On Saturday 29th October 1892, authorities gathered in the Ness’s School yard at the corner of Victoria Street and Glasgow Road to inspect the new ambulance waggon. However, once that was done, by chance Mr Hastie had mentioned he had a telephone installed at his property across the road. The gathered men took no time in being invited in to see and hear an actual telephone, one of the very first to be installed in Blantyre.
The ‘distraction’ proved rather amusing as they took it in turns to call the Blantyre Police Station and Auchinraith Colliery as the men marvelled at being able to talk and hear people who were so far away!
Rev Thomas Pryde who was amongst the company stepped forward to the telephone and caused great amusement by holding his mouth over the ear piece unsure of what he was doing! Another gentleman dropped the device and appeared thunderstruck when the voice came out saying “Hello, Blantyre Police”.
Another man Mr M.A.L Spiers had evidently used the telephone before. He shouted down the microphone, “Hello, is that you Lizzie?”, thinking he was speaking to the girl at the Hamilton Exchange. The words came back “This is Auchenraith Colliery.”. Mr Spiers looked around at his colleagues and changed his questions shouting, “Hello, is that you Auchenraith?” to much amusement.
One or two other people “had a shot” when suddenly, Mr Hastie was called to the telephone when it actually rang, startling everybody! Alarming intelligence was then received when Auchenraith Colliery had called back to say there had been an accident and to send the new ambulance waggon.
Much alarm ensued as the vehicle in Hastie’s yard was scrambled to get to nearby Auchenraith Road. It took just 5 minutes for the horse to be harnessed and the vehicle underway, the high jinx of previous phone calls quickly forgotten. The men concerned for the miners, followed the waggon.
However, upon arrival at Auchenraith Colliery, it was quickly discovered that there was NO accident. The managers there had decided to test the efficiency of the new waggon by timing how long it would take for it to arrive! The men were both frustrated and relieved before heading back to the school room at Glasgow Road where some words were planned for the public about the new waggon. More on that shortly.
AI Imagines the scene.
Excellent story of times past👍🏻