I continue to explore, research and flesh out the lives of the Blantyre miners who lost their lives in accidents. This article in particular is the story of Neil WARD, a middle aged, Blantyre miner who sadly lost his life in the 1877 Pit Disaster.
Neil Ward was born in 1819 in Donegal, Ireland to Patrick Ward (b1801) a farm labourer. His mother was Jane (Surname unknown b1801) as marked in Neil’s death certificate.
What is known is that by the early 1840’s, Neil had come to Scotland and on 5th Nov 1843 at Glasgow, he married Ann McAulay. Settling down in Glasgow, children quickly followed. By 1861, the couple were living at Dalziel (Motherwell) with a young family of 4 girls and 2 boys. A further daughter would follow in 1862.
Neil’s wife, Ann died in 1870, some 7 years before the disaster. Following her death, Neil moved to Hamilton, likely pursuing further work as a coal miner. With Dixon’s opening up pits in Blantyre in 1872, it is thought Neil came to Blantyre between 1872 – 1877 and lived in proximity to Croftfoot, High Blantyre, a mere couple of minutes walk across from Dixons Pit 2, his place of employment.
On the morning of 22nd October 1877, as firedamp ignited a tremendous explosion, Neil lost his life in Dixon’s Collieries below ground within Pit No 2. 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.
It was very difficult for rescuers to reach the position Neil’s body lay in. The Glasgow Herald reported that by the 4th day, Neil was amongst a long list of men and boys still entombed and not yet brought up. By the 16th day, he had been recovered his body identified at the colliery pinhead by John Ward, his son, and Francis Collins, his son-in-law.
Neil’s death certificate was duly signed by his son in law, Francis Collins of Springfield, Blantyre on 5th November 1877, coincidentally on Neil’s wedding anniversary.
Be aware some newspaper reports and outdated lists of the dead have Neil’s age as 51 or 56, the Dalbeth Memorial saying he was 58, but his death certificate and registrar of corrected entries, show his true age as being 57. For those interested in Neil’s burial and remembrance, this is a complicated entry. He is remembered named not only on the new Granite memorials in High Blantyre Cemetery, but also on the memorial stone at Dalbeth, being of Catholic origin. However, rather uniquely, he is actually buried in St Mary’s Churchyard in Glasgow.
With thanks to Alex Rochead for his assistance in pulling together the documentation for this article.
My father Dennis Duncan McManus worked the mines in Blantyre from 1917 to 1927. He started at 12 years old as his father became disabled working until he left for the U.S. in 1927. Let us honor my father and all the coal miners of Scotland who risked their lives to feed their families and provide a better life for their children.