Howmuir Colliery

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Gibson, James, 09 Jul 1908, aged 22, Miner, Deceased was holing his coal when the roof suddenly fell upon him. The part which fell came from between two unseen "lypes"

Jardine, James, 08 Jul 1902, aged 46, Sinker, An old shaft had been reopened and enlarged, and almost from the start choke damp had troubled the sinkers. On the morning of the accident the deceased Jardine, after breakfast, slid the rope, and on reaching the bottom he shouted he was among damp, and immediately the manager, who had just arrived, descended with a hand line with a view to rescue Jardine, and he too was overcome, and before assistance arrived both men were dead. The shaft had been re-opened to a depth of 7 fathoms, and no artificial light was used [More information ...]

McDonald, John, Jun., 08 Jul 1902, aged 40, Manager, An old shaft had been reopened and enlarged, and almost from the start choke damp had troubled the sinkers. On the morning of the accident the deceased Jardine, after breakfast, slid the rope, and on reaching the bottom he shouted he was among damp, and immediately the manager, who had just arrived, descended with a hand line with a view to rescue Jardine, and he too was overcome, and before assistance arrived both men were dead. The shaft had been re-opened to a depth of 7 fathoms, and no artificial light was used [More information ...]

McEwan, Peter, 11 Mar 1909, aged 27, Machineman, Deceased was driver of an electric coal cutter and had charge of the other machine-men. The accident occurred at a road head which was newly brushed and which deceased had examined while the machine was standing. It had just been set agoing again, when a large stone fell and killed him. Flat crowns were not in use in the machine wall, but if two had been applied here, the accident would not have occurred

Neilson, Walter, 15 Aug 1913, aged 53, Labourer, Deceased and another workman were on the top of a dross hopper, spreading the dross, when it collapsed, and in falling one of the wooden beams struck and killed him instantaneously. The cause of the collapse was due to a wooden cross supporting the hopper giving way. A close examination showed that dry rot had set in right across the beam longitudinally, although outwardly it appeared all right. From the position in which the beam was set it should have held a safe load of 30 tons, and the total weight never exceeded eight tons

Smith, Joseph, 11 May 1903, aged 40, Sinker, Three shots were about to be fired at the bottom of a sinking pit, and deceased was sent to warn some men who were driving a lodgment, and to prevent them from coming outbye. Two shots were fired, but owing to a damp fuse some delay took place with the other, and a second messenger was sent to warn the men in the lodgment. Owing to a misunderstanding as to his message, deceased left the lodgment prematurely and was struck by a piece of rock thrown by the shot