Catherine Logan Findlay was born in Blantyre in 1883 the daughter of steel presser, William Findlay and Margaret Logan.
Catherine was a Blantyre Village lassie, growing up at Newlands in Low Blantyre, which was just off Station Road. It is likely she was schooled in the village or at Stonefield.
On Saturday, 13th June 1896, several Blantyre children were thrilled to be taken on an outing to Dalziell House (Motherwell) for a summer picnic. Amongst the small party visiting was Catherine who was by that year, 12 years old. It was planned to be a day of laughter, games and fun, but sadly, this would not be the case.
Whilst Catherine was playing “blinds man buff”, her blindfold prevented her from watching her step and she wandered into a ditch, tripping up and hitting her head against a stone wall on the opposite side. It rendered her unconscious and doctors were immediately fetched, an immediate suspension in all play.
By that evening, doctors had assessed her and concluded this was more than a concussion, finding a fracture in the base of her skull. As the rest of the party returned to Blantyre, her family were fetched, but Catherine did not wake from her injuries. The decision was made to keep her at Dalziell House for fear of causing further injury if she was moved, but despite every attention given to her, she lingered there for 3 days, before sadly passing away at 3.50pm on Monday, 15th June.
I can’t imagine the heartache the family must have felt losing their 12 year old daughter, who otherwise was healthy and happy. Thinking on further to the sudden shock the others in this outing must have endured. Little Catherine, who abruptly never made it to adulthood, is remembered here in this article.
Rest in Peace Catherine Logan Findlay. AI imagines the moments prior to the accident.
