Scottish Women Mining Fatalities
This is a list of Scottish female mining fatalities. It is, of course, just a snapshot and similar stories could be gathered from all around the world.
Women tended tended to work at the pithead and many many more men died, working at the coal face as they did. But this is a women's history website so my focus is on the women and girls. The average age of these women is under 20.
Most of this information has been collected from www.scottishmining.co.uk, to whom I am very grateful. Other names have been taken from http://www.fifepits.co.uk/ so thanks to them also.
Women worked underground until legislation changed in 1842 so there will certainly be many more who have gone (so far) unreported. If/when I find any more names or information I will add to the list. If you have any information, please do contact me.
Women tended tended to work at the pithead and many many more men died, working at the coal face as they did. But this is a women's history website so my focus is on the women and girls. The average age of these women is under 20.
Most of this information has been collected from www.scottishmining.co.uk, to whom I am very grateful. Other names have been taken from http://www.fifepits.co.uk/ so thanks to them also.
Women worked underground until legislation changed in 1842 so there will certainly be many more who have gone (so far) unreported. If/when I find any more names or information I will add to the list. If you have any information, please do contact me.
10th March 1689
at Ballingry, Blair Heugh in Fife: Janet Hodge, aged 47, died by a fall of coals. She was married to Da. Wilson, a coalier. _____________________________ October 1786
Unnamed woman A few days ago the following melancholy accident happened at one of the coal pits at Camlachie:- While the empty bucket was going down, it unfortunately loosened from its hinges, and in its fall struck a bearer woman out of the other bucket that was coming up, and falling to the bottom of the pit, (about 50 fathoms), she was killed on the spot. [Edinburgh Advertiser 24 October 1786] _____________________________ 31st January 1820
at Sheriffhall Colliery, Lothian: Ellen Miller died when coal fell from an ascending basket. From Newspaper reports: On Friday last, a large piece of coal fell from an ascending basket at Sheriffhall colliery, upon a woman, named Ellen Miller, employed in the coal-pit, and so shattered one of her legs, that amputation was resolved upon; but before the operation could be performed mortification took place and the poor woman died on Monday. [Caledonian Mercury 3 February 1820] _____________________________ 18th August 1834
at Wellwood Colliery A melancholy accident occurred at Wellwood Colliery, on Monday morning last; while three young women and a boy were descending the engine pit, which is about 50 fathoms deep, the rope suddenly gave way, and all four were precipitated to the bottom. Two of the girls, named Allan and Bowman, were killed on the spot, and the boy, named Forster, lived for about three hours; the other girl is still alive, but in a very dangerous state. The rope was apparently in good working order when the accident happened. A similar accident took place at the same colliery about three weeks ago, when one of the word and was descending the same pit, he fell out of the bucket, and was immediately deprived of life. And on Friday last, a young woman was killed at the adjoining colliery of Halbeath. [Scotsman 23rd August 1834] Names: Jane Allan age 17 Ann Bowman age 17, daughter of John Bowman William Forrester age 14, son of Wm Forrester [source; pre-1855 death index- Fife Family History Society] _____________________________ 22nd February 1839
at Newbattle Colliery On Friday the 22nd ultimo as one of the workmen in Newbattle Colliery were setting off one of their waggons, on an inclined lane, underground, it was not observed that it was unconnected with the crane which regulates the descent of the vehicle, when it came with its accumulated violence against Catherine Pryde, and produced such severe injury on her body that she died on her way home to the village of Easthouses. An aged and blind widowed mother has, by this event, been derived of her principal means of support. [Caledonian Mercury 7 March 1839] _____________________________ 26th April 1841
at Donibristle Death of Helen Bowman, aged 24 Distressing and Lamentable Accident – On Monday morning, a woman of the name of Bowman, who was employed at one of the coal mines belonging to Sir P. C. Durham, Fordel, went down, as usual, in one of the tubs to the bottom of the pit, when unfortunately one of the cleeks attached to the tub caught hold of part of her clothes when it was beginning to ascend to the top, and not being able to extricate herself, she was carried upwards 14 fathoms, when she fell to the bottom, and was so severely injured that she died on Tuesday morning. What makes this the more distressing is, that the deceased was to have been proclaimed for marriage the ensuing Sabbath. Her brother, in a descending tub, passed her while being dragged up the pit. [Stirling Observer, quoted in Scotsman 1 May 1841] [died 27 April 1841, buried 30 April 1841, listed as dying in an accident – Source Fife FHS pre-1855 Deaths CD. See also evidence of David Naysmyth & Catherine Walker to 1842 Royal Helen Bowman Commission] _____________________________ 4th November 1843
Killed at Palace Craig Colliery, belonging to W. Baird, Esq. M.P., and Co. a man of the name of Vicker, and his drawer, a young female of the name of Mary M'Ewan, a girl of sixteen years of age. The pit is near the Room pace. [Northern Star 4 November 1843] _____________________________ 4th May 1847
Fatal Accident at Bo’ness On Tuesday forenoon last, during the severe gale that prevailed, the stalk recently erected at the Schoolyard pit, Bo'ness, was blown down upon the adjoining houses, completely levelling them to the ground ; and we are sorry to add that the accident was attended with fatal results - Mary Thomson, the wife of a collier, was found killed in the ruins, and several other individuals were very severely injured. [Stirling Observer 6 May 1847] _____________________________ 9th August 1854
at Fordel Colliery Fatal Accident - On Wednesday, the 9th of August current, Betsey Cook, a pit head worker at Fordel Colliery, was about to replace an empty tub on the cage to descend the pit in which the coals are raised, and, lamentable to say, instead of placing it on the cage, she accidentally pushed it into the open aperture of the pit, and fell down after it to the bottom, a height of about 40 fathoms, and her body was so severely mangled that death was instantaneous. Cook was unmarried and is said to be about forty years of age, and had been working at the same employ for a number of years. [Dunfermline Journal 18 August 1854] _____________________________ 21st January 1856
at Oakley, Fife Death of Marion Drysdale, aged 15, and others Newspaper Report Explosion in a Coal Pit At Oakley, near Dunfermline - Four Lives Lost On the forenoon of Monday, an explosion of foul air took place in a coal pit at the Forth Iron Works, about two hundred yards on the west side of Oakley near Dunfermline, whereby, we regret to state, four lives have been lost. It appears that an ironstone seam had been opened in the pit, about 33 fathoms from the surface; where, to enable the men to form the ironstone bottom, a scaffolding was placed; the coal seam being seven and a half fathoms under that. Three men were engaged in the pit when the explosion happened. The noise produced, as heard in the neighbourhood, resembled the sharp report of a cannon; and the force of the explosion at the mouth of the pit may be imagined when from such a depth, various missiles were seen projected into the air, and a girl, 15 years of age, who was at the mouth of the pit, was instantly deprived of life. The cause of the melancholy accident cannot be exactly explained, although there is a probability that it has arisen from some act of carelessness on the part of one or other of the three unfortunate sufferers. They were the only persons in the pit at the time, and were provided with suitable Davy lamps. One of the oversmen, named William Jamieson, was in the pit and the place where the accident happened shortly before, when there was no symptom of foul air. He states, indeed, that whilst he was there, a current of air was passing down one side of the pit. He, however, warned the men that danger might be apprehended, and counselled them to be extremely cautious. Some suppose that in trimming the lamp or lamps, the old wicks, not properly extinguished, had been thrown carelessly down below the scaffolding, and that as no current of air was there, that foul air might have collected. Another man, named George Drysdale, was along with Jamieson in the pit about two hours previous to the explosion. It is his opinion that the accident was caused by one of the men having lifted a part of the scaffold, and put a lamp under it for the purpose of fitting a conductor to convey water under the scaffold from a cut in the shaft above the ironstone. Immediately after the occurrence, the most strenuous efforts were made by the men in the works and the neighbourhood to recover the bodies of the men. Their remains were taken out about 2 hours after the melancholy occurrence. Their names are as follows:- James Erskine, who has left a wife and 6 children; Andrew Mitchell, who has left a wife and four children; Robert Martin, unmarried. The name of the female who was killed while standing close by the mouth of the pit, was Marion Drysdale, aged 15 years. The deplorable occurrence, as may be supposed, has occasioned a feeling of deep sadness in the village, and among the numerous men who are employed in the extensive works. The utmost anxiety was shown by those having the management of the works, and others, and no labour was spared after the explosion in extricating the remains of the unfortunate men. [Scotsman 23 Jan 1856] Mine Inspectors Report Robert Williams, Inspector of Coal Mines: Oakley near Dunfermline owned by Forth Iron Co. The accident at Oakley, near Dunfermline occurred in a pit, newly sunk to the main coal, which produced a considerable quantity of fire damp. In this pit, which is 85 yards deep, there is a band of ironstone 15 yards above the coal. In commencing the working of this ironstone, a scaffold was fixed in the pit; but being put there to serve a temporary purpose, no care was taken to make the joinings of the planks air tight which composed it. There was also an opening made in the partition (or midwall) where this scaffold was fixed, which would allow the downcast current of air to pass through it, into the upcast division of the pit, leaving that part of the pit under the scaffold, and the opening in the partition unventilated, which showed a great want of of consideration or judgement on the part of those under whose management these operations were conducted, in not either having the joinings of the scaffold made airtight or the space underneath it ventilated, particularly when i was known that the coal at the bottom of the pit generated a quantity of firedamp. By what means the carburetted hydrogen gas was ignited is unknown. The 3 men that were on the scaffold were found dead at the bottom of the pit, and a young woman who was on the pithead at the time was killed by a piece of wood falling upon her, which was thrown out of the pit by the force of the explosion. Persons Killed:
2 March 1863
at Redding Colliery Falkirk Serious Accident - On Friday, a woman called Mary Bain was engaged at No. 9 Pit, Redding colliery, along with another woman, in "trimming" waggons, and while doing so several empty hutches which were standing about six yards off broke loose from their moorings, came against the waggon which was being trimmed, and propelled it along the line. Bain, in consequence lost her balance, and fell in betwixt the waggons, and a plank used in crossing the scree caught her by the throat, injuring her severely. She afterwards got entangled with the brake, and sustained a severe blow on the forehead. No hopes are entertained of her recovery. [Scotsman 3 March 1863] NB Mary Bain, aged 36 died 2nd March 1863. The death was not registered until 2 April 1864. _____________________________ 26th February 1866
Stand Colliery, Aridrie Bridget Mechan, a Labourer aged 22, was fatally injured when she fell down the pit after a tub. _____________________________ 3rd May 1866
at Drumgray Colliery, Airdrie M. Garallie, a woman aged 26, died when she stumbled in stepping off windlass platform and fell down the pit. _____________________________ 3rd July 1870
at Climpy, Carnwath Two children fatally injured – not listed in Inspector’s report. A boiler explosion occurred at Climpy Pit, Wilsontown Colliery, on Sunday, the 3rd July, which resulted in loss of life to two children who happened to be at the pit at the time ; but as they were not employed at the colliery their names do not appear on the list. The boiler was 20 feet long, 4 feet diameter, and built of f-inch plates. Pressure 201bs. on the square inch. It had only been three years in use, but the water was so bad that some of the plates along the water line were reduced by corrosion to the thickness of paper. There was nothing to indicate what had been the pressure of steam when the boiler exploded. The engine-man's son, a boy of twelve years of age, was, unknown to the owners, in charge of the engine at the time. [Report by Ralph Moore, Inspector of Mines, 1870] Carnwath – Serious Boiler Explosion – On Sunday afternoon, an accident occurred at No. 1 Pit, Climpy, Carnwath, whereby two persons lost their lives, and other three were severely injured. It appears that the engineman of the pit, named Walter Annan, had gone to church, and before he returned his eldest son went to the engine-house to pump some water. His mother and other three of the family also took a walk to the pit and when there the boiler exploded with tremendous force, killed one instantaneously, and severely injuring the others. Another died the same evening from the injuries received. So terrific was the explosion that it was heard nearly two miles distant, The boiler was thrown a distance of 160 yards from its former position. The pit is leased by Messrs Gray & Paul. The cause of the occurrence has not been ascertained, but it is understood the boiler is comparatively new, having been erected within 3 years. [Hamilton Advertiser 9 July 1870] The Dead:
_____________________________ 20th April 1877
at Limerigg Colliery Agnes Hamilton, aged 19, Pithead Assistant died when she fell down the shaft from the top scaffold. _____________________________ 14th September 1877
at Holton, Alloa CKL Margaret Frazer, aged 34, a pithead assistant fell from pithead scaffold with a loaded hutch, through the scaffold giving way. 14 September 1877 Fatal Pit-head Accident - On Friday, while two pit-head workers, named Jane Cochrane or Fraser and Ann Paterson, were shifting the hutches at Holton pit-head, near Alloa, some of the roofing, which consisted of iron plates, gave way. One of them falling upon Mrs Fraser, broke her right arm, and completely smashed her right leg above the ankle.
The women were taken to Alloa Hospital, where Mrs Fraser died the same night about seven o'clock. Paterson is in a hopeful condition. [Aberdeen Journal 17 September 1877] _____________________________ 20th November 1877
at Dundonald Pits & Mines Death of Ann Japp, aged 14 – Fell down shaft. Lochgelly - Fatal Accident - A young woman named Jaap lost her life on Tuesday morning at Dundonald Colliery belonging to Mr Alexander Naysmith. She was employed on the pithead and was endeavouring to put a tub on the cage, not observing that the cage was resting four or five feet high above the pithead, when she fell with the tub to the bottom of the shaft, and was instantaneously killed [Dunfermline Journal 24 November 1877] _____________________________ 26 June 1879
at No. 4 Pit, Blantyre Colliery Blantyre – Accident – On Thursday night, Mary Evans, about 4 years of age, daughter of Wm Evans, miner, was severely injured, while playing underneath some standing waggons at the railway siding at No 4 pit, Blantyre Colliery. [Hamilton Advertiser June 28 1879] _____________________________ 8th November 1879
at Cavinhill No.5, Airdrie (W. Baird & Co) Helen Cherrie, aged 38, assistant at screen and James McGuire, aged 84, labourer were run over by a race of hutches which got disconnected upon an incline. From Main body of report: The pit is situated upwards of 400 yards from the "screens," and the coals are forwarded in the hutches to them by a self acting incline, on which twelve hutches are usually run in a " race " or train at a time. The hutches are each attached to a chain which passes under them, and is secured to the incline rope at the upper, or end nearest to it. On the day of the accident the chain to which the hutches were attached broke, and eight of them were liberated, that is, they passed down the incline uncontrolled, and across the scaffold at the screen where deceased were sitting. They were driven over the scaffolding along with four of the hutches, and fell a distance of 16 feet or thereby. Their injuries were severe, and both died from the effects thereof ; one of them was a very aged labourer, long engaged about the mine, and said to be upwards of 84 years of age. There was a safety-appliance, or "snecks " in use, which when acted upon, diverted the '' race " off the main line to a side " lye," but the sufferers were not aware of the train being lowered at the time, and could not take advantage of it to protect themselves. For the future it is proposed to reverse the arrangement, and the "race" when being lowered for the screens, unless guided by the " screeman," will pass into a side " lye " prepared to receive it. 8 November 1879 Airdrie – Fatal Accident – On Saturday a miner named Macguire, a married man, lost his life at a pit at Palacecraig. He was in charge of some waggons which were being drawn up an incline by means of a rope, which broke, and the waggons ran over him, and crushed him to death. [Scotsman 10 November 1879] _____________________________ 28th October 1880
at Southfield No.1, Slamannan STI (Wm Black & Sons) Jane Winning, Pithead worker died as a result of falling into a shaft from the surface. She ran a hutch into pit when cage was not there. There was a gate, in terms of General Rule 14, which she had not fastened up. _____________________________ 6th March 1883
at Rawyards, New Monkland (Rawyards Coal Co.) Ellen McPartland, aged 17, assisting on pithead, died as a result of falling into shaft from surface. Fell down shaft with an empty hutch, when the cage was not there. The gate had been left open. _____________________________ 21st April 1883
at Rawyards, New Monkland, Lanark (Rawyards Coal Co. Ltd) Mary Stewart, a Trimmer aged 18, died as a result of being run over by loaded waggons, which she was attempting to sprag. _____________________________ 23rd August 1886
at Lady Pit, Little Raith Death of Christina Baxter, aged 19 Hit by waggon. _____________________________ 14th January 1891
at Crofthead, Linlithgow Helen Scott, aged 10, (not employed) died as a result of being crushed by waggons. From Main body of report: Had gone to the pit with food for relative. _____________________________ 4th June 1892
at Haughhead, Uddingston (Haughhead Coal Co.) Catherine Nugent, a stone picker aged 17, died when her clothes were caught by a revolving shaft of picking table. From Main body of report: Illustrates the necessity there is for the securely fencing of all the moving parts of machinery. A young woman, employed at the pit head in cleaning coal, which passed over a travelling picking table, was standing looking out of a window when her clothing got caught by a revolving shaft, which was about a foot above the level of the floor. Being unable to extricate herself, she was carried round the shaft, and before the engine was stopped she was so severely injured that she was dead when taken out. _____________________________ 30th December 1893
at Cowdenbeath, Fife (Cowdenbeath Coal Co. Ltd) Mary Ann Hunter, a pithead runner aged 18, died when she was caught by a cage above ground. From Main body of report: This was the only fatal accident to a woman about the mines in the district, and was caused by deceased, who was a pithead worker, attempting to remove a piece of coal from the bottom deck of a double-decked cage, after a signal had been given to the engineman to place the top deck level with the pithead. She was crushed between the cage and plates. _____________________________ 26th December 1894
at Cowdenbeath, Fife (Cowdenbeath Coal Co. Ltd) Mary Murray, a pithead worker aged 15, died as a result of being knocked down by waggons. From Main body of report: Deceased, who was the only female that lost her life about the mines in the district during the year, was employed carrying prop wood from the wood yard to the shaft, and while so engaged she had to cross the main branch line and other lines .of rails in connexion with the screens. She and another girl had been engaged during the morning carrying wood, and when returning to the wood yard from the shaft were met by a train of empty waggons, which were being pushed forward by a locomotive engine just .as they emerged from under the pithead scaffold ; before they could get clear of the rails they were struck by the leading waggon and deceased was run over. The shunter, who was on the buffer of the leading waggon, saw the girls approach from under the scaffold and shouted to them, and at the same time gave the signal to the engine-driver to stop the train, but it was too late to avert the accident. The girls were absorbed in conversation, and not sufficiently on the alert, or they would have seen the train approaching. The system of conveying prop wood by means of carrying it across the lines of rails while work is in operation is objectionable. 26 December 1894 Fatal Colliery Accident In Fife - Yesterday a girl named Mary Murray (15), daughter of a miner residing at Cowdenbeath, was run down by a pug engine at No. 9 Pit, Cowdenbeath Colliery, and killed on the spot. A second girl was knocked over, but escaped with a badly injured arm. The girls had been engaged carrying props, and had crossed the siding. [Dundee Courier 27 December 1894] _____________________________ 12th January 1898
at Bardykes, Lanark (Merry & Cunninghame Ltd) Mary Rafferty, a stone picker aged 17, died when, while crawling up a shoot from the shaker scree to release a piece of coal her shawl and hair were caught by a revolving shaft. From Main body of report: The deceased had crawled up a coal shoot where she had no occasion to go, when her clothes got caught by a revolving shaft. _____________________________ 31st May 1898
at Carronrigg, Stirling (A.G. Moore & Co) Janet Prow, a hutch runner aged 16 died as a result of being caught by the spur wheels of the haulage engine after crawling through the fencing with other girls to take a meal. From Main body of report: The deceased with other girls went into the dook engine-house, and went inside the fencing of the engine to take their meal, as it seems they were in the habit of doing. She fell among the moving parts of the machinery, and was killed instantaneously. The under manager was working the engine at the time, and he ought not to have permitted the girls to go inside the fencing. Newspaper Reports - 31 May 1898 The Death of a Girl at a Colliery - Fatal Accidents Inquiry - On Tuesday, in the Stirling Sheriff Court, before interim Sheriff-Substitute Liddall and a jury, an inquiry was held in regard to the death of Janet Parker Prow, 17 years of age, pithead worker, Milton Row, Dunipace, which occurred on 31st May, through her falling amongst the wheels of the dook engine at Carronriggs Colliery. Mr Welsh, procurator-fiscal, conducted the inquiry, which was taken part in by Mr Ronaldson, Glasgow, inspector of mines for the western district of Scotland, and Mr Chisholm Robertson.' Alexander Langley, under manager at the colliery, deponed that there was a fence around the engine, inside which no one was allowed. The engineman being engaged at other work, and a signal being made for starting the engine, he (Langley) attended to it, and as he did so some of the girls came into the engine house by the east door. The engine was just set agoing, and Prow, who was first, must have crept through the fence, stumbled over the sole plate, and fell among the wheels. He immediately stopped the engine, which had gone six teeth, and with the assistance of others turned the wheel of the engine backwards to remove the girl's body, which was very much crushed, death, in his opinion, being instantaneous. He did not know why the girls were there. He had often warned them against going inside the fence, and the girl Prow knew of the rule. The girls began work at 7, and left off at 3. They had an hour for breakfast, and were allowed into the engine-house to eat it, but not inside the fence. He saw the girl enter by the door at the other end of the engine from where he was at the lever, and might have shouted to her had he known her intention to get through the fence, but only something like half a minute had gone before she was among the wheels. The engine had only gone about twenty yards altogether, and from the time he saw what had happened until it was stopped, it had only gone six teeth or about three feet. James Bain deponed he had been engineman for two years, and had often warned the girls out from the fence. They were allowed into the house for their breakfast, but at that time the engine was at rest. Inside the fence there was a goodly number of empty cement bags, on which the girls might sit while at their meals. Janet Weir (15), pithead worker, said they began at 7, and stopped between 4 and 5. They had half-an-hour for their breakfast, from 9.30 till 10. About 12.30 they got 10 minutes to eat a piece. On the day of the accident she did the same as usual, crept through the engine fence, and sat down on the bags to eat her piece. The engine was going at the time, Mr Langley attending to it. She could not say whether Janet Prow tripped or not. She rose to let her get to her piece, and said, "Watch yourself, Janet,"' and she just took two steps, and fell. They went there every day to eat their pieces, but Bain, the engineman, often put them out. Langley did not say anything when she went through the fence. They worked till 4.30, and sometimes 5, and till 2 on Saturdays. Other evidence was led. Mr Chisholm Robertson remarked on the apparent carelessness in management which prevailed at the pit, and more particularly in the girls being allowed to go inside the fence at the engine. There was also a great deal to be said against the shortness of the time allowed for meals, which was a clear breach of the Act, which allowed the workers an hour and a half. The Sheriff also remarked upon the inadequate accommodation provided for the rest and comfort of the girls while at their meals, and the jury, while recording a verdict in accordance with the evidence as to the cause of death, added a rider to the effect that a place ought to be provided where the workers might rest in comfort and safety. [Falkirk Herald 11 June 1898] Settlement of a Claim for Damages - In connection with the fatal accident to Janet Parker Prow, daughter of Arthur Prow, miner, Dunipace, Denny, who was killed on 31st May at Messrs A. G. Moore and Company's colliery by falling into the machinery, a claim was intimated on behalf of the father, on the ground that the machinery should have been better fenced, and that a suitable place should have been provided by the colliery owners for his daughter and the other girls engaged to take their meals. The accident happened when the girl was passing inside the fencing at the machinery, that being, it was stated, the place where the girls were in the habit of eating their meals. The matter has now been amicably settled by a payment to the pursuer. The pursuer's agent was Mr J. Jeffrey Hunter, writer, 139 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, and the defenders' agent, Mr J. S. Maclean, 75 St. George's Place, Glasgow. [Falkirk Herald 23 July 1898] _____________________________ 14th April 1909
at Fauldhead, Dumfries (Sanquhar & Kirkconnel Collieries Ltd) Death of Marion Halliday, a stonepicker aged 14, on surface – railways, sidings or tramways. When crossing rails in front of two moving waggons at the scree she got run over. _____________________________ 30th October 1911
at Dysart, Frances, Fife (Earl of Rosslyn’s Collieries Ltd) Death of Agnes Coventry aged 16, working on picking table: on surface – by machinery. When bending under a revolving shaft to reach some dirt which had been lifted off the tables, her clothes were caught by the shaft, and practically torn off. She was removed to the hospital and appeared to be progressing favourably but she collapsed and died late the same day from shock. The shaft was cased in, but one of the boards which had become loose had been removed and not replaced. Named on Frances Colliery Memorial. 30th October 1911 Girl Fatally Injured at a Dysart Pit - While Agnes Coventry (16), who resided at 4 Edington Place, Dysart, was engaged yesterday at the picking table at the Francis Pit (Earl of Rosslyn colliery), her shawl was caught by a revolving shaft and before she could be extricated she received severe injuries. Dr Derrick was immediately summoned, and after attending to the patient he ordered her removal to Kirkcaldy Hospital, where she died. [Scotsman 1 November 1911] _____________________________ 25th June 1916
at Valleyfield Colliery Death of Annie Kelly, aged 19 - Crushed between loaded hutch and a coal tumbler. Dunfermline Journal 15 July 1916 - not yet transcribed _____________________________ 12th April 1918
at Woolmet (Niddrie & Benhar Coal Company) Death of Christina Clark, a pithead worker aged 16. A sixteen-year-old pithead girl, Christina Clark. 27 Avenue Square, New Craighall, was instantaneously killed at Woolmet Colliery of the Niddrie and Benhar Coal Company by being struck on the throat by a handle that had broken off from a crane. [Scotsman 13 April 1918] _____________________________ 24th January 1920
at Roslin Colliery Death of Mary McCallum Watson. Register of FAI - falling onto cage _____________________________ 26th September 1920
at Bowhill Death of Catherine Marshall Kerr, aged 14 Newspaper report - Auchterderran pages, Dunfermline Journal 20 November 1920 - not yet transcribed 26 September 1920 Fatal Accident to Bowhill Girl: A girl named Kerr, who resided with her parents at Seventh Street, Bowhill, died in hospital from injuries sustained in the sawmill at Bowhill colliery on Saturday. The girl had been working about the sawmill shed, when she was caught by the revolving shafting and seriously injured about the head, face, and body. [Scotsman 28 September 1920] NB Catherine Marshall Kerr age 14 died West Fife Hospital, Dunfermline _____________________________ Other Links: You'll find videos of women in mining in Scotland here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9hzhTBv5Ek Keystone produced this video in 1911 on "A Day in the Life of a Wigan Coal Miner" It shows the men at work but also the women at the pithead https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D581TDHFpmE |
23rd September 1786
at Birnieknowe Coal Works in Ayrshire: Janet Merrie died (no further info) _____________________________ 12th October 1810
Unnamed women On Friday last, as two young women were ascending a coal-pit at Auchielonie, a few miles from Glasgow, in which they were employed, the catch of the bucket, when near the mouth of the pit, unfortunately lost its hold, when they were precipitated to the bottom, a distance of 30 fathoms. One of them was killed on the spot, and the other survived only a few hours [Caledonian Mercury 18 October 1810] _____________________________ 5th August 1834
at Halbeath in Fife: Agnes Heind died (no further info, although she is mentioned, in passing, in a newspaper report of 18th Aug 1834) _____________________________ 16 August 1834
at Borrowstowness Falkirk Another Coal Pit Accident - On Saturday last, a very melancholy accident took place at Borrowstowness , attended with loss of life. A girl named Ferguson , who was engaged to be married to a young man, and whose banns were to have been proclaimed next day for the last time - disregarding an old custom among the colliers in that quarter by which they refrain from going to the pit during the-time they are being a bride - was in the act of descending the Burn pit, along with a cousin of the name of Main, about 15 years of age , and had proceeded about halfway or 40 fathoms, when the bucket was met by the loaded one ascending. The two, by some means , came in contact , by which that going down was capsized, and the two unfortunate friends were precipitated to the bottom. They were both killed on the spot. [Scotsman 20 August 1834] _____________________________ 26th June 1838
at Newton Midlothian Accident at Colliery causing the death of Alison Hay _____________________________ 19th October 1838
at Aberdour Melancholy Accident - On Friday last a young woman, named Margaret White, while at her work in a coal pit at Aberdour, was struck dead, in consequence of a piece of coal falling from one of the tubs when at the top of the pit. [Caledonian Mercury 27 October 1838] _____________________________ 7th October 1839
at Ayrshire Sarah Donnachie killed by coal wagon _____________________________ 3rd March 1840
at Scaterigg Fatal Accident - An accident , which has been painfully fatal in its results occurred at Scaterigg Colliery on the morning of Tuesday se'en night , the particulars of which are as follows:- About ten o'clock on the day mentioned, a little girl, named Elizabeth M'Luckie; about eleven years of age, proceeded to one of the pits with her father' s breakfast, accompanied by her relative, Grace Smith, a girl of the same age. In the absence of the pithead man, the children proceeded to amuse themselves by running in and out of the hurleys upon the bank, and in doing so, they unthinkingly allowed too much way to get open one of the hurleys, when from the impetus it had received, it rolled into the pit-mouth, and the unfortunate children were dashed to the bottom - a distance of twenty-two fathoms - and killed on the spot. The father was near the pit-bottom at the moment, and heard the shrieks proceeding from above, as the poor girls were being hurried to destruction, and in a few seconds the painful duty was left him of picking up the mangled remains of his daughter and grand-child [Glasgow Herald 10 March 1840] _____________________________ 3rd December 1846
at Airdrie House On Thursday night an unfortunate female named Janet Drummond, a native of Auchterarder, crept into a hut at a coal-pit near Airdrie House gate, for shelter, and, while asleep, her clothes caught fire, and every stitch of them was consumed while she in agony ran up and down an adjoining park shrieking for help. Assistance was procured as soon as possible and medical aid called in, but the case was hopeless ; she lingered on for some time, when death terminated her sufferings. [Stirling Observer 10 December 1846] _____________________________ 30th December 1851
At Cuttlehill Colliery, Fife Death of Mary Wilson _____________________________ 17th April 1852
at Wellwood Colliery Fatal Accident On Saturday the 17th current, Grace Russell, a young woman about 15 years of age and employed at the Leadside pit of the Wellwood Colliery, assisting the banksman at the pithead - the part of the work which she had to perform being to shove the empty tubs into the cage when the full ones were drawn away by the banksman. The pit is divided into two compartments and the coals raised by two cages moving transversely, so that when the full one arrives at the top of the pit the empty one reaches the bottom. About two o'clock in the afternoon the young woman, by an unfortunate mistake, instead of running the tub into the cage, which was then even with the surface in the west division of the pit, she pushed it into the eastern division which was then open, and fell along with it to the bottom, a depth of 48 fathoms and of course was killed. The father of the unfortunate young woman who is a smith at the work, was in the pit when the accident took place, having gone down shortly before to shoe some of the ponies which are employed underground. [Dunfermline Journal 30 April 1852] _____________________________ 18th October 1856
at Redding, near Falkirk At the Duke of Hamilton colliery, Helen Snaddon, a pithead woman, died as a result of falling down pit whilst pushing forward a hutch. _____________________________ 4th February 1858
at Stonerigg, Airdrie At the William Black colliery, Elizabeth Morgan, a pit-head woman, died by falling down pit along with an empty hutch when the cage was at bottom of pit _____________________________ 20th November 1858
at Little Reath, Dunfermline At the Lochgelly Iron Co. colliery, Robina Johnston, a pit-head woman, died by being crushed betwixt cage and beams of pithead scaffold. _____________________________ 30th December 1859
at Cuttlehill near Dunfermline At the Netherbeath (Henderson, Wallace & Co) colliery, Mary Wilson, a pit-head worker, died by being crushed between cage and a beam of a scaffold at pithead. Newspaper report - Fatal Accident at Netherbeath Colliery - An accident, which resulted in the death of a young woman of the name of Wilson, belonging to this neighbourhood, occurred here on Friday morning. When withdrawing the hutch from a machine which is erected for lowering the coals from one scaffold to another, she happened by some inadvertency to be on the wrong side. As usual, a loaded hutch was put in at the top for descent, which brought up the one at which the unfortunate woman was engaged, and crushed her between a cross beam and the ascending hutch. When taken out, life was extinct. No blame, we understand, is to be attributed to anyone. [Dunfermline Press 5 January 1860] _____________________________ 25th June 1860
at Townhill near Dunfermline Margaret Paterson, a pit-head woman died by falling off scaffold at pithead. Newspaper Report - Fatal Accident at the Townhill Colliery - We regret to have to state that a woman named Margaret Paterson, about twenty-eight years of age, met with a fatal accident on the morning of Monday last, while engaged at Townhill Colliery, where she had been employed as a pit -head worker. About ten o'clock she had been assisting in running one of the hutches along the gangway at the pit-head. The passage is very narrow, about five feet in all, the half of this space being occupied centrally by a sort of rail on which the hutches are conducted, thus leaving only about fifteen inches on either side. It appears that on this limited space beside the hutch rails the woman had been standing, in the act of emptying the hutch, when she missed her footing and fell backwards. Behind was a sink of about twelve feet to a lower platform, and the poor woman fell to the bottom, coming in contact with an empty hutch below, the injuries sustained being chiefly about the stomach. Assistance was immediately at hand, and medical advice obtained ; but her injuries were of such a serious character that nothing could be done save to afford temporary relief from suffering. She lingered in agony until the following morning, about eight or nine o'clock, when she expired. The deceased had been wont to reside with her mother, and was the aged woman's only support. [Dunfermline Saturday Press 30 June 1860] _____________________________ 11th October 1861
at Ayr Colliery Fatal Accident - A serious and eventually a fatal accident occurred to a young girl about 18 years of age, on Friday evening, on the Ayr colliery Company's mineral line of railway. The girl, whose name was Mary Cullibert, was in the service of Mr Wright, manager of the colliery, and she was sent to town on some errand of her master's, and while returning home in the evening on one of the colliery engines, one of the steam pipes burst, and the poor girl was very seriously scalded about the body. Medical aid was procured, but the girl died about eight o'clock on Saturday night . The fireman of the engine was severely scalded while trying to save the girl but he is not in danger. [Scotsman 15 October 1861] _____________________________ 15 December 1863
at Carronhall Pit, Falkirk Margaret Rankin, Pithead Woman, aged 55, fatally injured by waggon wheel running over her at pit mouth. Falkirk Fatal Accident – On Tuesday a woman, named Margaret Rankin, met with an accident at one of the Carronhall pits, which resulted fatally on the following evening. It appears that the poor woman had been taking a loaded waggon from under the screen, when her foot slipped, and she fell in before the hutch, which passed over her leg and arm. She was dreadfully injured, and died in great agony on the evening named. [Scotsman 18 December 1863] _____________________________ 12 May 1866
at No. 1 Balbardie Coal Pit, Lothian Melancholy Accident In A Coal-Pit – Two Lives Lost An accident, resulting in the death of two girls and endangering the life of a miner, occurred in No. 1 Balbardie Coal-Pit, near Bathgate, on Saturday night last. It appears that two girls, named Catherine Leech and Ann Baxter, each about sixteen years of age, went to the pit in question about eight o'clock in the evening, carrying the suppers of an uncle and two brothers of the girl Leech who were working in the pit. They found the men at the pit bottom, and while waiting there proposed to go down and see the workings. The men objected; but the girls insisted and carried their point. They, along with the uncle, Alexander Leech, got upon a boggie, or small waggon, which travels on an incline, and the signal was given to the engineman at the pit-head to set the boggie in motion, which was accordingly done. There was, however, a slack in the rope attached to the boggie, and while it was running rapidly down, the check, caused by the tightening of the rope, broke it, and the boggie, left to itself, dashed with great velocity down the incline, and overturned, throwing the unfortunate, persons out with great violence on the road. An alarm having been given, the brothers Leech proceeded down the incline, and found Alexander Leech lying under the boggie insensible ; the girl Baxter, who died almost immediately, near to him ; and the girl Leech twenty yards farther down, much injured. The girl Leech has since died, and but little hopes are entertained of the man Leech's recovery. We understand that there is an order prohibiting any one from riding on a boggie in the pit under a penalty. [Fife Herald 17 May 1866] _____________________________ 1st August 1876
at Prince of Wales, Wellwood Death of Catherine Martin, aged 20 – Crushed by wagons. _____________________________ 30th September 1876
at Fordell Colliery, Dalgety Ellen Cook, Isabel Harrower, Isabel Philp (aged 17), Catherine Penman, Pithead workers, and Andrew Arnot, a 40 year old Engineman, were killed due to the bursting of a steam boiler. From Main body of report: The accident was the bursting of a steam boiler. Unfortunately seven girls were sheltering themselves at the fire doors at the time, and they were injured with the flying bricks. The engineman and 4 of the girls were killed, and five other persons injured. Had the girls been at work more of them would have escaped. The boiler was one of a range of three which supplied steam to a pumping engine, and also a winding engine; it was of the ordinary egg-shape, 25 feet long, 6 feet diameter, and had been working at a pressure of 30lbs on the square inch for upwards of 23 years. It was furnished with all the fittings required by the statute and there was nothing to indicate weakness or that it had too little water in it. In addition to the examination made by myself, the Procurator Fiscal had two engineers, and these gentlemen made a careful examination and drew up an exhaustive report, but the Lord Advocate did not see fit to take proceedings against any one, and I do not see how he could. I am inclined to think that colliery steam boilers of this type should not be used for more than 10 or 15 years; they are often fed with impure water, perhaps often short of water, and may get harder usage than the manager or owner can be aware of. The owner removed the other two boilers. He has since insured his boilers with one of the insurance companies. These companies require a certain uniformity of practice in fittings and strengths, and undertake, for so much per annum, to send practical boiler makers to examine the boilers and give directions as to repairs. I think they do much good. Newspaper Reports: 30 September 1876 Frightful Boiler Explosion Near Dunfermline – Four persons killed and six injured On Saturday afternoon a frightful accident happened at the William Pit, Fordel Colliery, near Dunfermline , by which four persons lost their lives and six were seriously injured. About half-past one o'clock work was temporarily stopped at the pit in order to await the supply of material from below, this giving the girls - eight in number - employed at the pithead an opportunity of taking lunch. Accordingly, the girls, with one exception descended from their working places and gathered in front of the furnace of the most northerly of the large boilers, which were placed in a central part of the works. Scarcely had the girls done so when the boiler referred to exploded with a terrific noise, causing a scene of the most appalling character. The boiler was lifted sheer off its seat, and carried over the top of the pithead, falling in fragments all around the works. The other boilers were wrenched from their places and completely overturned, while the greater portion of the building was completely wrecked. The noise of the explosion soon brought hundreds of people to the scene from all directions, and when the vast cloud of ashes and dust which covered the area of the works had settled down, some idea of the magnitude of the disaster was gained. It was found that almost all the pithead girls had been buried beneath a heap of rubbish at the spot where they were sitting. The work of extricating them was proceeded with as speedily as possible, though it was a task of great difficulty , the bricks and stones being hot. The stifled groans of the unfortunate sufferers were incentives to hurry forward the work, and those of their relatives who were present became almost frantic in their eagerness to know the fate of the girls. Fully an hour elapsed before all were brought out, and the spectacle which they presented was a heart-rending one, most of them having been severely scalded with the escaping steam from the boiler, and otherwise injured. Two of the girls were dead and one was barely alive, while the others were in an unconscious state. They were conveyed to their respective homes as speedily as possible, their bodies being wrapped up in blankets, &c. After the removal of the girls, it was found that the engineman, named Andrew Arnot, was missing, and, on a search being made, his dead body was found lying at a point about 40 yards from the works. There were no external marks of injury on the body beyond an abrasion at the mouth. Archibald George, the fireman, was found beneath the platform at the pithead, giving indications of keen suffering from scalding. The poor fellow gradually sunk into unconsciousness, in which state he continued until he was taken home. Four persons - viz., William Speed, the coal-weigher, Robert Archibald, William Archibald , and Mary Black - made a narrow escape. They were standing on the pit head platform when the explosion occurred, and although portions of the rubbish were driven through the shed frame around them, they were only slightly injured. Speed made a leap from the platform to the loading ground behind, a depth of about 12 feet. Dr Lane, Crossgates, reached the works before the sufferers were removed, while shortly afterwards Drs Mungall, Cowdenbeath, and Drysdale, Dunfermline, were in attendance. Mr G. W. Mercer Henderson of Fordel, the owner of the colliery, and Mr Hogg, the manager, were speedily at the pit, and did everything in their power to meet the requirements of the emergency. As we have already stated, the destruction done to property by the accident is great. Not a trace of the bursted boiler can be seen at the place from which it was lifted. At a point about 110 yards from the works, the fire-end of the boiler is to be seen lying at the edge of the road leading to Cuttlehill Farm. It had been dashed against a tree, which it almost cut asunder, and had rebounded on to the road. In a turnip field close by, and about 120 yards from the works, lies the other end of the boiler, which is quite flattened out, and bears about five feet of the steam-pipe. The centre part of the boiler has been pitched on to the top of the coal "bing," a distance of about 70 yards, and partly twisted and flattened. Each of these portions of the boiler weighs from two to three tons. In the fields on both sides of the pit portions of the wreckage may be found at more than 100 yards distance. The boiler-seat and the "gig" house have been almost entirely demolished, while the pumping engine house has been unroofed and otherwise much damaged. The machinery has been considerably broken and twisted out of shape. Of the two remaining boilers, one has been almost flattened in the centre, while large holes have been cut into it. The cause of the explosion is unknown , and it is feared that it will remain a mystery, seeing that Arnot, the engineman, who might have been able to give some information, on the subject, is dead. It is conjectured from the fact that Arnot was thrown such a distance that he was standing on some elevation probably the top of the boiler, when the accident took place. The following is a list of the casualties:- DEAD. Andrew Arnot, engineman, Springhill, aged 36 years; has left a widow and five of a family. Helen Cook, daughter of William Cook, miner, Donibristle, aged 24 years. Isabella Harrower daughter of Alexander Harrower, miner, Fordel, aged 16. Catherine Penman, stepdaughter of Paterson, miner, Fordel, aged 16. INJURED Archibald George, fireman, Mossgreen, much scalded, but not dangerously so. Isabella Donaldson, Donibristle, much bruised and cut. Isabella Philp, Fordel. seriously scalded about the chest, arms and legs. Mary Black, Fordel, stunned and slightly cut. Wm. Speed, weigher, leg hurt. Alice Allan, Donibristle, considerably scalded. It should have been stated that the girl Penman died about six o'clock in the evening. A later telegram from our correspondent says :- No expectation is now entertained of the recovery of the girl Philip, as she has been gradually sinking since Saturday night. The others are doing fairly well. About 100 men will be thrown idle. The damage done to the works is roughly estimated at upwards of £5000. The boiler which exploded measured thirty feet in length was egg-ended in shape, and had all the appliances for regular and safe working. It is very remarkable that both ends of the boiler lie in a parallel line , divided only by about 14 feet. The noise of the explosion was heard at a distance of three miles. [Scotsman 2 October 1876] The Boiler Explosion Near Dunfermline - It is considered that most of the persons injured by the boiler explosion at the Fordell Colliery, in Dunfermline, on Saturday afternoon, are well-nigh out of danger with one exception. Yesterday the works were officially visited by Sir Ralph Moore, Government Inspector of Mines, while the boilers were examined by Messrs Dale and Grant, engineers, Kirkcaldy. Nothing definite as to the cause of the accident has as yet been ascertained. [Scotsman 3 October 1876] _____________________________ 25th January 1894
at Longriggend, Lanark (James Nimmo & Co. Ltd) Margaret Robertson, aged 9 (not employed) died as a result of having her hand crushed by waggons. (Death not comprised under Mines Act) _____________________________ 14th October 1895
at Hamilton Palace Coal, Lanark (Bent Colliery Co Ltd) Elizabeth Findlay, a 30 year old stone picker, died as a result of falling through a temporary opening in a screen scaffold, upon a revolving shaft, and thence to the ground. From Main body of report: A woman was killed by falling from the pithead upon a revolving shaft, and thence to the ground through a temporary opening in the scaffold, having gone close to the opening contrary to orders. Newspaper Report - 14 October 1895 Yesterday morning an accident occurred at the Bent Company's Hamilton Palace Colliery near Bothwell whereby a young woman named Elizabeth Findlay lost her life. Deceased was at work at the travelling scree, and had occasion to step over an exposed revolving shaft, when her petticoats were caught and she was drawn into the machinery, and so fearfully mangled that death ensued almost immediately. Deceased was 30 years of age, unmarried, and resided with her widowed mother at Cross Rows near the Colliery. [Scotsman 15 Oct 1895] _____________________________ 6th August 1897
at Donibristle Death of Jane Paterson, aged 23 – Run over by waggon. FIFE PITHEAD WORKER KILLED - Jane Paterson, a pithead worker, resident with a widowed mother at High Street, Cowdenbeath, was fatally injured at a siding at the Marion Pit, Donibristle Colliery, yesterday. Paterson had been crossing the railway, and was knocked down by a "race" of waggons, sustaining such injuries that she died on her admittance to Dunfermline Cottage Hospital. Deceased was 23 years of age. [Edinburgh Evening News 7 August 1897] _____________________________ 28th May 1898
at Kelty, Fife Euphemia Brown and Agnes Bain, both 13 year old pithead workers died as a result of an accident. While a boy was lowering a hoist cage, which had risen too far, a tub containing an iron pipe was pushed on to it, and the cage fell away suddenly before the hutch was secured, the hutch fell off and struck the deceased girls, who were sitting on a box near foot of hoist. _____________________________ 22nd December 1903
at Kinneil Colliery, Linlithgow (Kinneil Cannel & Coking Coal Co Ltd) Death of Janet Maxwell, a stone picker aged 14. Deceased was employed to pick dirt from amongst the coal on a travelling band 30 ft. by 4 ft., which conveyed it from the screen to the truck, and which was driven by a horizontal shaft, parallel to and 3 ft. 9 ins. distant from it. She was standing with her back towards the shaft when her clothing was apparently caught by the head of a pinching pin in a thrust collar on the shaft, and she was carried round several times with it, receiving injuries which terminated fatally on the following day. _____________________________ 26th January 1906
at Boghead Colliery, Linlithgow (Gavin Paul & Sons Ltd) Death of Margaret Dunnigan, a coal cleaner aged 30. (Death not comprised under Mines Act) On February 5th, 1904, she met an injury by a hoist cage crushing her _____________________________ 27th February 1906
at Michael Colliery, Fife (Wemyss Coal Co Ltd) Death of Mary Lynch, a coal cleaner aged 15. Deceased worked at the picking table, and she appeared to have stood on the bar of a fence, and overbalancing fell on a revolving shaft which caught her clothing, and she was wound round and crushed. _____________________________ 23rd July 1906
at Belhaven Colliery, Lanark (United Collieries Ltd) Death of Lizzie (or Cissie) Ralston, a coal cleaner aged 19. While stepping across a revolving shaft deceased's clothing was caught and she was wound round and fatally crushed; the shaft was unfenced. 23 July 1906 Accident to a Female Pitworker – Yesterday afternoon, Cissy Ralston, 19, a pithead worker, residing in Wishaw, was badly injured on the pithead at Overjohnstone Colliery. The girl was stepping over a revolving shaft when her dress was caught, and she was pulled in. She was severely crushed between the shafting and the floor, her left arm being broken in two or three places, her left side badly bruised, and her head injured. She was removed to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. [Scotsman 24 July 1906] _____________________________ 12th February 1907
at Dalbeath, Fife (Fife Coal Co Ltd) Death of Mary Rae, a pithead worker aged 14. Deceased was spreading the "duff " on top of a hopper when the surface foreman, unaware of her position, pulled open the schute or sliding door to fill a waggon beneath, and she fell down among the fine material and was suffocated. From Main body of report: A girl was spreading "duff" on top of a hopper when, unknown to her, the valve at the bottom was opened and she fell through and was suffocated. _____________________________ 27th March 1908
at Michael, Fife (Wemyss Coal Co Ltd) Death of Georgina Wilson, a coal picker aged 16. Deceased and another girl had finished their work and proceeded homewards by a siding on which a train of waggons was moving. She was run over and killed instantly. A proper travelling way was provided to obviate travelling on the railway, but the siding was the nearer way. _____________________________ 25th December 1908
at Bredisholm, Lanark (United Collieries Ltd) Death of Helen Docherty, a message girl aged 15, on surface – railways, sidings or tramways. When attempting to pass between moving waggons being weighed, she got caught and was run over. _____________________________ 22nd December 1909
at Dumbreck, Stirling (Wm Baird & Co Ltd) Death of Lizzie Robertson, a dirtpicker aged 18: on surface – by machinery. Clothing got entangled with counter shaft of screen. _____________________________ 6th January 1912
at Oakley No. 2, Fife (Oakley Collieries Ltd) Death of Mary Hogg, a pithead worker aged 31: Shaft accidents – miscellaneous. Caught and fatally injured by cage when pushing a hutch into the cage at the surface. A boy who was assisting her signalled to the winding engineman before she was clear. _____________________________ 31st December 1915
at Boghead Death of Elizabeth Paterson Bell FAI record – NAS "Elizabeth Paterson Bell, pithead worker, 19 Paulville Rows, Bathgate, died on 31 December 1915 at Boghead Colliery, Bathgate, when she was caught by a revolving shaft" _____________________________ 9th April 1916
at Snab Pit, Kinneil Death of Isabella Grant FAI record – NAS "Isabella Grant, pithead worker, 43 Newtown Rows, Bo'ness, died on 9 April 1916 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 5 April 1916 in Snab Pit, Kinneil, Bo'ness, when she was knocked down by a haulage rope" _____________________________ 27th May 1918
at Dalzell and Broomside Death of Jessie McMahon Register of FAI - run over by waggon _____________________________ 14th December 1918
at Greenrigg Death of Mary Elizabeth McCann, a pithead worker. FAI record – NAS "Mary Elizabeth McCann, pithead worker, Wallhill Cottage, Fauldhouse, died on 14 December 1918 at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, from injuries sustained on 12 December 1918 at Greenrigg Colliery, Fauldhouse, when she was run over by a wagon" _____________________________ 17th July 1921
at Rosehall No. 1 Colliery Deaths of Eliza and Agnes Boyd – 2 children Two Children Killed at Coatbridge - A pathetic discovery was made at Rosehall No. 1 Colliery, near Coatbridge, on Saturday, It was found that two children; Agnes Baird and Eliza Boyle Baird, 7 years and 9 months and 2 years old respectively, had been crushed to death by a loaded hutch, which had run over them. The children were daughters of Mr Andrew Baird, blacksmith, 10 Rosehall Cottages and had wandered onto the haulage line where the endless chain operates the full and empty hutches, and they had been run down, unobserved by anyone. [Scotsman 18 July 1921] _____________________________ 6th October 1928
at Hamilton Palace Colliery Death of Sarah Cunningham aged 14 Bothwellhaugh - Killed On First day At Work - Work was stopped on Wednesday at both pits of Hamilton Palace Colliery , belonging to the Bent Coal Co, after an accident in which Sarah Cunningham, 14, Hill Place, Bothwellhaugh, was killed. While she was sitting on a plate near the stone conveyor, she overbalanced and fell into the machinery, receiving fatal injuries. The girl, whose father is a fireman at the colliery, was about to start her first day's work, having taken up duty at the pithead in place of her sister, who had a burning accident on Saturday. [Hamilton Advertiser 6 October 1928] Bothwellhaugh - A distressing fatal accident which occurred at No 1 Pit, Hamilton Palace Colliery on October 3, when Sarah M'Dowall Cunningham, 24 Hill Place, Bothwellhaugh, met her death, almost instantaneously, was the subject of a public inquiry in Hamilton on Monday. The girl had started work as a pithead scree worker only that morning. The evidence showed that she was sitting on an iron plate at the top of a shoot [sic] when she overbalanced in some way and fell down the shoot, and was so seriously injured that she died almost immediately. It was stated that no accident has happened there before, and that precaution had since been taken to prevent the possibility of anyone falling down the shoot. The jury returned a formal verdict. [Hamilton Advertiser 24 November 1928] _____________________________ |