BLANTYRE. High Blantyre, Lanarkshire. 22nd. October, 1877.

The colliery was owned by Messrs. William Dixon Limited, with Mr. J. Mann Thompson the managing director of the company. Mr. James Watson, aged 37 years was the manager of the colliery and he had worked in the mines since he was fourteen years of age. He had been the manager of the Blantyre Colliery for six years.

The colliery had five shafts but only the No. 4 was involved with the explosion. No.2, sunk to one hundred and thirty fathoms, and No.3, sunk to one hundred and fifty-five fathoms were downcast and winding shafts, No.5 was the upcast for the Splint Coal and Ell and Main coal and was thirty yards on the rise from No.2 at one hundred and twenty-seven fathoms deep. No.2 and No.3 shafts were oblong, the former being divided into two and the latter into three compartments of eight-foot squares. No. 5 was the furnace shaft in the Splint coal and was ten feet in diameter with a chimney which rose fifty feet above the surface.

Mr. Duncan said the certificated manager was Mr. James Watson and the General Manager Mr. Thompson and the books given in showed nothing out of order with the pit before the explosion but he believed that there was gas in the pit and that it exploded.

The No. 3 pit was 155 fathoms deep and the shaft went through the Ell coal with no workings off it. The shaft was shattered by the explosion and was once used for pumping but this was not the case now and at the time of the explosion it was used as a drawing pit. It was the deepest shaft in the colliery and the workings were to the dip of the pit with no water in the dip workings but there was water at the bottom of the shaft. The downcast No. 2 shaft was the 130 fathoms deep and this remained almost intact after the explosion but the guides were sprung at the bottom by the explosion. The upcast was 50 yards from the No 2 and was 137 fathoms deep. At the surface there was a chimney 50 feet high with a 10-foot diameter. Both the shafts went through the ell coal, the main and the solid and there were workings in the ell coal connected to the No.2 shaft and the No.1 pit but all the workings of the colliery opened into the No 5 pit which was the upcast shaft. The splint coal and the ell coal of the Nos.2 and 3 were connected to the main coal by a blind or ventilating pit. There were three furnaces in the No.5 for ventilation and they were attended to by one man per shift day and night but he did not know the custom at the weekends particularly Sunday but as a general rule the furnaces were kept going on Sunday. The furnaces consumed five tons of coal in twenty-four hours.

The stoppings were of brick and some of wood and bratticing was used to get the air to the fast places where there was not a cut-through. The average size of the stoops or pillars was about 20 yards in No.2 and 25 yards in the No.3 and the width of the room was 12 feet. There were stoops formed or completed and work was going on an all sides for the purpose of forming more stoops. The mine was known to produce firedamp from sudden outbursts.

There were several miles of workings amongst the old stoops and there was no daily report of the state of the ventilation to the old workings but there was an occasional examination made when the manager told his officials to do so and as far as was known, there was no book kept about these inspections as was required under the Act.

In the No.2 pit the firemen were Joseph Gilmour, William Black, Alexander Wood and James Wright. All of these men were in the pit and killed in the explosion with the exception of Wright. A special fireman or competent person was stationed at a place called the “stoppings”. This person was Robert Eadie who also lost his life but his predecessor, Sharp, escaped on the north side of the pit. The night fireman was David Hendry. He was on duty on Sunday night and came out of the pit two to three hours before the explosion.

The overseer of the No.3 pit was John Pickering and the day firemen were John Little and Alexander McCaul. The night fireman was William Simpkin. He had not been in the pit since the proceeding Saturday and the explosion occurred on the Monday. The explosion took place in the Splint Coal Eight Feet which was worked by the pillar and stall method.

Open oil lamps were used in the workings but safety lamps were always used in cutting faults or when a lot of firedamp was encountered. At the stoppings, where the gas had accumulated in the past, safety lamps were used, otherwise naked lights were used throughout the pit. The Davy lamp was the one that was most used and another that the miners called the “Gauze Lamp” which had a wider gauge of gauze and gave more light was also in use. A fireman carried both types of lamp, the gauze for seeing and the Davy for testing for gas.

Blasting was allowed in the lower part of the seam but forbidden in the upper part because it shook the roof. The manager had forbidden it at the stoppings but it did go on and the shots were fired by a special fireman.

John Pickering, overman in the No.2 pit and it was his duty to see that everything was in proper working order. On the morning of the explosion he went down the pit and made an examination of the south workings including the south dook and found everything correct. He met with the two other firemen, Little and McCall, who told him that everything was all right. They ascended and two minutes after they had reached the top, the explosion occurred. He got to the bottom of the No.2 shaft and he found that debris had been blown from the south to the north, towards No.2 pit bottom. Down Moore’s dook things seem to have been blown in all directions and in other parts of the mine there was terrible damage. Near the bottom of the communication, he found a man named William Gemmell besides the stable. He recognised him a long way off and cried out for a drink. He was terribly burned about the hands and face and when asked how he got there he said that he had been knocked into the sump. When he inspected the workings after the explosion, he found a lamp without the top near a man’s body in the No.2 level.

Alexander Watt was the fireman for the district where the fall alluded to already occurred and in doing his rounds he might have gone past the place where the fall happened. His body was found near the entrance to Moore’s dook and outside Martin’s dook and he appeared to have been going to the shaft for his breakfast. McCall, the overlooker of the No.2 was found near the bottom of the No.2 shaft.

On the morning of the explosion, he found the fireman after they had made their examination and asked him to go along with him for breakfast. McCalland Little seemed to have examined the pit at 5 o’clock and Simkins at six so there was an examination every 12 hours.

Blasting by gunpowder was strictly prohibited in the No.3 but in some places men were allowed to blast near the bottom of the shaft at the tops of the No.2. The men were prohibited to blast because it would bring down the roof and Mr. Moore, the Inspector, was not told of the fact that there was blasting in the mine. The men carried the blasting powder into the mine in little flasks which was contrary to the General Rules. None of the workmen were sent out of the mine when shots were fired. They fired the shots themselves and there was no “competent person” to inspect the places before the shots were fired. A fireman, McCall, said he knew that it was contrary to the Act.

The explosion extended through miles of the workings and was very violent. The noise in the No.2 pit was described like that of a shot in a sinking pit and great volumes of smoke came out of the shaft with a noise like a steam boiler bursting. Flames came out of the shaft mouth and scorched their way through most of the workings. The effects of the blast were devastating and many of the bodies were disembowelled. Props were torn away and stoppings blown out. Rails, sleepers and debris were piled together as though shot from a gun.

In one fast place, (a cul-de-sac), the pressure had been very great and six bodies were found as though they had been sitting down to breakfast with only slight trace of burning. One was face upwards, stark naked. Another had his head on his elbow with his arm torn off at the elbow. At other places the bodies were burned but there was no burning of the coal at the face.

The destruction swept from south to north, towards the No.2 shaft and increased with intensity as it got to No.3. The force then went west from No.3 to No.2. At the end of No.3 some men came out alive but one died as he was taken to the surface and the others died on their way to the hospital.

As the bodies were brought to the surface the “Glasgow Herald’s” reporter wrote:

The activity produced a painful intensity amongst the excitable Irish element. The women set up a loud wail, tore their hair and rushed about in a half-deranged state and strong men had to interfere to prevent them throwing themselves on the corpses.

The men who ascended the No.3 shaft immediately before the explosion:

  • John Pickering,
  • Little,
  • McCall,
  • Ferguson

Men who got out alive from the north side of the No.2 pit on Monday 22nd October:

  • Hugh Brown.
  • Samuel Neillson.
  • John Neilson.
  • Andrew Forrest.
  • John Hill.
  • William Hill.
  • Duncan McMillen.
  • George Watt.
  • George Watson.
  • John Geffery.
  • William Duncan.
  • Partick McCuskar.
  • Michael McCusker.
  • Alexander Woods.
  • John Sharp.
  • William Welch.
  • William Welch.
  • William Welch.
  • William Kirkland.
  • Thomas Martin.
  • Edward Dogharty.
  • Gullaghar.
  • Thomas Black.
  • Robert Heron.

One of the above died.

Bodies got out on Monday 22nd. October 1877 from near the bottom of the No.2:

  • Joseph Gilmore, overman.
  • William Campbell.
  • Charles Duffy or Docharty.
  • James McMillen, breaksman.
  • Archibald Lang.
  • Robert Wardrope.
  • Joseph Gilmore Jnr.
  • Robert Hendry.
  • William Bolton.
  • George Todd.
  • Patrick Burns.
  • Michael Brannan.
  • Alexander Miller, engineman.
  • Alexander Watt, fireman.
  • William Richardson.
  • Thomas Gracie.
  • John McFarlane.
  • William McLaughlan.
  • James Wright.
  • James Bolton, bottomer.
  • James Simpson.
  • Partick Kelly.
  • Michael Kyle.
  • Michael Cairns.
  • John Wright.
  • Owen Brannigan.
  • One listed as “unknown”.

Bodies got from the No.3 pit shaft:

  • John Kenny.
  • George Renwick.
  • James Smith.
  • Simon Boyle.
  • John O’Donnell.
  • John Traynor.
  • James Murry, bottomer.
  • James McGarry.
  • Andrew Gold.
  • George Sawers.
  • John O’Brien.
  • Abraham McGee.
  • John McGee.
  • James Wilson.
  • Thomas McCulloch.
  • Edward Smith.
  • James Sneddon.
  • Turnbull Cleghorn.
  • Five listed as “Unknown”

Rescued alive from the No.3 shaft but later died:

  • Gemmell,
  • John McDonald,
  • Charles Gainer.

The above list appears in the Inspectors Report but is incomplete. The following list is from local sources:

Those who lost their lives:

  • James Allam, assistant bottomer.
  • James Allison, chainman aged 45 years of Udstone Row.
  • William Archibald, manager.
  • Hugh Aucherlonie, miner aged 41 years of Udstone.
  • William Babes aged 41 years of East Kilbride, married with seven children and was burnt and suffocated.
  • Thomas Baxter, collier aged 21 years of Priestfield Terrace. He was identified by his father, Charles and John Pickering, the overman at Blantyre.
  • William Berry, miner aged 22 years who was burnt and suffocated.
  • Peter Berry, collier aged 56 years of Dixons Row.
  • William Black, collier aged 39 years of Priestfield Terrace who left a wife and six children. He was identified by his brother and Samuel Morrison, a collier from Waterloo.
  • Peter Blackie, collier of Dixons Row.
  • Thomas Bolton, collier aged 16 years of Auchinrath Road.
  • Thomas Bolton, collier aged 15 years of Dixons Rows, a who was identified by his stepfather, James Swanson and his mother.
  • William Bolton, collier aged 13 years, who was identified by his father and his brother.
  • James Bolton, collier aged 17 years of Hall Street.
  • Joseph Christopher, miner aged 22 years who died from shock and suffocation.
  • Tague Boyle, collier aged 23 years of Miller Street, Dixons Rox.
  • Simeon Boyle, collier aged15 years of 8, Hall Street, Dixons Row who was identified by his mother and John Mcginnes, son of William Boyle.
  • William Boyle, collier aged 47 years of 8, Hall Street, Dixons Row who left a widow and only son in the pit and was identified by James Mcguire and John Henderson.
  • Michael Brannan, colliery aged 26 years of Dixons Street, Dixons Rows.
  • Owen Brannigan, collier aged 19 years.
  • James Brodie, collier aged 25 years who was identified by his brothers, John and William.
  • William Brown, miner aged 22 years, married. Died from burning and suffocation. Lamp key found in trouser pocket.
  • John Brown, collier aged 18 years of McAlpines Buildings, Stonefield. He was identified by his Brother-in-law and cousin. His brother John and cousin James were also killed.
  • James Brown, collier aged 43 years of 43, McAlpine’s Buildings, Stonefield who was identified by his brother-in-law and Joseph Hamilton. father of James and John, also killed.
  • James Bryson, collier aged 58 years of Dixons Row.
  • Andrew Buddy, fireman aged 29 years of Burnbank married with four children. He died from burning and suffocation. A tobacco box and lamp key were found in his pickets along with a watch that had stopped at 9.07 a.m.
  • Peter Burns, collier, aged 13 years of Dixons Row.
  • John Burns, collier, aged 33 years of McAlpines Land.
  • Thomas Burns, collier aged 24 years of McAlpines Land.
  • Patrick Burns, collier aged 25 years of Larkfield.
  • Andrew Burt, roadsman aged 24 years of 10, Dixon Street, Dixons Row
  • Bernard Cairns, collier aged 25 years of Dixons Rows.
  • Michael Cairns, collier aged 29 years of 48, Dixon Street, Dixopns Rows.
  • Isaac Cameron, miner aged 24 years of Udstone Rows, married. Killed by suffocation.
  • John Campbell, collier aged 34 years of Dixons Rows, married and identified by Patrick Kelly, his father-in-law and Dennis Kelly Durham.
  • William Campbell, collier aged 35 years of Kirton Haigh Blantyre.
  • Peter Carlin, aged 34 years of 2, Hall Street, Dixons Rows, identified by his wife and brother.
  • John Cavanagh, collier aged 18 years, identified by his brother Thomas and Patrick Kelly.
  • John Cavanagh, collier aged 23 years of 19, Miller Street.
  • James Cavanagh, collier aged 16 years of 5, Calder Street, Dixon’s Rows.
  • James Clark aged 19 years of Bowies Land, Stonefield, who was identified by his aunt and Mary Lees.
  • Turnbull Cleghorn, collier aged 20 years of Harts Land.
  • James Clyde, aged 38 years of 44, Dixons Street Dixon’s Rows who was identified by his wife.
  • William Clyde, collier aged 14 years of 44, Dixon Street, Dixon’s Rows.
  • James Clyde, drawer aged 12 years of 44, Doxon Street, son of James and identified by his mother.
  • John Conaghan, collier aged 25 years of Carfin Street, Dixon’s Rows.
  • John Conlan, drawer aged 14 years, identified by his mother and stepfather, Edward O’Neill.
  • John Connelly, collier aged 26 years.
  • James Cook, miner aged 17 years, single, burnt and suffocated. Brother of James and son of Thomas. Died from burning and suffocation.
  • Thomas Cook, miner aged 21 years, brother of James.
  • Richard Cook, miner aged 50 years, married, father of Thomas and James left two other children. Clay pipe and two nails found in his trouser pocket.
  • James Cosgrove, collier, aged 14 years of 15, Carfin Street.
  • Andrew Cox, collier aged 16 years of 54, Hall Street, Dixon’s Rows who was identified by John Dunlop.
  • John Cox, collier aged 46 years of 54, Hall Street who was identified by his wife and John Dunlop.
  • John Crawford, collier aged 24 years.
  • David Crichton, miner aged 31 years of Daisy Knowe, Auchintibber, married and brother of David.
  • John Crow, miner aged 22 years, of Dixon’s Row who was identified by his brother and sister.
  • John Crowe, miner aged 22 years of Udstone Rows, single who was identified by his brother, John. He was much mutilated and died from burning and suffocation.
  • Washington Crowe, miner aged 25 years of Udstone.
  • Joseph Cunning, miner aged 39 years, single and died from burning and suffocation. Three used matches were found in his pockets.
  • George Davis of Davies, miner agd 26 years, married with one child. Nail found in trouser pocket.
  • William Denniston, miner aged 23 years of Turner’s Building, Stonefield, brother of Thomas.
  • Thomas Denniston, miner aged 18 years of 18, Turner’s Building.
  • George Dinsdale, miner aged 21 years, married with one child, burned and suffocated and had a broken right knee and ankle.
  • Charles Divers, collier aged 27 years of Dixon’s Rows.
  • Thomas Dobbie, collier aged 27 years identified by his brother-in-law, Hugh McIllindy, brother of John.
  • John Dobbie, aged 25 years of Dixon’s Rows, identified by John and Mary Jones.
  • John Dodds, miner aged 14 years, single and died from burning and suffocation.
  • John Dolan, collier aged 50 years.
  • John Dolan, collier aged 19 years, single, identified by Elizabeth, his mother and Ann McCusker, his sister.
  • William Drain, miner aged 29 years of Udstone Rows, married and died from burning and suffocation.
  • Robert Eadie, collier aged 50 years of Kirkton, High Blantyre.
  • Thomson Edward, collier aged 31 years.
  • David Fleming, miner aged 27 years of Udstone Rows of Handleknowe, Strathaven, severely burned to the head. Nails for opening lamps were found in his pocket.
  • William Fricleton, collier aged 22 years of Gladstone Street, Burnbank. Married with one child and identified by his cousin, Joseph Freckleton and Hugh Reid, miner of Holytown.
  • John Fulton, oversman, severely burned.
  • Samuel Gardner, collier aged 21 of Priestfield Terrace identified by his father and Newton and Jane Marshall or Wright an aunt who lost a husband and a son.
  • James Gaw, miner aged 15 years.
  • John Gemmell, collier aged 22 years of Gladstone Street and identified by his cousin Hugh Reid and John Raggart.
  • Matthew Gemmell, collier aged 22 years of Gladstone Street, Burnbank.
  • Joseph Gilmore, collier aged 35 years of Clydesdale Street, Wishaw.
  • Joseph Gilmore, collier aged 13 years of Clydesdale Street, Wishaw.
  • Andrew Gold, collier aged 22 years of Larkfield who lost three brothers and was identified by his wife.
  • Benjamin Gold, collier aged 24 years of Parkland, High Blantyre identified by his brothers-in-law George Lambie and David Mair.
  • John Gold, collier aged 28 years of Larkfield, identified by Mary, his wife.
  • James Gold, collier aged 33 years of Waterloo identified by George Lambie and David Mair.
  • Thomas Gracie, collier aged 57 of Kirton.
  • William Graham, collier aged 13 years of 57, Hall Street, Dixons Rows, identified by Mary and Joseph, his mother and father.
  • Thomas Haliday, collier aged 22 years, of 12, Dixon Street, Dixons Rows, single, identified by Mrs. Love.
  • Thomas Haliday, aged 19 years of 34, Hall Street. A private in the 26th. Cameronians, he was identified by the numbers in his boots.
  • Robert Halliday, collier aged 34 years of 34, Hall Street, father of Thomas and identified by his brother-in-law, David Strictland.
  • Matthew Halliday, collier aged 48 years, of Calder Street, Dixons Rows who left a widow and six children.
  • John Hamilton, collier aged 23 years of McAlpines Buildings married and left a family of five. Identified by Robert Smillie, and uncle and David Nisbit, a brother-in-law.
  • John Hamilton, collier aged 31 years of Burnbank, Hamilton.
  • William Hanlon, collier aged 22 years of Calder Street, Dixons Rows, identified by his wife Jane and Patrick McCafferty.
  • John Harkness, miner aged 24 years of Gladstone Street, Burnbank, married. Suffocated and lamp keys found in his trouser pockets.
  • John Kenny, collier aged 45 years of 50, Hall Street, Dixons Rows, married.
  • Robert Kirkland, collier aged 20 years of Priestfield Terrace.
  • Charles Kyle, collier aged 14 years of Gladstone Street, Burnbank and identified by Mrs. William Reid, his sister who also lost her husband and a son.
  • Nicholas Kyle, collier aged 35 years of Kirkton, High Blantyre.
  • James Lafferty, collier aged 46 years of Dixons Rows.
  • James Lang, collier aged 56 years, of Bowies Land, married and identified by George Wallace, his son-in-law and Daniel McPhail.
  • Archibald Lang, collier aged 25 years of Kirkton, High Blantyre.
  • Hugh Larkin, collier aged 24 years, of 9, Govan Street, Blantyre identified by Alexander O’Brien and Michael Duffy.
  • James Lauder, collier aged 20 years, of Townhead Street, Hamilton and identified by his mother, Ann and James Buchanan.
  • George Lauder, collier aged 16 years of Townhead Street, Hamilton and identified by his mother, Ann.
  • Andrew Lawson, miner aged 21 years of Little Udston Farm, single. Two nails were found in his pockets. Son of William.
  • William Lawson, miner aged 42 years of Little Udston Farm, father of Andrew,
  • James Leadbetter, ostler aged 40 years, married with five children. Clay pipe, tobacco and knife found in his pockets.
  • James Liddel, collier aged 41 years of 63, Hall Street, Dixons Rows.
  • John Liddel, collier aged 12 years of 63, Hall Street, Dixons Rows, son of John and identified by Alex King and John Bolton.
  • Thomas Lucas, collier aged 24 years identified by his brothers James and Francis. The three had come from Gloucestershire and had been in Scotland for four weeks.
  • Robert Mackie, collier aged 26 years of Hall Street, Dixons Rows, married and identified by his brothers-in-law.
  • Peter Mackie, miner married and identified by two brothers-in-law.
  • Gavin Malcolm, miner aged 15 years.
  • John Mallone, collier aged 28 years, of Dixons Rows.
  • James Marshall, collier aged 20 years of 14, Calder Street, Dixons Rows identified by Andrew Robertson from a peculiarity in his belt.
  • Hugh Martin, collier aged 51 years.
  • David Martin, collier aged 28 years of Struthers Land, High Blantyre identified by his wife from his shoes, socks and belt.
  • Thomas Meecham, collier aged 40 years of Flemington Buildings, Newton, married and identified by Mrs. Meecham and Mrs. Hassan Wishaw.
  • William Miller, aged 43 years of Dixons Rows, identified by his aunt and uncle.
  • William Miller, collier aged 23 years of 8, Govan Street, Dixons Rows.
  • Joseph Miller, collier aged 27 years of Dixons Rows.
  • Alexander Miller, collier aged 18 years.
  • John Moir, collier aged 35 years of Barnhill, High Blantyre, married and identified by William Aitken, his father-in-law and John Spiers.
  • Hugh Morgan, collier aged 34 years of 8, Calder Street, Dixons Rows married with six children. Identified by his brother John and John O’Neil
  • Andrew Morrison, of Dixons Rows.
  • Charles Morrison, of Glasgow Road.
  • William Morrison, miner of Glasgow Road, son of Charles.
  • William Muir, collier aged 21 years.
  • Robert Mullen, collier aged 26 years of Bowies Land, Stonefield.
  • William Murdoch, miner aged 26 years of Udstone Rows who was identified by his mother and father.
  • John Murphy, collier aged 24 years of Miller Street, Dixons Rows.
  • James Murphy, collier aged 20 years of 8, Carfin Street, Dixons Rows, identified by his mother Elizabeth.
  • James Murphy, collier aged 50 years of Carfin Street, Dixons Rows.
  • George Murphy, collier aged 13 years of Carfin Street, Dixons Rows.
  • Francis Murphy, collier aged 25 years, married with two children and identified by his father and brother-in-law.
  • James Murray, collier, found in the sump of No.3.
  • Samuel Murray, collier aged 58 years of Watkins Land, Cambusnethan. Taken home after being dug from under a fall but he died from his injuries.
  • Bernard Murrey, collier aged 21 years of Larkfield.
  • Robert McAdams, collier aged 28 years of 28, Hall Street, Dixons Rows.
  • Peter McAnulty, collier aged 54 years of 57, Hall Street, Dixons Rows.
  • Alexander McArthur, collier aged 40 years of Calder Street, Dixons Rows.
  • Edward McCallum, collier aged 15 years of Stinefield, identified by his father, Thomas.
  • Bernard McClavey, collier aged 50 years of Struthersland, High Blantyre.
  • James McCulloch, miner aged 36 years of East Kilbride, married with five children, father of James.
  • John McCulloch, collier aged 44 years of Auchinrath, married and identified by his wife Alice and William Montgomery.
  • John McCulloch, collier aged 16 years.
  • Thomas McCulloch, collier aged 32 years of Harts Buildings, Stonefield, identified by William Garner.
  • James McCusker, collier aged 25 years of Dixons Rows, married and identified by his wife Mary and his aunt.
  • Henry McCusker, collier aged 30 years of 24, Calder Street, Dixons Rows.
  • Michael McDade, miner aged 34 years of Auchintibber, married.
  • Thomas McDonald, collier aged 29 years of Gardeners Place. Died in Glasgow Infirmary 27th October, 1877.
  • Thomas McDuff, collier aged 24 years of Dixons Rows.
  • James McFadyen, collier aged 21 years of Dixons Rows, married and identified by his wife from a piece of belt.
  • John McFadyen, collier aged 23 years of 2, Carfin Street, Dixons Rows.
  • John McFarlane, collier aged 31 years.
  • James McGarry aged 36 years of 62, Hall Street, identified by his wife and sister.
  • Edward McGarvie, collier aged 23 years of Dixons Rows.
  • Pat McGarvie, collier aged 25 years of Dixons Rows.
  • William McGhee, collier aged 14 years of Larkfield.
  • Abraham McGhee, collier aged 18 years of Larkfield, identified by his father and Alexander Coulter.
  • John McGhee, collier aged 16 years of Larkfield, brother of Abraham.
  • John McGilligan, collier aged 36 years of Dixons Rows.
  • Edward McGlachlin, collier of 23, Miller Street.
  • James McGourty, miner aged 17 years, son of Francis.
  • Francis McGourty, miner aged 54 years, married.
  • James McGown, collier aged 24 years.
  • Patrick McGribbens, collier aged 24 years of Gardiners Place.
  • Patrick McGribbens, collier aged 58 years of Parkhead, Glasgow.
  • Peter McGuinnes, miner aged 22 years of Dixons Rows, single.
  • Gilbert McIntyre, collier aged 47 years married and identified by his wife Susan and his sister-in-law.
  • William McKay, collier aged 45 years of 11, Miller Street and identified by his wife and he was the stepfather of John Hastie.
  • John McKelvie, collier aged 19 years of The Ree, Parkhead, identified by John McKillop.
  • John McKelvie, collier aged 60 years.
  • Abraham McKie, collier aged 18 years of Larkfield, identified by his father and Alexander Coulter, brother of John.
  • John McKie, collier aged 16 years of Larkfield.
  • Archibald McKillop, drawer aged 13 years of Windsor Street, Burnbank, identified by his father John.
  • John McKillop, collier aged 14 years of Windsor Street, Burnbank.
  • James KcKinnon, collier aged 34 years of Gladstone Street, Burnbank left a widow and three children.
  • Moses McLachlin, collier aged 23 years.
  • Edward McLachlan, collier aged 18 years of 17, Miller Street, Dixons Rows.
  • Edward McLachlan, collier aged 15 years of Jackson Place, Stonefield.
  • William McLachlan, collier aged 23 years of 17, Miller Street, Dixons Rows, married with two children.
  • Edward McLachlan, collier aged 23 years of Miller Street, Dixons Rows and identified by his wife from the white horn buttons on his shirt. These were placed on top of the closed coffin.
  • Alexander McLean, driver aged 22 years.
  • Thomas Meecham, collier aged 45 years of Calder Street, Dixons Rows.
  • James McMillan, collier aged 30 years of Larkfield.
  • Robert McNaughton, collier aged 26 years, married and identified by his show and belt by his father-in-law, James Callaghan.
  • Robert McNiven, miner aged 25 years of High Dykehead, married.
  • James McTavish, oncostman aged 20 years of Ann Street, Burnbank.
  • Joseph Neilson, miner aged 22 years of Udston Rows, single.
  • John Newton, collier aged 60 years of Dixons Rows.
  • George Nisbett, collier aged 27 years of Albert Place, Larkfield, identified by his brother and John Fleming.
  • John Noble, married with five children. He was the last to be removed from the mine and buried the same day.
  • Bernard O’Brien, collier aged 23 years.
  • John O’Brien, collier aged 24 years of 10, Calder Street, Dixons Rows.
  • Peter O’Brien, of 10, Calder Street, Dixons Rows identified by his wife Mary from property found on the body.
  • Matthew O’Brien, collier aged 46 years of 12, Calder Street, Dixons Rows.
  • John O’Donnell, collier aged 23 years of 14, Miller Street, identified by his wife.
  • John O’Donnell, collier aged 26 years of 14, Miller Street, Dixons Green.
  • John O’Neil, collier aged 32 years of Dixons Rows.
  • Robert Ovens, collier aged 21 years of 12, Hall Street, Dixons Rows identified by his brother Thomas and Joseph Collins.
  • James Owen, collier aged 53 years.
  • Robert Owens, collier aged 21 years of 12, Hall Street, Dixons Rows.
  • John Park, collier aged 32 years of Kirkton, High Blantyre, married and identified by his brother-in-law.
  • George Parker or Harkness, miner aged 30 years of 42, Gladstone Street, Burnbank, married.
  • Walter Penman, aged 22 years of High Dykehead, brother of Thomas.
  • Thomas Penman, pony driver aged 20 years.
  • William Primrose, chain guider aged 17 years.
  • Michael Quin, miner aged 21 years of Aitkenheads land, High Blantyre, severely burned and suffocated.
  • Thomas Ramsay, collier aged 25 years of Albert Place, Larkfield, widower.
  • Alexander Reevie, collier aged 60 years.
  • John Reid, miner aged 24 years of Beckford Street, Hamilton, married with two children.
  • William Reid, collier aged 27 years of Gladstone Street, Burnbank, identified by his uncle, Hugh Reid.
  • George Renwick, collier aged 48 years.
  • William Richardson, collier aged 17 years.
  • James Richmond, miner aged 60 years of Kirkton, High Blantyre, widower and father of John. Lamp key found in his pockets.
  • Robert Samuel, collier aged 14 years, of Hall Street, Dixons Rows, identified by his mother and Samuel Morrison.
  • Thomas Roberts, collier aged 20 years of Dixons Rows, identified by his mother form a pair of boots and socks.
  • William Roberts, collier aged 24 years of Larkfield, married and identified by Alexander Forsyth, his brother-in-law and his wife.
  • Daniel Robertson, miner aged 14 years died of burning and suffocation.
  • Andrew Robertson, collier aged 20 years of 14, Calder Street, Dixons Rows.
  • Terence Rooney, miner aged 55 years, single.
  • Richard Ross, collier aged 30 years, Cemetery Walk, High Blantyre.
  • John Russell, collier aged 20 years of Dixons Rows, identified by his father and William Russell, brother.
  • George Sawers, collier aged 24 years, Beggs Land, High Blantyre, married and identified by his wife and his mother.
  • George Semple, collier aged 32 years.
  • David Shanks, miner aged 45 years, single. Key for opening lamp found in his pocket.
  • James Sharp, aged 41 years of 48, Calder Street, Dixons Rows, son of William.
  • William Sharp, aged 64 years, identified by his daughter-in-law and his son.
  • James Simpson, collier aged 24 years of Larkfield.
  • Robert Simpson, roadsman aged 60 years of Burnbank, Hamilton, identified by William, his son and James Thomson his son-in-law.
  • John Smith, miner aged 24 years of Larkfied, Blantyre, single.
  • Edward Smith, collier aged 22 years of Larkfield, identified by his brothers.
  • Patrick Smith, collier aged 40 years of Larkfield, married and identified by James, his brother and Mary Ann his wife.
  • James Smith, collier aged 35 years of Dixons Rows, identified by his wife Catherine and Nicholas Bowe.
  • John Sneddon, collier aged 19 years of Cemetery Walk, High Blantyre, identified by Elizabeth his stepmother and Adam, his brother.
  • James Sneddon, collier aged 39 years of Aucjhnraith.
  • James Sneddon, collier aged 16 years of Cemetery Walk, High Blantyre.
  • William Spiers, collier aged 28 years of High Blantyre married and identified by Magdelene, his wife and Samuel, his brother.
  • John Spiers, collier aged 15 years of Barnhill, identified by George Spiers and James Gibson, his aunt.
  • John Stark, collier aged 30 years of Gasworks Row, identified by his two brothers.
  • Robert Steele, collier aged 13 years of Flemington Buildings, identified by his mother and aunt.
  • James Steele, collier aged 36 years of Flemington Buildings, father of Robert, identified by his wife.
  • Robert Stein, collier of School Lane, Blantyre identified by William Mason, and Adam McBride.
  • John Stein, collier of School Lane, Blantyre, identified by Adam Moodie and Mathew McBride.
  • Allan Sterling, aged 22 years of New Houses, Earnock, died of burns and suffocation.
  • Alexander Steven, collier aged 42 years of Govan Road, married and identified by Thomas Dixon, and John Adie brothers-in-law.
  • Robert Steven, collier aged 42 years of Govan Road, Blantyre, identified by William Russell and Adam Moodie.
  • John Steven, collier of School Lane, Blantyre, identified by William Russell and Adam Moodie.
  • Malcolm Stewart, collier aged 15 years of 52, Calder Street, Dixons Rows, identified by his mother and stepfather.
  • Robert Stewart, collier 17 years of 34, Hall Street, Dixons Row, single identified by David Strictland, uncle.
  • James Stewart, collier aged 19 years of 34, Calder Street.
  • Malcolm Stewart, collier aged 15 years of 52, Calder Street.
  • Alexander Symington, collier aged 24 years of Larkfield.
  • Edward Thomas, collier aged 31 years of Larkfield.
  • John Thomson, ostler aged 17 years of Larkfield, identified by his brother Callum and John McKillop.
  • George Todd, collier aged 43 years of Kirkton.
  • Hugh Tonner, collier aged 15 years of Calder Street, Dixons Rows.
  • Alexander Torley, fireman aged 36 years of 11, Udstone Rows, married with one child. A padlock key and small nails found in his pockets.
  • John Traynor, pony driver aged 16 years of Bowiesland, Stinefield, identified by his mother and uncle, John Cunningham.
  • Patrick Vallelly, collier aged 21 years of Dixons Rows.
  • James Vallelly, collier aged 32 years of Govan Street, Dixons Rows identified by his wife and brother-in-law.
  • Neil Ward, collier aged 57 years of Croftfoot, High Blantyre, identified by his son John and Francis Collins his son-in-law.
  • Andrew Thomas Watson, bottomer aged 48 years of 16, Udstone Rows, married with three children.
  • Alexander Watt, collier aged 28 years of Dixons Rows.
  • John Welsh, collier aged 22 years of Hartsland, identified by his father, John and John McKillop.
  • James Welsh, collier aged 15 years.
  • Francis Welsh, collier aged 24 years, of Hartsland brother of James and John.
  • Robert White, collier aged 16 years of 16, Cemetery Walk, High Blantyre, identified by his father and Henry Clark.
  • Thomas White, collier aged 37 aged of Larkhill, left a wife and five children, identified by two daughters.
  • James Wilson, miner aged 50 years of Udstone Rows married with seven children.
  • John Wilson, miner aged 20 years of Udstone Rows, single.
  • John Wilson, collier of Stoneyfield.
  • James Wilson, collier aged 17 years of Larkfield.
  • James Wilson, collier aged 15 years of 55, Calder Street, Dixons Rows identified by his mother and uncle.
  • William Wilson, collier aged 17 years of 55, Calder Street, Dixons Rows, son of Hugh and identified by two uncles.
  • Hugh Wilson, collier aged 36 years of 55, Calder Street, Dixons Rows. left a widow and four children and identified by his brother, William.
  • Thomas Wilson Snr., collier aged 45 years of Greenfield, Hamilton.
  • Thomas Wilson, collier aged 21 years, of Greenfield Hamilton, identified by Francis, his brother and William Wilson.
  • Walter Winters, miner aged 22 years of Udstone Rows, single.
  • William Wood, collier aged 51 years of Springfield Terrace.
  • James Wright, collier aged 49 years of 3, Priestfield Terrace.
  • John Wright, collier aged 17 years of 3, Priestfield Terrace.

The Report was made by Mr. Robert McLean of Edinburgh, Advocate and Joseph Dickenson of Pendleton Manchester, Inspector of Mines and was produced as the result of a Public Inquiry in to the disaster.

At the inquiry, forty-eight witnesses gave evidence into the cause of the two hundred and nine lives that were lost. One hundred and three bodies were taken out of the No. 3 pit and two died in hospital. One hundred out of the No.2 pit were dead and one died in the infirmary. Two persons were missing from the No. 2 pit but they were recovered, dead and there were twenty-three who escaped from the No.2 pit.

The official inquiry into the cause of the explosion was opened at the County Hall, Hamilton on Monday before Mr. Joseph Dickenson Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Mines and Mr. Robert McLean, advocate who acted as commissioners. Government Inspectors Mr. Ralph Moors, Mr. Willis, Mr. Wales and Mr. Robinson were present and Mr. R.O. Stachan, advocate and Mr. Lucas, writer of Glasgow, appeared for certain of the deceased’s relatives. There was a large attendance of miners and Mr. Warren appeared to watch the proceedings on behalf of Messrs. Dixon. Mr. Duncan, manager of the Calder Iron Works, put in a plan of the workings of the Blantyre Collieries together with the statutory report books referring to the Nos.2 and 3 pits before the inquiry.

The workings were inspected after the disaster and the greatest force of the explosion appeared to have been in Spiers’s dook. The tramroad, the hutches and the bratticing were all blown to pieces and these signs extended back to Martin’s level almost to the communication to the No.3. There were traces of the blast all throughout the colliery with the exception north side of the No.2 and in opening up the mine after the explosion; large quantities of firedamp were encountered.

The Inspector’s Report commented:

Upon the whole the discipline of the mine was loose and the orders which the manager says he gave as to the firing of a shot in particular seem to have been neglected altogether.

Mr. Wales and Mr. Willis came to help Mr. Moore at the request of the Home Office and they thought the source of the ignition was either a lamp or a shot. They said that the miners could scarcely be expected to know that the whole system of ventilation in the pit was breaking down and commented:

The miners as body are an intelligent and unobtrusive class of men being constantly exposed to danger they learn to deal coolly with things which would terrify an inexperienced person. They generally know when more than the usual danger surrounds.

As to the cause, there might have been an interruption to the ventilation by a fall in the main air course on the south side but this fall might have occurred after the blast.

A naked lamp was found in Clyde’s dook and there would be no hesitation by the men in going into firedamp with these lamps which were locked. There had been a large fall near Spier’s dook but it was most likely that the gas accumulated near this dook.

Mr. Dickenson stated that he had received a paper from the Procurator Fiscal stating that 101 persons were killed in the No.2 pit and 106 in the No.3 making a total of 207 known to be lost in addition there were two that were missing.

John Pickering, overman in the No.2 pit, told the court how, a few weeks previous, he had found men that working that had taken the caps off their lamps and hung them up. When asked why they had done this they said that there was a little firedamp near the roof but the presence of the gas was not entered into the report book. He could not say why it was not entered. Perhaps it was trifling and he believed that if the firemen encountered gas on their rounds they would not enter it because the amounts were so small. He went on to say that he had never done the practice of throwing water at the coal face to hear if there was gas escaping from it. The reports on the 6th August and the 8th and 10th October were also not signed but he could not explain that. He was asked why small quantities of gas were not entered in the book and he said that they never were in their locality. There had been a serious explosion in the No.2 pit three months before but there was no record of the deaths in the book.

William Pickard, the Miners’ Agent from Wigan, was the next witness. He had visited the colliery after the accident and went down the pit on the 27th October and the following three days. He thought that the blast had come from the rise workings and he had seen the fall between the Martins level and Clyde’s dook but when he was there it had been cleared away. He thought that the violence of the explosion had caused the fall. He found two open gauze lamps and two naked lights and a flask of powder which had not exploded. As the Miners’ Agent, he had assisted in the investigation of numerous investigations into explosions and had himself been in two. He thought that the gas must have come from the stoop workings and that it was fired at a naked light. He had looked for signs that the explosions had been caused by a shot but he found nothing to back this up. After the ventilation had been restored, 12 hours later, there was still enough gas in the mine to cause an explosion and he thought that the gas must have accumulated for days or weeks before the explosion and that the falls allowed gas to accumulate in cavities in the roof. He firmly believed that it was not safe to work in the mine with naked lights or to allow any basting. Pickard had never seen so much violence caused by an explosion and he did not approve of bratticing and the stoppings which should not have been of wood but built of brick or stone 8 to 9 inches thick.

These were the conclusion of the inquiry held on the orders of the Home Secretary into the causes of the explosion:

We can not give a definite opinion as to where the large quantity of gas came from, or the exact spot where it was ignited but we lean to the opinion that the gas was lodged in the old pillars, and that at some point between Spier’s Dook and the entrance from the No.2 and the No.3 pits and came into contact with an open light. From whatever cause such a condition of things must, as far as possible, be either prevented or guarded against otherwise a similar accident may happen. The men who were working at the or near the stoops were supplied with safety or gauze lamps. Shot-firing was stated to have been prohibited, but there seems to be no doubt that gunpowder was used there. From our inspection, and from the evidence given at the public enquiry, we are of the opinion that there was always gas at the stoppes, and we consider that shotfiring there was most dangerous and ought not for one moment to have been permitted. We therefore suggest that the present mode of working with naked lights and leaving pillars comparatively unventilated be discontinued, and bearing in mind the great calamity, it will be better to use locked Davy lamps as an additional precaution, to prohibit shot-firing, to have the pillars better ventilated and to maintain the strictest discipline. We would recommend a more judicious split in the arrangement of the air course so that the returns may not come into contact with each other until that have passed along the working places also that the air, after passing the stooping operation, may not pass over the other working places as was the case with the air from the No.3 after going the No.2 current passed on to other working places. We should suggest that the working of the No.2 and the No.3 pits should be more concentrated and that throughers in the winding places should be made more frequent so as to reduce the distance by which the air has to be conducted to the faces by bratticing.

Mr. Moore commented on the press reports and pointed out that every woman was entitled, under the Act, to inspect the record books and this was open to him at all times.

 

REFERENCES
Mines Inspectors Report, 1877.
Illustrated London News.
Colliery Guardian, 16th. November 1877, p.781, 30th. November, p.864.
Blantyre Historical Society and Hamilton Library.
A definitive list of victims researched by Neil Gordon of Blantyre

Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.

 

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