Portland Colliery

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Anderson, James, 08 Mar 1877, aged 50, Collier, Fall of coal

Black, Richard, 18 Feb 1908, 12.15 p.m., aged 27, Miner, Either a premature explosion of gelignite killed the fireman and ignited an accumulation of gas in the unventilated workings adjoining the place where they were working and caused the death of the other three men, or one of their naked lights first ignited the gas, causing an explosion, and also lighted the gelignite which was apparently in the fireman's hands [More information ...]

Black, Robert, 18 Feb 1908, 12.15 p.m., aged 51, Miner, Either a premature explosion of gelignite killed the fireman and ignited an accumulation of gas in the unventilated workings adjoining the place where they were working and caused the death of the other three men, or one of their naked lights first ignited the gas, causing an explosion, and also lighted the gelignite which was apparently in the fireman's hands [More information ...]

Black, William, 18 Feb 1908, 12.15 p.m., aged 17, Drawer, Either a premature explosion of gelignite killed the fireman and ignited an accumulation of gas in the unventilated workings adjoining the place where they were working and caused the death of the other three men, or one of their naked lights first ignited the gas, causing an explosion, and also lighted the gelignite which was apparently in the fireman's hands [More information ...]

Bowman, Robert, 31 Dec 1903, aged 21, Miner, Fall of roof in working place

Campbell, Alexander, 19 Jan 1925, aged 15 [More information ...]

Campbell, William, 19 Jan 1925, aged 39 [More information ...]

Clark, Richard, 30 Mar 1883, aged 54, Collier, Fall of roof at face

Connel, John, 28 Apr 1911, 1 p.m., aged 28, Fireman, Deceased ignited gas with his open light, which had accumulated in a temporarily stopped working. He committed a breach of General Rule 4 (1) by entering this place before making an examination with a safety lamp, gas having been found in the place within the previous twelve months. (2) This place had been fenced off for inflammable gas. He entered this place with a naked light in contravention of Rule 7

Cree, Alexander, 19 Jan 1925, aged 22 [More information ...]

Cree, James, 24 Sep 1870, aged 50, Collier, Fall of roof

Cummock, Boyd, 24 Aug 1900, (accident: 17 Aug 1900), aged 21, Miner, A section of dip workings sealed off by a brick stopping was being re-opened. Two shots of Nobel's blasting gelatine were fired in the stopping, 30 inches thick, blowing it down and causing an explosion of fire damp accumulated behind it. The men all retired nearer the shaft, and an hour afterwards a second explosion occurred, fatally injuring six of them and injuring other two. The cause of the second explosion has not been ascertained [More information ...]

Currie, Charles, 26 Jul 1906, (accident: 16 Feb 1906), aged 50, Brusher, Struck by a stone projected by a gunpowder shot. He failed to take proper refuge. The accident was not reported and he died on 26th July

Currie, David, 04 Jul 1886, aged 58, Collier, Fall of roof

Dudgeon, John, 17 May 1883, aged 50, Sinker, Caught by the midwall whilst being drawn up the shaft [More information ...]

Forrest, Leslie, 17 Nov 1909, aged 40, Fireman, Fall of roof in main road while inspecting workings for the day shift

Fulton, James, 07 Jul 1879, aged 18, Collier, Fall of roof at face

Gemmell, John, jnr., 18 Aug 1900, (accident: 17 Aug 1900), aged 23, Miner, A section of dip workings sealed off by a brick stopping was being re-opened. Two shots of Nobel's blasting gelatine were fired in the stopping, 30 inches thick, blowing it down and causing an explosion of fire damp accumulated behind it. The men all retired nearer the shaft, and an hour afterwards a second explosion occurred, fatally injuring six of them and injuring other two. The cause of the second explosion has not been ascertained [More information ...]

Gemmell, John, snr., 17 Aug 1900, aged 47, Miner, Inspection made and inquest attended. Ten men were engaged in sinking operations in No. 3 Old Boston pit, at a depth of 245 yards from the surface, and when they were filling dirt into the hoppit, an upheaval of the floor occurred, and an outburst of fire-damp gas igniting at the candles, caused the ten men to be burnt more or less severely, eight of whom afterwards succumbed (at the Haydock Cottage Hospital) to the injuries received. At the inquiry it was recommended that in future sinking operations should be carried on by electric light [More information ...]

Gray, John, 25 Mar 1911, aged 49, Road Repairer, He was walking on a haulage brae when a piece of side fell from over a roadside pack, and turning over crushed him about the legs and thigh

Gray, William, 21 Dec 1880, aged 38, Collier, Fall of coal

Grier, Mark, 23 Jul 1865, aged 60, Pitheadman, Was crushed at the screen between two waggons

Hart, James, 14 Jul 1858, aged 12, Drawer, Explosion of firedamp [More information ...]

Hay, Robert, 12 Sep 1903, aged 25, Miner, Fall of roof (coal and stone) in working place

Higgins, James, 18 Apr 1894, 6 p.m., aged 35, Miner, Explosion of firedamp

Humphrey, Robert, 23 Jan 1913, (accident: 20 Jan 1913), aged 58, Foreman Engineer, Deceased was directing the lifting of part of a heavy crane with a 1-ton hand crane when the jib chain broke and he was struck by the falling jib. His skull was fractured and he died three days later. The chain of the crane, which was owned by contracting engineers, was an old one, much worn, and in defective condition

Jameison, John, 17 Dec 1910, aged 58, Roadsman, When on his way to the shaft at the end of the shift a fall of stone occurred without any warning from the roof of the travelling way. Died two hours afterwards

Johnstone, Andrew, 17 Aug 1900, aged 36, Undermanager, A section of dip workings sealed off by a brick stopping was being re-opened. Two shots of Nobel's blasting gelatine were fired in the stopping, 30 inches thick, blowing it down and causing an explosion of fire damp accumulated behind it. The men all retired nearer the shaft, and an hour afterwards a second explosion occurred, fatally injuring six of them and injuring other two. The cause of the second explosion has not been ascertained [More information ...]

Kennedy, William, 01 Apr 1861, aged 42, Bottomer, Fall of material in the shaft

King, Robert, 11 Jan 1886, aged 54, Roadsman, Was struck by a prop which he and the oversman were engaged taking out

Livingstone, John, 18 Feb 1908, 12.15 p.m., aged 45, Fireman, Either a premature explosion of gelignite killed the fireman and ignited an accumulation of gas in the unventilated workings adjoining the place where they were working and caused the death of the other three men, or one of their naked lights first ignited the gas, causing an explosion, and also lighted the gelignite which was apparently in the fireman's hands [More information ...]

Main, Andrew, 10 Sep 1886, aged 40, Collier, Fall of roof at face

Main, Andrew, 10 Sep 1887, aged 40, Collier, Fall of roof at face

McCourt, Robert, 08 Mar 1855, Fall of roof undermining a prop

McDonald, Alexander, 06 Nov 1868, aged 54, Hillman, Fell down the shaft by pushing a hutch into the wrong division of it [More information ...]

McKelvie, John, 01 Aug 1877, aged 65, Waggon shifter, Jammed between two waggons

Miller, William, 23 Jan 1894, 10 a.m., aged 49, Miner, Fall of coal

Morrison, Henry, 23 Oct 1900, aged 38, Miner, Fall of coal, owing to the want of sprags

Rodman, Alexander, 19 Jan 1925, aged 67 [More information ...]

Ross, John, 14 Sep 1880, aged 31, Collier, Fall of roof

Ross, John, 29 Dec 1888, Blacksmith, Cage stuck in the shaft and dropped away with him in it

Ross, William, 12 Dec 1883, aged 25, Engineman, By boiler chimney being blown down by the severe storm

Sheils, William, 14 Jul 1858, aged 18, Drawer, Explosion of firedamp [More information ...]

Shepherd, Martin, jnr., 13 Sep 1910, aged 16, Driver, When walking between his horse and the first tub of a rake of tubs he stumbled and fell and the hutches had run on to and killed him

Stephenson, William, 19 Jan 1925, aged 29 [More information ...]

Todd, John, 19 Aug 1900, (accident: 17 Aug 1900), aged 35, Oncost Worker, A section of dip workings sealed off by a brick stopping was being re-opened. Two shots of Nobel's blasting gelatine were fired in the stopping, 30 inches thick, blowing it down and causing an explosion of fire damp accumulated behind it. The men all retired nearer the shaft, and an hour afterwards a second explosion occurred, fatally injuring six of them and injuring other two. The cause of the second explosion has not been ascertained [More information ...]

Trainer, Thomas, 17 Apr 1862, aged 50, Collier, The powder accidentally ignited while preparing to blast

Turnbull, James, 17 Aug 1900, aged 40, Fireman, A section of dip workings sealed off by a brick stopping was being re-opened. Two shots of Nobel's blasting gelatine were fired in the stopping, 30 inches thick, blowing it down and causing an explosion of fire damp accumulated behind it. The men all retired nearer the shaft, and an hour afterwards a second explosion occurred, fatally injuring six of them and injuring other two. The cause of the second explosion has not been ascertained [More information ...]

Wason, William, 18 Oct 1875, aged 45, Collier, Fall of coal

Watson, Richard, 25 Dec 1865, aged 25, Engineman, By the bursting of a boiler

Wilson, Gilbert, 01 Jun 1893, 7 a.m., aged 53, Overman, Caught by bell crank while attempting to pass it