased had at least on one occasion, after a cessation of work, entered the mine before an examination was made. He failed to check this irregularity, and on that account was charged by the Procurator Fiscal with contravention of the special rules. The engineman whose duty it was to prevent any person descending into the mine until the fireman had reported the safety of doing so, was also charged with a violation of the special rules, they were both tried, found guilty, and fine 40s each, or suffer 30 days imprisonment.
Baird Hay Collier 24
1881 October 6 Bank N. Cumnock Bank Coal Co David Stevenson Collier 36 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal. Injured on the 30th ult.  
1881 October 8 Muirhead No 3 Shotts, Lanark Coltness Iron Co David White Oversman 48 In ironstone mines While changing a bucket, the rope on which it was suspended broke, and the bucket carried away the scaffold on which he was standing. Newspaper Report
1881 October 8 Muirhouses Near Linlithgow Muirhouses Coal Co Ltd Jos. Rae Sinker 27 In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery While he was stepping on the kettle the rope slipped off the drum and he fell down the shaft  
1881 October 9 Glenclelland Dalziel, Lanark Kerr & Mitchell John McLaren Collier 43 Falls of sides At stooping in main coal  
1881 October 13 Shields No 1 Dalziel, Lanark James Wood John Reid Driver 15 Miscellaneous underground – by tubs and trams He was walking behind a race of hutches when some others ran amain and jammed him  
1881 October 24 Overtown Station No 2 Cambusnethan, Lanark Brand & Co James Millar Collier 48 Falls of roof At face of stooping in main coal  
Sam. Millar Collier 21
1881 October 26 Lochgelly, Eliza pit Auchterderran, Fife Lochgelly Iron & Coal Co Ltd John Wildridge Collier 47 Falls of roof At face; long wall. Died 27th Nov.  
1881 October 27 Arniston, Gore pit Newbattle, Edinburgh Arniston Coal Co Ltd John Ford Drawer 28 Falls of roof On level road at junction of upset; long wall  
1881 October 27 Foxley Tollcross Foxley Coal Co Wm. Palmer Drawer 14 Miscellaneous underground Was run over by a hutch upon a drawing road. Happened whilst two boys, drawers, were proceeding with a full hutch down a heading road, when one of the “snibbles,”placed to control the speed of the hutch, fell out unobserved by them. In consequence of this the speed of the hutch increased, their lights were extinguished, and one of them came in contact with the roof and was compelled to abandon his hold of the hutch. His companion retained his hold, but was unable to prevent it overtaking the deceased, who was on the heading with a full hutch and failed to get out of the way in time.
1881 October 28 Common Lugar Eg. Iron Co. Peter Broggan Sinker 59 In shafts Overwinding by an unauthorised engineman Two [accidents due to overwinding] happened when the regular engineman were not working the engine. It would scarcely be correct to state they were absent, for they were near, but practically speaking the engine was not being worked under their control, but by persons who had nothing to do with the machinery. ......... The second occurred at a sinking pit whilst three men were being raised upon a kettle. The contractor for the sinking of the pit was at the time in charge of working the kettle. Instead of stopping the kettle at the pit-mouth or proper landing it was taken up and drawn over the pulley. One of the sinkers managed to get off as the kettle reached the surface, and escaped unhurt, but the others were taken over the pulley with the kettle; one was killed and the other severely injured.
1881 November 4 Woodend No 4 Torphichen, Linlithgow Coltness Iron Co Jas. Henderson Miner 40 In ironstone mines Fall of roof at face. Long wall.  
1881 November 5 Dysart, Lady Blanche pit Dysart, Fife Earl of Rosslyn John Watson Bogie man 40 Miscellaneous underground – on inclined planes While riding up the dook on bogie it left the rails and he was thrown off  
1881 November 8 Kilgrammie Girvan Cooper & McHarris James Cumming Collier 18 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal and roof  
1881 November 11 West Drumgray, No 3 New Monkland, Lanark John Young & Sons Rich. Sinnet Sinker -- In shafts – falling from part way down Fell of a bunton while putting in a set of pipes  
1881 November 12 Craigenhill Lanark Thos Todd and Co. Wm. Smith Pitheadman 50 In metalliferous mines Fell down shaft. He pushed an empty hutch into the shaft when the cage was not there. The gate was standing open.  
1881 November 18 Alloa, Holton pit Alloa, Clackmannan Alloa Coal Co David Ramage Collier 38 Miscellaneous underground – by tubs and trams He was coming down a short incline in front of a loaded tub when his foot caught and the tub ran over him.  
1881 November 19 Todhill No 4 Dalry Eg. Iron Co. John Crane Labourer 24 Above ground Stumbled into a cesspool and was scalded In some unexplained manner stumbled into a cesspool containing hot water, and was so severely scalded that he died soon after.
1881 November 21 Blackrigg No 1 Slamannan, Stirling John Watson James Swan Collier 45 Falls of roof At face, while holing the coal; long wall  
1881 November 28 Annocklodge Irvine Annocklodge Coal & Oil Co Edward Neil Collier 26 Explosion of fire damp Explosion of firedamp; suffocated The fourth [explosion of firedamp] happened in a shale mine, and was occasioned by the ignition of a small accumulation of gas. From some mismanagement one of the men at work in the place was not got out till about two hours after the gas was ignited, when he was found dead, not burned, but apparently suffocated from inhaling the afterdamp. It was sufficiently proved that there was no gas in the mine, a stone mine, when the deceased commenced his shift, but had been encountered in an overlying mine, which the fireman had not considered a working place, and so did not examine. Strictly speaking the mine where the gas lay, and which could only be reached by a ladder, was not a working place, but as the deceased and his neighbour were driving a cross cut mine to intersect it, and were at the time near to it, I am of the opinion that it should have been treated as if it formed part of the working place, and examined accordingly.
1881 November 30 Broomlands No 8 Irvine Bourtreehill Coal Co. Wm. Finnie, senr. Collier 45 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
Wm. Finnie, junr. Collier 14
1881 November 30 Lumphinnans No 1 Ballingry, Fife Lumphinnans Iron Co Alex Ross Collier 58 In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery Crushed between cage and landing at the bottom while attempting to get out of the lower deck of cage. The shuts had not been properly placed to prevent the cage descending through them  
1881 November 30 Wilsontown No 3 Carnwath, Lanark Wm Dixon Ltd Thos. Gillon Wheelman 27 Falls of sides While assisting the roadsman to put some hutches on the road on an incline  
1881 December 6 Bank N. Cumnock Bank Coal Co John Murphy Labourer 61 In shafts Fell down the shaft. A workman engaged at the pithead by mistake pushed a hutch into the open shaft, and fell to the bottom with it, a distance of 64 yards.
1881 December 6 Clydesdale, Graveyard pit Cambusnethan, Lanark Archd. Russell Robt. Kennedy Collier -- Falls of roof At face, splint coal. Stoop and room  
1881 December 8 Bankend Kilsyth W Baird & Co Philip McLachlen Sinker 24 Miscellaneous underground Whilst unramming a shot. Injured on the 1st; died o the 8th Was the result of a direct violation of the 8th General rule, which provides that a charge of powder which has missed fire “shall not be unrammed.” The deceased and his neighbour were sinkers, and had prepared three shot holes in the ordinary way; in attempting to blast them, from some cause one failed to explode, and it was whilst they were in the act of unramming it that it exploded. They were both severely injured; the deceased survived for 8 days, and his neighbour, who was also the contractor, though living, has lost both hands and the sight of one eye.
1881 December 12 Tillicoultry, Drummie mine Tillicoultry, Clackmannan Alloa Coal Co Charles Harrower Brusher 33 Falls of roof While putting in building at face; long wall  
1881 December 14 Quarter No 7 Hamilton, Lanark Colin Dunlop & Co. Jas. Prentice Collier 40 In shafts – overwinding The deceased and other three men were ascending the pit. The engineman did not stop the cage until it was about eight feet above the landing, and deceased, apparently alarmed, jumped on to the roof of the shed, which sloped towards the shaft, and he slid off into the shaft. The other three men remained on the cage and sustained no injury. I have marked under this head [In shafts] one case of overwinding, but it could scarcely be called overwinding. I allude to the accident at Quarter on the 14th December. The engineman appears to have neglected to attend to his indicator, and when the cage reached the surface it was going at such a speed that the deceased thought it was going up to the pulleys. In this he was mistaken, for the cage stopped about 8 feet above the usual landing place just as the deceased jumped off and fell into the shaft. The other men on the cage were not so much alarmed, or at all events they stuck to the cage and next minute were safely landed. The winding engine has two cylinders and a good break, and I have no doubt the engineman stopped his engine when going at the ordinary speed for men within 10 feet after he saw the cage appearing at the surface.
1881 December 15 Glentore No 6 New Monkland, Lanark Glentore Coal Co Joseph Jenkins Brusher 45 Falls of roof In a new road being made through waste; long wall  
1881 December 16 Dennymill No 2 Denny R Addie and Son Jas. Penman Roadsman 33 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1881 December 19 Cleland Townhead No 5 Bothwell, Lanark P & R Wyper & Co Thos. Hostler Drawer 14 Explosion of fire damp This boy with a companion, out of curiosity, scrambled up a fall, where, unexpectedly, a little gas had accumulated  
1881 December 23 Royal George No 3 Cambusnethan, Lanark Coltness Iron Co Adam Dixon Labourer 36 Miscellaneous on surface He and six others were taking down a pithead-frame. They lost control of the crane, and deceased was struck by the handle.  
1881 December 24 Gartshore No 2 Kilsyth W Baird & Co Francis Halkett Oversman 30 In shafts Overwinding The third [accident due to overwinding] occurred at the mine where the first took place [see Oct 28 1881] and the victim, strange to say, was the oversman referred to who unwarrantably worked the engine at the time of that occurrence. In this case the regular engineman was in attendance. The particulars are not very exact, but as far as is known, deceased, who was engaged on a night shift, had been to the surface, and afterwards requested to be lowered to a midworking. It is understood that after reaching the midworking, he signalled to be lowered to the bottom, but, through some momentary aberration or neglect on the part of the engineman, he was raised to the surface, and, I believe, against the pulley-wheel, from which he fell on to the plates at the pit-mouth, where he was found dead. In this case the engineman was charged with culpable homicide. A special plea of insanity was put in by his counsel and accepted by the Advocate Depute, and Lord Young ordered him to be kept in confinement during Her Majesty's pleasure.
1881 December 25 Thrashbush No 1 New Monkland, Lanark Robt. Marshall Alex Graham Pumper -- In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery Supposed to have fallen off the cage while ascending. There was no one in the pit but himself at the time.  
1881 December 27 Greenhead No 6 Cambusnethan, Lanark Coltness Iron Co Sam Murray Collier 60 Falls of roof In a road being cut along a stoop side preparatory to stooping. Stoop and room  
1881 December 28 Blackrigg No 1 Slamannan, Stirling John Watson David Douglas Collier 29 Falls of roof While drawing the “gibs” from the coal the roof fell along with the coal; long wall  
1881 December 29 Bent No 1 Hamilton, Lanark Bent Colliery Co Ltd Robt. Brown Collier -- Miscellaneous underground – by tubs and trams Found dead below some tubs on endless rope haulage road. He had left the face unwell, and is supposed to have taken a fit Newspaper Report

 

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