#lanarkshire

The Cadzow Oaks, Chatelherault, Scotland

Falls of Clyde in autumn, Lanarkshire, Scotland

On May 28th 1887, tragedy struck when 73 miners were killed in a firedamp explosion at Udston Colliery, Lanarkshire.

Keir Hardie, then Secretary of the Scottish Miners’ Federation, denounced the deaths as murder a few days later.

The Scottish Mining Website shows the astonishing fact that from 1799 to 1982, there was not a single year that did not see a fatality connected with coal mining. The reports of the disasters are all available to read online once you root around a little, this is the original report by Ralph Moore, HM Inspector of Mines:

“On Saturday morning, the 28th May, about five minutes past nine, a disastrous explosion took place at this colliery, causing the death of 73 persons. One hundred and eighty-four men had descended the pit that morning, and when the explosion occurred they were all there except two who had ascended. Measures were at once taken for the relief of those underground and before 3 o’clock pm all the men in the Ell and Main Coals were got out, and it was found that the workings in these seams were not damaged, but that the explosion had occurred in the Splint Coal.

“Five of the men in the Main Coal were killed by choke-damp which came up from the Splint Coal, and it was feared that the 71 persons who were in that seam were all dead.

“Preparations were at once made for ventilating and exploring the Splint Coal workings, and in about 45 hours after the explosion they had all been explored and all the bodies removed, with the exception of seven which were under falls of roof. The last of these was recovered on the 14th of June.

“Two men were found alive within 30 yards of the bottom of No 2 pit and are now recovering. All of the others were dead. Dr Robertson, Hamilton, who examined the bodies, certifies that 53 were burned, and 20 were suffocated.”