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Fatal Accidents in Mines in Scotland

January to June 1909

- compiled from appendices to the reports of the Inspector of Mines and Collieries. Where indicated additional information is available from the main body of the report. We will add this as soon as possible, but please contact us if you would like details in the meantime

Go to Accidents for July to December 1909

Date of Accident Mine County Owner or Company Name Age Occupation Category Cause of accident & remarks Additional Information
1909 January 8 Brownrigg No 2 Stirling Banknock Coal Co Ltd Chas. Brady 54 Miner Falls of side Fall of coal and "falling" at working face of stooping.  
1909 January 11 Dunnikier Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd William Beall 43 Miner Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs While turning out his loaded tub on a cut chain incline (dip 1 in 3), another miner turned his tub out at a bench 32 feet higher up and let it over the landing. He had omitted to put in the wooden block and it came down on deceased.  
1909 January 13 Govan No 5 Lanark Wm Dixon Ltd John Murray 67 Waggon trimmer On surface – railways, sidings or tramways Found injured in four-foot way near screens.  
1909 January 19 Bannockburn No 2 Stirling Alloa Coal Co Ltd Gilbert Templeton 26 Brusher Falls of roof Fall of roof on old road while repairing it.  
1909 January 19 Common No 15 Ayr Wm Baird & Co Ltd Joseph Richmond 16 Pony driver Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs Run over in some unknown manner by race of hutches which he was taking along road.  
1909 January 21 Hopetoun Linlithgow Wm Baird & Co Ltd James Brown 24 Miner Falls of roof Deceased was cleaning up rubbish along his longwall face preparatory to digging more coal. He suspected his roof, sounded it and found it bad and was on his way out from under it when it collapsed injuring him so severely that he died 1 ½ hours later.  
1909 January 25 Bank No 1 Ayr New Bank Coal Co Win. Hunter 64 Bottomer Shaft accidents – miscellaneous When adjusting empty hutch on low deck of cage, the cage was lowered and it caught him.  
1909 January 27 Michael Fife Wemyss Coal Co Ltd David Linton 58 Assistant Oversman Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs Deceased made a seat on the fourth tub of a loaded rake to have a ride up a dook haulage road, and while the tub passed under a low part of the roadway he was crushed against the roof.  
1909 January 28 Enterkine No 9 Ayr George Taylor & Co Jas. Morgan 17 Miner Falls of roof Fall of roof at road-head.  
1909 January 29 Alloa Clackmannan Alloa Coal Co Ltd Robert Mitchell 53 Miner Falls of roof Deceased and his neighbour were taking off coal at the face, when the roof suddenly fell away from lype, throwing out two props, and injuring both men. The former died 5 months later.  
1909 January 29 Lanemark Afton Pit Ayr Lanemark Coal Co Ltd Jas, Jackson 40 Miner Falls of side Fall of coal and roof at working face while holing.  
1909 January 31 Lumphinnans Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd John Fowler 35 Pitwright Shaft accidents – falling into shaft from surface Deceased stepped on to one of the buntons at the mouth of the pit shaft, to steady a pump rod, which had been slung under the cage to be taken down. On coming out again his foot slipped and he fell 180 fathoms to the shaft bottom.  
1909 February 3 Calderbank No 2 Lanark United Collieries Ltd Thos. Bright 33 Fireman Explosions of fire damp or coal dust (5.45am) Ignited firedamp when making an inspection of workings. To follow
1909 February 5 Castlecary (Fireclay) Stirling John G Stein & Co Ltd William MoKee 29 Miner Falls of side Deceased was laying rails in his road, when a piece of fireclay fell from the side upon him.  
1909 February 8 Greenrigg Linlithgow United Collieries Ltd John McIntyre 16 Drawer Falls of roof Deceased was filling a tub with coal, when the roof suddenly fell upon him.  
1909 February 11 Dechmont No 3 Lanark Archd Russell Ltd Jas. Sim 42 Miner Falls of roof Fall of roof at face of stone mine on knocking out props set for drilling machines.  
1909 February 11 Cadder No 17 Lanark Carron Co Joseph Mills 36 Miner Falls of side Fall of ironstone while holing, through ironstone being insufficiently spragged.  
1909 February 12 Bredisholm No 1 Lanark United Collieries Ltd John Johnstone 29 Machineman Falls of roof Fall of roof at working face.  
1909 February 12 Bannockburn No 3 Stirling Alloa Coal Co Ltd Walter Turnbull 26 Engineer On surface – by machinery While oiling a bearing of fan engine he got caught by the flywheel.  
1909 February 12 Herdshill Lanark Coltness Iron Co Ltd William Black 61 Labourer Shaft accidents – falling into shaft from surface Deceased came from the prop wood stack with a tub loaded with props to send it down the shaft, and evidently he stumbled as he opened the door fencing the shaft, and fell down meeting the ascending cage on his way down.  
1909 February 15 Kinneil Linlithgow Kinneil Cannel & Coking Coal Co Ltd John Grant 52 Miner Falls of side Deceased and two other miners had just got on to the cage to be raised to surface, when a stone fell upon the cage and they were crushed. The stone fell away from the front of an old mid working 123 fathoms up. Newspaper report
Richard Fitzpatrick 28 Miner
1909 February 18 Longrigg Lanark James Nimmo & Co Ltd Robert McGregor 28 Wagon-Shifter On surface – railways, sidings or tramways Deceased had run some loaded waggons forward from a hopper and was bringing another forward behind them. He had a "trig" laid to stop it and forgetting apparently the loaded waggons, he was bending down watching the last one coming on to the " trig" when his head was caught and he was killed instantaneously.  
1909 February 18 Redding Stirling James Nimmo & Co Ltd Daniel Rankin 44 Miner Falls of roof Deceased was at work at the coal face, when a huge stone fell from the roof carrying the props with it and killed him instantly,  
1909 February 24 Hopetoun No 44 (Oil shale) Linlithgow Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Co Ltd Robert Smellie 56 Oversman Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs While an empty rake was descending an Ingoing eye, one tub uncoupled, and ran down against three others resting on a prop on centre of roadway causing these tubs to run away ; deceased was doing some repairs to a pump on the roadside, and for safety he crossed over to a branch road, and just then the runaway tub left the rails and crushed him against a wooden pillar.  
1909 February 26 Braidhurst Lanark Summerlee Iron Co Ltd Thomas McCallum 37 Repairer Falls of roof Deceased and his neighbour were clearing away a fall on a roadway, filling the debris into tubs and stowing it in an old roadway: while moving a loaded tub, it caught on one side, and when clearing the obstruction a fresh fall took place, and he was buried beneath it. The roof was very bad, and the fall carried away the timbers.  
1909 February 27 Leven Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd Robert Sharp 42 Labourer On surface – miscellaneous Deceased was inside a condenser cleaning it out, when he was scalded by steam and water.  
1909 March 1 Batonrigg Lanark Baton Collieries Ltd Thomas Dickson 39 Machineman Falls of roof Deceased was driving an electric coal cutter along a machine wall which had a very bad roof. He and the fireman had superintended the timbering and were both satisfied with it. While the machine was cutting the whole roof collapsed breaking the timber and a large stone fell on deceased and dislocated his neck. The colliery had been working irregularly and the "weight" which should have been back in the waste had got forward on the face of the coal.  
1909 March 1 Broxburn (Oil shale) Linlithgow Broxburn Oil Co Ltd Robert Anderson 36 Oversman Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs The mine starts from the surface, and the mineral is hauled by an engine and dook rope. A loaded rake had been hauled a short distance up a steep gradient, when a chain bar of one of the tubs broke and 8 tubs came back, and deceased was fatally crushed.  
1909 March 2 Castlehill Lanark Chapel Coal Co Ltd Thomas Lee 51 Miner MIscellaneous underground – by explosives Deceased was putting back a charge of gelignite with a wooden stemmer when it exploded. The explosive was hard and therefore unsafe.  
1909 March 3 Westfield (Limestone) Edinburgh Wm Baird & Co Ltd Robert Linster 50 Miner MIscellaneous underground – by explosives Deceased and another miner were inserting the final charge of Blasting Gelatine into a long hole in limestone which had been "cracked " a few times before. The charge exploded and injured both men, deceased succumbing five days later.  
1909 March 11 Howmuir Lanark Auchinlea Coal Co Ltd Peter McEwan 27 Machineman Falls of roof Deceased was driver of an electric coal cutter and had charge of the other machine-men. The accident occurred at a road head which was newly brushed and which deceased had examined while the machine was standing. It had just been set agoing again, when a large stone fell and killed him. Flat crowns were not in use in the machine wall, but if two had been applied here, the accident would not have occurred. Newspaper report
1909 March 11 Roslin Edinburgh Shotts Iron Co Ltd Henry Ramage 33 Miner Miscellaneous underground – sundries Deceased was standing on a temporary scaffold working off coal in a seam with a gradient of 65 degrees, when one of the supports gave way and he fell across a prop 7 feet below and was killed.  
1909 March 12 Springhill No 4 Ayr Arch. Finnie & Son Campbell Banks 23 Haulageman Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs When jumping off a race of hutches on which he was riding without permission, he fell and was run over.  
1909 March 12 Motherwell Lanark John Watson Ltd David Fraser 53 Repairer Falls of roof Deceased was doing repairs, when a small stone fell upon his arm inflicting a slight accident. He died from blood poisoning 12 days later.  
1909 March 13 Swinhill No 2 Lanark Darngavil Coal Co Ltd Wm. Maclean 29 Fireman Falls of roof Fall of roof on road while repairing it. Newspaper report
Wm. Plenderleith 16 Chainrunner
1909 March 19 Little Raith Fife Lochgelly Iron & Coal Co Ltd Thomas Hedley 19 Assistant Bottomer Shaft accidents - falling from part way down Deceased was an Assistant Bottomer at a mid working, and when the cage was about to reach the landing he opened the gate fencing the shaft, and fell into it.  
1909 March 19 Aitken Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd James Thomson 60 Wagon-Shifter On surface – railways, sidings or tramways While following his ordinary duties he fell from the gangway, alongside the waggons, to the railway, a .distance of 7 feet and was killed.  
1909 March 22 Lumphinnans Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd Andrew Lees 56 Miner Falls of side Deceased was at work at the face when a piece of face coal fell and rolled down crushing him against a prop.  
1909 March 22 Ferniegare No 1 Lanark Archd Russell Ltd Jas. Hutchins 36 Miner Falls of roof Fall of roof in working place while setting a prop.  
1909 March 22 Devon Clackmannan Alloa Coal Co Ltd William Christie 20 hanger-on Other haulage accidents To follow  
1909  March 24       Alexander Hunter         Died of pneumonia Newspaper report
1909 March 29 Rosehall No 3 Lanark R Addie & Sons Collieries Ltd Jas. Cameron 30 Drawer Falls of side When holing, a small piece of coal fell and cut his finger. Blood poisoning resulted, and he died on the 8th of May.  
1909 March 31 Hamilton Palace No 1 Lanark Bent Colliery Co Ltd Arthur Dickson 32 Roadsman Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs When travelling out a haulage road, he was caught by a runaway hutch. Newspaper report
1909 March 31 Newbattle Edinburgh Lothian Coal Co Ltd Joseph Aitkin 28 Miner Falls of roof Deceased was working in a thin seam and after being out to his road for a prop, was on his hands and knees under his brushing again, when a piece of blaes, 4 ½ inches thick, gave way between props and struck him behind the head and bore him to the ground. His forehead struck a piece of coal, which caused fracture of his skull. Serious symptoms set in, and he died four days later.  
1909 March 31 Motherwell Lanark John Watson Ltd James Lang 27 machineman Miscellaneous underground – by machinery To follow  
1909 April 8 Camp (Limestone) Edinburgh Coltness Iron Co Ltd Charles Ford 40 Bottomer Shaft accidents – miscellaneous Deceased was in the act of adjusting a loaded tub on the cage, when it was raised and he was crushed at the door heads. The engineman apparently lifted the cage without getting the signal.  
1909 April 13 Knowehead Stirling Banknock Coal Co Ltd Alex. Lumley 39 Pitheadman Shaft accidents – falling into shaft from surface He pushed empty hutch into the open shaft at low scaffold while cage was at pithead, and fell after it.  
1909 April 14 Auchengeich Lanark Jas Nimmo & Co Ltd Robert Park 50 Miner Falls of roof Fall of roof at coal face in a machine wall when about to set up props.  
1909 April 14 Fauldhead Dumfries Sanquhar & Kirkconnel Collieries Ltd Marion Halliday 14 Stonepicker On surface – railways, sidings or tramways When crossing rails in front of two moving waggons at the scree she got run over.  
1909 April 22 Newcraighall Edinburgh Niddrie & Benhar Coal Co Ltd John Anderson 55 Labourer On surface – railways, sidings or tramways Deceased was cleaning up the dross on the roadway, behind some loaded waggons, when some empty waggons were let down and ran too fast colliding with stationary waggon under the screen, causing it to move forward, deceased tried to escape but was crushed between moving waggon and stationary waggon beside him.  
1909 April 22 Dumbreck No 2 Stirling Wm Baird & Co Ltd Alex. Miller 44 Fireman Explosions of fire damp or coal dust (3.15pm) In cleaning out an accumulation of gas, the air current carried the gas to his naked light, and caused explosion. To follow
1909 April 26 Benarty Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd John Gulland 48 Hanger on Haulage – ropes or chains breaking Shortly after the rake had started to run on an inclined roadway a ''false" link in the chain gave out and tubs ran back, crushing deceased who failed to get clear.  
1909 April 27 Polmaise No 4 Stirling Archd Russell Ltd John McVicar 38 Fireman Explosions of fire damp or coal dust (7.45pm) While examining an outburst of gas, it apparently ignited at his safety lamp. Three other men were injured. To follow
1909 April 27 Bowhill Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd George Maxwell 28 miner Other haulage accidents To follow  
1909 April 29 Cowdenbeath Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd Henry Geddes 52 Miner Falls of roof Deceased was stripping coals in a machine wall, and had knocked out a prop, which was in his way. He had just got another, and intended setting it up, when a large stone fell and injured him so severely, that he died ten hours later.  
1909 May 1 Pennyvenie No 1 Lanark Archd Russell Ltd Peter McMurray 67 Miner Falls of roof Fall of roof in working place near side of an old road.  
John McMurray 19 Miner
1909 May 3 Wilsontown Lanark William Dixon Ltd George Burt 43 Repairer Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs Deceased was on a bogie hauling a loaded rake to the shaft on an endless rope haulage roadway, and apparently it left the rails and threw him off, the rope continued still to move, and he was dragged for some distance, and was found dead.  
1909 May 6 Bannockburn No 1 Stirling Alloa Coal Co Ltd Wm. Dazley 44 Repairer Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs While travelling down dook ling chain got disconnected from a hutch, which ran back on him. Men were prohibited from travelling on the dook there being a separate travelling road.  
1909 May 7 Broxburn (Oil shale) Linlithgow Broxburn Oil Co Ltd Robert Kennedy 27 Roadsman Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs The drawer at the top of a "Cuddie brae " allowed his loaded tub to run too far, and and as the blocks were out it ran on to the brae, deceased was proceeding down at the time, and on hearing the shout to stand clear he stepped right in front and he was carried to the bottom, and fatally crushed.  
1909 May 10 Craigend Stirling Carron Co David Love 56 Surface-Foreman On surface – railways, sidings or tramways Deceased was moving some waggons and as they were getting too much way, he attempted to stop them by inserting a coupling pole and as soon as it entered the wheel spokes it came round suddenly and the projecting part struck him and he was thrown under the wheels.  
1909 May 10 Parkhead Lanark Glasgow Iron & Steel Co Ltd Thomas Smith 44 Miner Falls of roof Deceased was at work, when a large stone fell away from between lypes, carrying the props with it, and falling on him.  
1909 May 11 Douglas Park No 1 Lanark Wilson's & Clyde Coal Co Ltd David Shannon 16 Miner Falls of side Fall of side in road-head while occupied filling a hutch.  
1909 May 13 Bonnyside (Fireclay) Stirling Dougall & Sons Ltd Thomas Hillstone 50 Miner Falls of roof Deceased was boring a hole for a shot, when the roof coal suddenly fell upon him. The vibration caused by working the boring machine acting on the roof through the "machine tree" may have loosened the coal.  
1909 May 13 Blackhill No 9 Lanark Summerlee Iron Co Ltd Robert Hay 40 Miner Falls of roof Fall of roof at working face when taking down head coal.  
1909 May 20 Cowdenbeath Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd James Gavin, Junr 33 Manager On surface – railways, sidings or tramways Deceased was driving a locomotive, when the motion suddenly reversed, and as it was going toward a dead end buffer with which it would collide, he jumped to the ground and fractured his left leg: he succumbed to his injury about a month later. Newspaper report
1909 May 21 Rosehall No12 Lanark Robert Addie & Sons Collieries Ltd Peter McGhee 36 Brusher Falls of side Fall of side of road while repairing it.  
1909 May 26 Wallyford Edinburgh Edinburgh Collieries Co Ltd William McNeill 45 Brusher Falls of roof Deceased and two other brushers were about to set timber to a part of the roof just brushed, when a stone fell upon him and he was killed.  
1909 May 28 Quarter No 1 Stirling Wm Baird & Co Ltd Alexander Baxter 67 Overman Falls of roof Fall of roof in lye while clearing away a previous fall.  
1909 May 31 Roman Camp (Oil shale) Linlithgow Broxburn Oil Co Ltd Samuel Turtle 37 Miner Miscellaneous underground – sundries Some mineral fell from the face and slid down a very steep gradient, throwing out several props in its descent, one of which struck deceased and threw him against an upright prop, causing injuries to which he succumbed two days later.  
1909 June 4 Greenfield No 2 Lanark Archd Russell Ltd Audley McKeown 60 Miner Falls of roof Fall of roof in working place, where supports were only 3 ft. 3 ins. from coal face. Newspaper report
1909 June 4 Chapel Lanark Chapel Coal Co Ltd David Robertson, Junr 23 Machineman Falls of roof Deceased set some props to the roof after the coal cutter had passed, and shortly after the part fell upon him carrying the props with it. Newspaper report
1909 June 7 Fergushill No 28 Ayr A Finnie & Son John McDonald 37 Miner Miscellaneous underground – sundries When splitting a piece of coal it rolled over against his knee, and slightly injured it. Blood poisoning ensued, and he died on 9th June.  
1909 June 8 Banknock Cannerton Pit Stirling Banknock Coal Co Ltd Edward Kerr 40 Brusher Falls of roof Fall of roof in lye at pit bottom while repairing it.  
1909 June 8 Chapel Lanark Chapel Coal Co Ltd Archibald Gilchrist 49 Contractor Brusher Falls of roof Deceased was putting up the last prop on the line of "breakers " preparatory to fire a shot in the brushing, when the roof suddenly fell upon him. Newspaper report
1909 June 8 Auchencruive No 1 Ayr Wm Baird & Co Ltd Alex. McLellan 29 Miner Falls of roof Fall of roof in working place or near it.  
1909 June 9 Bothwell Park No 2 Lanark Wm Baird & Co Ltd James McArd 26 Repairer Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs He was said to be walking in front of full hutch after putting snibble in front wheel, when snibble came out, and hutch ran away and went over him. Newspaper report [gives name as McHarg]
1909 June 10 Callendar Stirling Callendar Coal Co Ltd James McPherson 23 Drawer Falls of roof Deceased was "backening" coal to the road, when a stone fell upon him; death resulted three weeks after.  
1909 June 11 Cornsilloch Lanark Archd Russell Ltd Allan Scott 35 Miner Miscellaneous underground – sundries He is said to have strained and ruptured himself while pushing a hutch, and he died on 13th October.  
1909 June 14 Cadzow No 2 Lanark Cadzow Coal Co Ltd George Brown 46 Miner Falls of side Fall of coal after withdrawing a sprag and preparing to wedge it down.  
1909 June 16 Polton Edinburgh Lothian Coal Co Ltd David Cairns 36 Brusher Falls of roof Deceased was building the debris made from the brushing, when a stone fell upon him injuring his head. He walked home, and died from a fractured skull six day afterwards.  
1909 June 19 Lumphinnans Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd James T. Cole 19 Repairer Falls of roof Deceased and his neighbour were engaged clearing a fall and securing the roof, when a stone fell upon him causing instant death.  
1909 June 23 Lochside Fife Lochside Coal & Fire clay Co George Burt 39 Miner Falls of roof Deceased was engaged taking off blaes from an old working for brickmaking purposes, when the roof suddenly fell and killed him instantly.  
1909 June 23 Fordell Fife Countess of Buckinghamshire Robert Wilson 18 Miner Falls of roof Deceased was engaged working off a "cut" of coal, when the roof suddenly fell away carrying the coal with it, and completely burying him.  
1909 June 23 Barony No 1 Ayr Wm Baird & Co Ltd John Boyd 38 Sinker Shaft accidents - falling from part way down He fell off a scaffold in the shaft while signalling.  
1909 June 24 Knowehead Stirling Banknock Coal Co Ltd Robert Leslie 24 Despatch clerk On surface – railways, sidings or tramways When passing between buffers of stationary waggons locomotive moved waggons, and he was caught.  
1909 June 25 Auchinreoch No 2 Stirling Wm Baird & Co Ltd Samuel Jackson 50 Miner Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs In passing stationary race of hutches on way to bottom, the race started and caught him.  
1909 June 26 Garthamlock No 6 Lanark Steel Company of Scotland Ltd Wm. Milligan 17 Drawer Haulage – run over or crushed by trams & tubs Apparently while illegally drawing in front of a hutch he got run over by it.  
1909 June 27 Ferniegare No 1 Lanark Archd Russell Ltd George Hunter 22 Machineman Explosions of fire damp or coal dust (1.45pm) Explosion occurred when electric trailing cable was being lengthened by means of a plug connection.

To follow

Newspaper Report 

John Adams 26 Machineman
Frank Tate 30 Gummer
1909 June 29 Annandale No 11 Ayr Caprington & Auchlochan Collieries James Donelly 32 Engineman On surface – by machinery While working close to an unfenced revolving shaft he got caught by it.  
1909 June 29 Dumbreck No 2 Stirling Wm Baird & Co Ltd Thos. Hughes 45 Miner Falls of roof Fall of roof in working place when either holing or taking down coal.  

Go to Accidents for July to December 1909

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Last Updated 22nd September 2007

 

 

 

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