1886 Fatal Accidents

Notes - The information in this page is mainly 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. Many accidents are not listed in these reports and additional names have been added from newspaper reports and other sources - these are indicated by a shaded gray background.

Information from Appendix to Inspectors Report
 Extra details
Year Month Day Name of Colliery Where situated Owner or Company Forename Surname Occupation Age Category Cause of accident and remarks
1886 January 6 Skerrington Hurlford Allan Gilmour & Co Robert McCoart Drawer 18 In shafts Pushed his hutch into the pit at a mid-working when the cage was at the surface Happened at a "mid-working '" to a drawer. It seems that the person who acted as bottomer had just taken an empty hutch off the cage to admit of a workman being raised to the pithead, and was placing the hutch in the "lye" a few yards distant from the shaft, without having first closed the gate, which, when shut, guarded the entrance to the shaft. At that moment the deceased came forward with a full hutch, and, although according to the statement of the bottomer, he told him the cage had just been raised, through some misunderstanding or otherwise, he pushed forward his hutch into the open shaft and fell with it to the bottom, a distance of 35 fathoms, There is a well known contrivance in use at many "mid-workings" which prevents such an accident as this, as when it is open it forms a fence across the entrance of the shaft, and when closed, a scaffold across it. Ordinary gates, as in this case, are apt to be left open.
1886 January 11 Portland Portland Allan Gilmour & Co Robert King Roadsman 54 Miscellaneous underground Was struck by a prop which he and the oversman were engaged taking out  
1886 January 19 Govan No 5 Glasgow Wm Dixon Ltd Charles Percy Brusher 23 Falls of roof & sides Roof fell upon him whilst taking out props at road head  
1886 January 27 Springbank Airdrie, Lanark Springbank Coal Co David Shanks Driver 15 Miscellaneous underground – from tubs and trams Fell in front of tubs. Died 11th February  
1886 January 28 Gilbertfield No 1 Cambuslang Cambuslang Coal Co James McCallum Miner 50 Falls of roof & sides Fall of head coal (died on 1st February)  
1886 January 30 Blair No 4 Dalry Eglinton Iron Co Henry Gribben Miner 26 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1886 February 1 Newlands     Robert Baillie         Newspaper report
1886 February 22 Schoolyard Bo'ness, Linlithgow Kinneil Iron & Coal Co Ltd Jas. Hempstead Collier 30 Falls of sides At face; long wall  
1886 February 24 Calderhead Shotts, Lanark Shotts Iron Co John Skelly Collier 23 Falls of roof At face; long wall Newspaper report
1886 March 1 Leavenseat West Calder, Edinburgh J & T Thornton Jas. Greenhorn Pitheadman -- In metalliferous mines Crushed by waggons  
1886 March 5 Fergushill No 22 Kilwinning Archd. Finnie & Son James Wylie Collier 47 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal  
1886 March 8 Stonecraigs Cambusnethan, Lanark Coltness Iron Co Ltd James Wilson Collier 14 Miscellaneous underground – from tubs and trams Caught by passing tubs  
1886 March 8 Trees Bathville, Linlithgow James Wood Wm. Ballantyne Collier 20 Falls of sides At face; stoop and room  
1886 March 15 Common No 12 Lugar Eglinton Iron Co Richard Kyle Collier 40 In shafts Fell from cage to the pit bottom, a distance of 8 fathoms, whilst ascending with 2 other men Happened to a miner, who, after the day's work was over, was being raised in the cage along with his son and two other men, and when about eight fathoms up the shaft he fell off in some unexplained manner and was killed. He had complained of being unwell during the day.
1886 March 15 Haugh No 1 Kilsyth Wm Baird & Co John Baxter Collier 45 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal (died on 4th April)  
1886 March 22 Drumpeller No 4 Coatbridge Drumpeller Coal Co John Morgan Miner 31 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof Newspaper report
1886 March 29 Fence Lesmahagow, Lanark Nitshill & Lesmahagow Coal Co William Atkinson Fireman 32 In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery Fell off cage while ascending. Cage left the slides Newspaper Report
James Hamilton Fireman 30
1886 March 31 Dalquharran Maybole Hon T F Kennedy David Bryden Collier 37 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1886 April 2 Devon Alloa, Clackmannan Alloa Coal Co Wm. Morrison Drawer 25 Falls of roof On drawing road; stoop and room  
1886 April 5 Pentland Loanhead, Edinburgh Clippens Oil Co Ltd John Cameron Miner 15 In shale mines Went into an adjoining place where gas had accumulated owing to fall breaking brattice  
1886 April 5 Redford Muiravonside, Linlithgow Redford Coal Co Edward Cowie Fireman -- In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery Pinion come out of gear while men were descending  
1886 April 8 Dunsyston Airdrie, Lanark Summerlee Iron Co Gregor McGregor Collier -- Falls of roof At face of brushing; long wall Newspaper report
1886 April 10 Gore Gorebridge, Edinburgh Arniston Coal Co Ltd Thos. Davidson Collier -- Falls of sides At face; long wall  
1886 April 12 Randolph Wemyss, Fife Earl of Rosslyn Jos. Hutchison Collier 21 Falls of sides At face; stoop and room  
1886 April 13 Balquhatston Slamannan, Stirling John Watson James Shields Bogie-man 18 Miscellaneous underground – from tubs and trams Fell in front of bogie  
1886 April 14 Stravenhouse Carluke, Lanark Jas. Thornton, Trustees of Hugh McLean Collier 49 Falls of roof At face; stoop and room  
1886 April 15 Cumbernauld Fire clay Mine Cumbernauld Glenboig Union Co James Walker Miner 50 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof Newspaper Report
1886 April 15 Drumsmudden No1 Drongan Dalmellington Iron Co James Paterson Collier 26 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1886 April 20 Cairnhill No 6 Airdrie Wm Baird & Co James Smith Waggon driver 66 Above ground Crushed between the buffers of two waggons Newspaper report
1886 April 20 Stepends No 1 Cumnock Eglinton Iron Co John Watson Chain runner 55 Falls of roof & sides Fell off the dook “race” and was run over  
1886 April 22 Hallcraig Carluke, Lanark Coltness Iron Co Ltd Robert Frame Chain boy 13 In ironstone mines Fell in front of tub, chain haulage road Newspaper Report
1886 April 26 Lady Grangemouth, Stirling Grangemouth Coal Co Alex. Fleming Collier -- Falls of sides At face; long wall  
1886 April 27 Balbardie Bathgate, Linlithgow Henry Walker Robert Tait Collier 50 Miscellaneous underground – on inclined planes Run down by carriage while ascending incline  
1886 April 29 Morrisonhaven Prestonpans, Haddington Prestongrange Coal & Firebrick Co Ltd Thomas Giddings Sinker -- In shafts – things falling from part way down Stone fell from side of shaft  
1886 May 3 Newbattle Newbattle, Midlothian Marquis of Lothian William Noble Collier 30 Falls of sides At face; long wall  
1886 May 7 Bankend Lesmahagow, Lanark Monkland Iron Co Ltd William Rodgers Collier 40 Falls of roof At face; stoop and room  
1886 May 11 Leadhills Leadhills, Lanark Leadhills Silver Lead Mining and Smelting Co Ltd John Cameron Miner 43 In metalliferous mines Explosion of gunpowder  
1886 May 15 Cadder No 14 Bishopbriggs Carron Co Robert McCluskey Miner 40 Falls of roof & sides Fall of ironstone at face. Injured on 9th March  
1886 May 20 Glenboig New Monkland, Lanark Glenboig Union Fireclay Co Ltd James Guthrie Miner -- In fire clay mines On drawing road; stoop and room  
1886 May 24 Grasshill Muirkirk Eglinton Iron Co Hugh McWhirter Incline attendant 14 Miscellaneous underground Killed at foot of self-acting incline by a runaway hutch  
1886 May 27 Westburn No 1 Cambuslang Westburn Colliery Co Matthew Robertson Collier 21 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof while drawing props in stooping Newspaper Report
1886 May 29 Lightshaw No 1 Muirkirk Eglinton Iron Co William Murdoch Collier 21 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal Newspaper report
1886 June 7 Tarbrax Auchengray, Lanark Lanark Oil Co Ltd Thos. Robertson Miner 40 In shale mines In charging a hole, which he did with loose gunpowder, it is supposed a spark from his lamp ignited the charge  
1886 June 22 Rosehall Bothwell, Lanark Robert Addie & Sons Alex. McKillop Collier 60 Falls of roof At face; long wall  
1886 June 28 Meadowhead Dalziel, Lanark Glasgow Iron Co Peter Haggerty Collier 30 Miscellaneous underground – from tubs and trams Was in front of tub coming down incline of 1 in 4 1/2, when snibble came out, and tub ran over him Newspaper Report
1886 July 1 Cronberry No 4 Cumnock Eglinton Iron Co James Baird Contractor 34 In shafts By cage coming down on him while working below it. Happened to the oversman of the pit, who had been repairing the safety huts at a "mid-working'' when, either owing to a misunderstanding or neglect of signals, the cage was lowered upon him.
1886 July 1 Donibristle Crossgates, Fife Donibristle Colliery Co John Gray Collier 16 Falls of sides At face; stoop and room  
1886 July 4 Portland No 8 Hurlford Eglinton Iron Co David Currie Collier 58 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1886 July 8 Woodend Bathgate, Linlithgow Coltness Iron Co Ltd James McQuestion Brusher 31 Falls of roof While redding; long wall  
1886 July 14 Bredisholm Bothwell, Lanark Provanhall Coal Co John Scobbie Drawer 13 Falls of roof On drawing road; long wall Newspaper Report
1886 July 22 Garriongill Cambusnethan, Lanark Coltness Iron Co Ltd Michael Young Collier 20 Falls of sides At face; stoop and room Newspaper report
1886 July 23 Solsgirth No 1 Kirkintilloch Barr & Co Patrick Lennox Collier 20 Miscellaneous underground Run over by a runaway “race” of hutches on dook  
1886 July 26 Longriggend New Monkland, Lanark James Nimmo & Co John Hailley Collier 24 In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery Engineman raised cage 10ft too high at surface, deceased alarmed, jumped off cage, and fell a distance of 30ft Newspaper report
1886 July 28 Gartshore No 2 Kilsyth Wm Baird & Co Alexr. Smith Miner 38 Falls of roof & sides Fall of ironstone. Injured on 22nd June  
1886 July 28 Govan No 5 Glasgow Wm Dixon Ltd Andrew Lang Brusher 30 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1886 July 28 Holmes Broxburn, Linlithgow Holmes Oil Co Ltd John O'Brien Chain runner 20 In shale mines It is supposed a piece of shale off a passing tub ran down incline and struck him  
1886 August 5 Bredisholm Bothwell, Lanark Provanhall Coal Co Robert Mullen Collier 54 Falls of roof At face; long wall  
1886 August 6 Legbrannock Holytown, Lanark Legbrannock District Collieries Co Ltd Peter McGeechan Collier -- Falls of roof At face; long wall Newspaper report
1886 August 11 Millburn Larkhall, Lanark Cornsilloch Coal Co Peter McGhee Roadsman -- Falls of roof While repairing drawing road; stoop and room  
1886 August 11 Wemyss West Wemyss, Fife R G E Wemyss John Clunie Collier 57 Falls of sides At face; stoop and room  
1886 August 12 Wellwood No 1 Muirkirk Eglinton Iron Co Hugh Campbell Collier 40 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof Newspaper report
1886 August 13 Balbardie Bathgate, Linlithgow Henry Walker John Simpson Brusher 29 Falls of roof While repairing road; long wall  
1886 August 16 Quarter No 1 Denny Wm Baird & Co Hugh Murphy Drawer 38 Miscellaneous underground Crushed against the roof while riding on a dook “race”  
1886 August 18 Arniston Cockpen, Edinburgh Arniston Coal Co Ltd Andrew Bruce Trimmer 58 Miscellaneous on surface Was walking along edge of waggon, and fell into it on sharp piece of iron. He was not at work at the time  
1886 August 23 Little Raith Auchtertool, Fife Lochgelly Iron & Coal Co Ltd Christina Baxter Pit head worker -- Miscellaneous on surface Struck on head by waggon coupling  
1886 August 25 Bredisholm Bothwell, Lanark Provanhall Coal Co Alex. Blackburn Collier 59 Falls of sides At face; stoop and room Newspaper Report
1886 August 31 Kirkwood No 1 Coatbridge Kirkwood Coal Co Wm. Gibson Blacksmith 23 Above ground Explosion of boiler Caused by the explosion of a steam boiler. The boiler was one of four used for generating steam at the pit, and was of the kind known as " breeches flued boilers,'' the shell being 24 1/2 feet long, and seven feet diameter. It had two internal furnaces, 34 inches in diameter which met behind the combustion chamber and formed a single flue of larger diameter. The combustion chamber, which in boilers of this description is the weakest point, was intended to be strengthened by stays bolted to it and to the shell, but after the explosion it was found that two of the under stays had been entirely without bolts at one end, and in consequence were of no use whatever in serving the purpose for which they were intended. The boiler was made in 1870, and was in use at Drumpark Colliery until its abandonment in 1879. It afterwards came into the possession of the Kirkwood Coal Co., but was not in use again until April last, when it was removed to Kirkwood Colliery after undergoing some repairs. It was worked in conjunction with other three boilers of the ordinary cylindrical egg-ended type, at a pressure of from 45 to 50 lbs. per square inch, although at Drumpark Colliery it appears to have been subjected to a working pressure of only 40 lbs. So far as I was able to ascertain, the boiler was started to work at Kirkwood Colliery at this increased pressure without having been first thoroughly examined by a competent person as to its condition and fitness to stand a working pressure of 50 lbs. About noon on the day of the accident, shortly after the fireman noticed the gauges indicating a pressure of 49 lbs. per square inch, the boiler burst, owing to the collapse of the flue and combustion chamber, and the shell was projected into the smiths' shop, a distance of 45 yards, killing one man, while two other men were injured by the flying debris. The agent and the manager of the colliery were charged with culpable homicide and culpable violation or neglect of duty for having failed to inspect the boiler or cause it to be inspected, and to ascertain that it was fit to be worked at the pressure to which it was subjected. The case was tried at Airdrie on the 3rd of February this year before the sheriff substitute and a jury, who gave a verdict of a not guilty. Newspaper report
1886 September 7 Gartshore No 3 Kilsyth Wm Baird & Co Charles Patterson Miner 30 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone at face  
1886 September 8 Greenlaw Penicuik, Edinburgh Shotts Iron Co John McKenzie Oversman 62 In ironstone mines Stone fell on him while passing along face  
1886 September 10 Garriongill Cambusnethan, Lanark Coltness Iron Co Ltd Samuel Hyslop Stone miner 37 Miscellaneous underground – explosions of gunpowder Brushing. It is supposed he accidentally kindled fuze  
1886 September 15 Snab Bo'ness, Linlithgow Kinneil Iron & Coal Co Ltd John Nisbet Collier 43 Falls of sides At face; long wall  
1886 September 16 Gilshochill Mine Maryhill Summerlee Iron Co Francis McElhinney Miner 21 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1886 September 18 Springside No 11 Irvine A Kenneth & Sons Hugh Ferguson Collier 19 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone at face (roof)  
1886 September 20 Annandale No 10 Kilmarnock Archd. Finnie & Son Henry Thom Collier 19 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof (died on 16th October)  
1886 September 24 Greenfield Hamilton, Lanark Archibald Russell James Bulloch Engineman 57 Miscellaneous on surface Scalded by steam; steam pipe burst An unusual accident happened at Greenfield colliery in September last. One of the winding engines has a pair of 24-inch horizontal cylinders working at a pressure of 50 lbs. per square inch. The steam pipes come from a range of boilers to the centre of the cylinders. At this point there is a knee pipe, descending vertically for 12 inches, next the throttle valve, and then a union pipe branching to the cylinders. On the morning of the accident, the engineman was in attendance on the engine, but it had been standing until 3 o'clock in the morning. At that time one of the firemen was about to descend the pit. The engineman told him to get on the cage, and he was about to do so, when he heard a rush of steam in the engine-house. He gave the alarm and soon after the steam was shut off. On entering the engine-house, the engineman was found lying dead near the starting handle, and it was found that a piece 17 inches by 4 had burst out of the horizontal part of the knee pipe close to the bend, and from this the steam had rushed and had burned the man to death. The pipe had been in position for more than 20 years and had shown no signs of failure. It seemed to me that the throttle valve had been tight, and that condensed steam had collected in the pipes in the form of water. When the throttle valve was slightly opened to start the engine, the rush of steam had acted on the water, and by its jerking had burst the pipe. I recommended a drip cock, above the throttle valve, so that the water might be let off before starting the engine.
1886 September 26 Collyshot Cambusnethan, Lanark Coltness Iron Co Ltd Gilbert Brown Bottomer 64 In shafts – falling from part way down He ran tub into open shaft when cage was not there, and fell after it  
1886 October 2 East Benhar Whitburn, Linlithgow Niddrie & Benhar Coal Co Ltd James Howie Collier -- By sundries underground Influx of moss shut him in On the 2nd October, moss burst from the surface into the workings of No, 13, Benhar pit, and imprisoned one of the men. He was one of eight who had been working in an area of coal extending to about an acre. It was approached by a drawing road, and an airway. The seam of coal was the Benhar coal, about four feet in thickness, and it was within 54 feet of the surface, 22 feet of which were wet moss. All the eight men were at work when one of them heard a rush. He gave the alarm, and all but the one man, Rodgers, escaped. They had about 140 yards to run to a place of safety. When they found one of their number amissing, they went back in search of him, but were met by the flowing moss which was in a semi-fluid state, and they could not pass through. This happened on the Saturday, and after careful deliberation it was decided that it was possible the moss might not have reached Rodger's place, and that he might be alive. It was thought that he could not be reached by the road underground, and it was determined to sink a shaft near to the point, and at the same time to put down bores to the waste, to see if it was full of moss. The pit was accordingly commenced, and at the same time bores were put down. On Friday, seven days after the accident, the pit reached the coal, into a narrow drift, at a point within 50 feet of where it was expected Rodgers would be found. The drift was open, for a large fall of stones had blocked up the passage, and only a small quantity of moss had got through. It was found, however, on reaching the fall that the moss had filled the workings, and there was no chance of finding the man alive. Further operations were stopped, and all hope of getting the body was given up. I was at the place four hours after the occurrence, and my assistant, Mr. Robson, was there every day while the exploring operations were going on. It is only fair to say that Mr. Baxter, the manager, and the workmen, did everything that could be done, and did a great deal of work in a short space of time. The accident happened, however, owing to want of caution on their part in working so near to the moss, for only two months before, a similar burst had taken place within 200 yards of it, but without loss of life, and this should have led them to abandon the coal there altogether, as has now been done. [NB Deceased was James Howie not Rodgers as stated above] Newspaper Report
1886 October 4 Greenhill Motherwell, Lanark Robert Young John Graham Collier 24 Falls of roof At face; long wall Newspaper report
1886 October 8 Gateside No 2 Cambuslang Flemington Coal Co James McFadyean Collier 42 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal  
1886 October 12 Govan No 5 Glasgow Wm Dixon Ltd James Malcolm reddsman 24 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof (died on 21st)  
1886 October 14 Bankhead Muirkirk Cairntable Gas Coal Co Wm. Chapman Collier 45 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal  
1886 October 22 Fordell Aberdour, Fife Fordell Trust David Hogg Drawer 15 Falls of roof On drawing road; long wall  
1886 November 1 Brownrigg New Monkland, Lanark Brownrigg Coal Co Alex. Baxter Engineman -- Miscellaneous on surface Was found dead in enginehouse; no one had seen him for 12 hours. Steampipe had broken, and he was scalded by steam. A precisely similar accident happened at Brownrigg Colliery [to Greenfield Sept 24 1886], between Saturday night and Monday morning, 30th October and 1st November. In this case there was a small 20 horse-power engine, which by means of gearing, both raised the coals and pumped the water out of a pit 24 fathoms deep. There were here, a knee pipe from the line of steam pipes, the throttle valve, and then a pipe to the cylinder precisely as in the other case. The engine during the Sunday pumped water only, and it was required to go one hour and then stand two. The engineman was last seen about 10 o'clock on Sunday night, and nobody was at the pit but himself all night. Next morning when the men came to their work, they found the engine standing, the steam down, and no one visible. On getting into the engine-house the dead body of the engineman was found. It was found that a piece of the steam pipe had been burst out in exactly the same way as at Greenfield, and from this the steam had rushed, and scalded the man to death. The engine and pipes had been at work for 14 years.
1886 November 22 Oakbank West Calder, Edinburgh Oakbank Oil Co Ltd Robert Gibb Miner 24 In shale mines Suffocated by steam while endeavouring to pass through a road where steam pipes were laid  
1886 November 24 Loanhead Lasswade, Edinburgh Shotts Iron Co Henry Paul Brakesman 32 In shafts – whilst ascending or descending by machinery While the engineman was raising the deceased up an incline at 60 degrees, he drew the carriage to the pulley, and Paul fell off. Newspaper report
1886 November 29 Dykehead Hamilton, Lanark Summerlee Iron Co George Muir Collier 42 Falls of roof At stoops Newspaper report
1886 December 3 Annadale Bathgate, Linlithgow Monkland Iron Co Ltd John Knox Drawer 17 Falls of roof At face; long wall  
1886 December 3 Pennyvenie No1 Dalmellington Dalmellington Iron Co Robert Miller Collier 44 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal and roof  
1886 December 6 Mauricewood Penicuik, Edinburgh Shotts Iron Co Adam Wilson Miner 24 In ironstone mines Stone came down incline and struck him while sitting in lye, 10 yards off  
1886 December 15 Broxburn Broxburn, Linlithgow Broxburn Oil Co Ltd Michael Kelly Trimmer 56 In shale mines Crushed by waggons at screens  
1886 December 15 Shawfield Carluke, Lanark John Wilson Thos. Girdwood Coal-picker -- Miscellaneous on surface Killed by revolving table  
1886 December 18 Wilsontown Cranworth, Lanark Wm Dixon Ltd Jas. Whitelaw Brusher 41 Falls of roof While redding; long wall  
1886 December 24 Cairnhill No 6 Airdrie Wm Baird & Co David Hogg Pony driver 16 Miscellaneous underground Found dead under a “race” of hutches which he was taking to the pit bottom Newspaper report
1886 December 24 Cornsilloch Larkhall, Lanark Cornsilloch Coal Co Patrick McTaggart Collier 50 Falls of sides At face; stoop and room  
1886 December 30 Mossband Holytown, Lanark James Lynn & Co R. Dickson Pitheadman -- In shafts – falling into shaft from surface Fell down shaft. No gates  

 

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