I’ve been looking at the hardships in Blantyre during Summer 1894 when the Miners strike caused so many families to be starving and destitute. by August, things were so bad that the authorities sought to reduce the relief being given to the poor by sixpence, in order to help fund a further £40 towards the dozen soup kitchens set up throughout Blantyre.
A lack of money and food, wasn’t the only difficulty miners families faced.
Coal was a commodity that could not be afforded that summer. Though months were warmer, the need for coal to heat and cook did not go away and the miners themselves did not want to give in and give the Coalmasters one penny more until the strike was resolved. A boycott of coal existed and as stocks dwindled in public outbuildings and coal bunkers, Blantyre people resorted to other means.
Wood for example became the thing to burn and slowly that summer it became noticeable than fences were missing, low hanging branches from trees gone and wood became a commodity that was being stolen from the unlikeliest of places. On Thursday 26th July 1894, the Caledonia Railway officials noticed than no less than 37 railway sleepers had been lifted, torn out of tracks and fences during one night alone, a raid which must surely have been carefully planned and organised by many people. It was observed by some the following day that the wood was being divided out amongst the people in various miners Rows, without any attempt at hiding it.
AI imagines the scene.
