With so many men and boys losing their lives in the Dixons Pit Disaster in High Blantyre on 22nd October 1877, the only way the authorities could deal with such funeral arrangements, was by a mass burial. This took place at High Blantyre Cemetery, where all non Catholics were buried, with Catholic men and boys […]
On Saturday 30th August 1930 a huge explosion in Auchinraith pit claimed the lives of 5 men. I researched the story in some detail here http://blantyreproject.com/2014/02/15/the-auchinraith-pit-disaster-1930/ Always amazed by the kindness of Blantyre people, I have to thank local man Alex Rochead for showing me this lesser known photo. Incredibly, preserved in some clarity is […]
1877 wasn’t the only year to have a significant pit accident in Blantyre. On Saturday 30th August 1930, a huge explosion occurred at Number 1 pit, Auchinrath colliery belonging to Messrs Merry and Cunningham. Fourteen men were entombed in frightening circumstances and after great difficulty, only 10 of them could be rescued. It was officially […]
A story surfaced in the week that followed the 1877 pit disaster in Blantyre. Taken from the Scotsman archives of 27th October 1877: “Yesterday Thomas Gibbin, a labourer, having no fixed place of residence, was judicially examined before Sheriff Bernie at Hamilton Sheriff Court, and committed to prison pending further inquiries, on a charge of […]
Quite incredibly for 1877, the story and coverage of the Blantyre Pit Explosion is very, very well documented. The following is a direct transcript from local newspapers, the day after the accident.From 23rd October 1877: Appalling Colliery Accident at High Blantyre – More Than 200 Lives Lost – One of the most appalling colliery accidents […]