A sad story about an unfortunate accident which happened 128 years ago in 1896, sadly one which ended in tragedy. If only to remember this little soul, the events are retold here.
Jane Malcolm McNab was born in 1895 at Watson’s Land, Larkfield, Blantyre (near where today Watson Street is located). The daughter of Donald McNab a journeyman blacksmith and Agnes Malcolm. On Saturday 9th May 1896, when she was almost 1 year and a half, and was at the family home with her mother.
That morning, Agnes the mother was washing down the back of the dresser and had emptied the plates and several bottles out the piece of furniture placing them on a nearby table. Included amongst the bottles was a pennyworth of carbolic acid with a stopper bottle top. (in those days before safety tops). Agnes, whilst washing down the dresser suddenly heard a cry from her child and turning around was horrified to see little Jane had drank the contents of the bottle!
Dr Grant was fetched who gave the little girl every attention, but sadly 19 hours later, she slipped away as a direct result of the poisoning. Her father signed the death certificate. How Agnes got through this I will never know.
There are far too many stories of terrible accidents in this era. The dangers of an environment where safety was often lacking. Wanting to end this story on a note of remembrance, I decided to retrieve the register of corrected entries and found that Jane is buried at High Blantyre Cemetery, the funeral performed by J&A Smith. She is remembered here. May her soul rest in peace.
On social media, the following comments were provided by readers:
Maz Aitken Wow that was fascinating and so very tragic.
Joe Allan Lessons to be Learned there.
Carol King How awful – the old days weren’t ‘the good old days’ and they’d pay for the doctors visit likely.