Illustrated here is a drawing made on Thursday 25th October 1877, just a couple of days after the Blantyre Explosion. This was an accurate depiction, these particular illustrators capturing the scene as best as possible.
It was cold and rainy that week, the dark afternoons arriving early. By the Thursday, regular crowds of people had arrived by train to see the sight for themselves. What a sight it was too. Mixed with mourners still awaiting news at the pithead, some of the thousands of people were ghoulish tourists wanted to be near the news. Blantyre was mobbed, difficult to find places to stay, pubs did a roaring trade.
Reporters from all over the UK were arriving too, intent on describing the scene as best as they could.
Pictured is the road that became Douglas Street, branching off to what was the road through to Hillhouse, under the railway bridge, by Priestfield Rows and on to Colliery 3 in the distance.
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