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1890 Deaths listed in Mine Inspectors Report

This table is compiled from appendices to the reports of the Inspector of Mines and Collieries

For some deaths extra information is available in the main body of the report. These will be added as soon as possible but if you'd like any of the infomation in the meantime, please ask.

Year Month Day Name of Colliery Where situated Owner or Company First Name Surname Occupation Age Category Cause of accident and remarks Extra details available?
1889 December 17 Dunsyston Lanark Summerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co Ltd Hugh Goldie Miner 34 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof died May 7 1890  
1890 January 5 Stanrigg Lanark Wm Black & Sons John Johnstone Miner 22 In shafts Jumped down shaft; suicide  
1890 January 8 Lightshaw No 3 Muirkirk Eglinton Iron Co David Symington Drawer 19 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof in road while redding a fall  
1890 January 14 Craigend Stirling John Logan & Sons John Kay Screenman 58 Above ground Crushed by waggon at screen Yes
1890 January 14 Niddrie Edinburgh Niddrie & Benhar Coal Co Ltd Jas. Newlands Gatekeeper 17 Above ground Run over by waggons Newspaper report
1890 January 15 Earnock Lanark John Watson Ltd Alexr. McDonald Brusher 35 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone  
1890 January 16 Kelty No 3 Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd Peter Arnott Miner 28 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone Newspaper report - Beath accidents
1890 January 18 Gilmilnscroft No 3 Cumnock Gilmour, Wood & Anderson Joseph Kirkland Engineman 46 In shafts He overwound the cage, left his engine to adjust it, when the engine started and he fell down the shaft The first man who lost his life was an engineman, who by mistake raised the cage with a full hutch until it came in contact with a pulley on the pithead frame, and as the cage got out of the slides, it would not come down again. He thereupon left his engine, climbed up the pithead frame, and got into the cage to release it. According to the statement of the pitheadman, when the cage was released it came slowly down with the engineman on the top of the hutch until it reached the plates on the pithead, when he was jammed between the cage and the edge of the plates. At the same instant the cage was drawn up, which allowed the deceased to drop into the open shaft, to the bottom of which he fell. The engine continued to run on, and was not stopped until a blacksmith went into the engine-house and shut the steam-valve which the deceased had left open. As the brake was smashed by the cage falling into the engine-house, it is not known whether or not the deceased had applied the brake to the engine before he left it. Apparently he had not done so. From the manner in which the cage came down to the pithead it is probable that its weight was sufficient to start the engine, but the lever of the link motion, shifting of its own accord, reversed the engine and drew up the cage again.
1890 January 20 Plann No 4 Kilmarnock Plann Coal Co. Robt. Currie Miner 45 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof at working face Ayrshire accidents
1890 January 21 Bredisholm No 1 Bothwell Provanhall Coal Co John McLay Drawer 19 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof at working face at road head  
1890 January 23 Wester Gartshore No 1 Kirkintilloch J & A F Wallace John Baxter Miner 70 Miscellaneous underground Explosion of compressed powder by a spark from his lamp  
1890 January 28 Barncluith No 1 Lanark Archd. Russell James McKay Miner 32 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1890 January 30 Plann No 4 Kilmarnock Plann Coal Co. Robt. Auld Bottomer 19 In shafts Fell down shaft from a mid-working A drawer, who was alone at the time, fell down the shaft from a midworking and was killed. How the accident happened can only be conjectured, but it appears as if he had been putting a hutch on the cage; when it missed the rails. He then gave the signal "one," and when, in response, the cage was raised, the hutch being only partly on, tilted up, and in some unexplained manner both he and the hutch fell down the shaft.
1890 January 31 Allanshaw Lanark Allanshaw Coal Co Thos. McCall Miner 51 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone  
1890 February 1 Greenfield Lanark Archd. Russell James Pitts Miner 35 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1890 February 13 Alloa Clackmannan Alloa Coal Co William Paterson Miner 53 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal at face Clackmannanshire accidents
1890 February 19 Polbeth No 11 Edinburgh Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Co Ltd William Forrester Fan boy 14 Miscellaneous underground Drowned by inundation of mine Yes
1890 February 19 Southfield No 1 Stirling Wm Black & Sons James White Engineman 47 Above ground Crushed while repairing machinery Yes
1890 February 20 Hamilton Palace No 1 Bothwell Bent Coal Co Ltd Robert Gregory Miner 18 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof at road head  
1890 February 20 Ladyha' No 2 Kilwinning Eglinton Iron Co George Whitelaw Brusher 49 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof at brushing face  
1890 February 21 Jordanhill No 6 Maryhill James Dunlop & Co Thomas Jackson Bottomer 36 In shafts The engineman raised the cage while he was adjusting a hutch on it and crushed him  
1890 February 23 Aikenhead No 2 Mount Florida Geo Crookston & Son Wm. Cameron Bottomer 40 In shafts While ascending the shaft he fell out of the cage  
1890 February 24 Kingseat No 3 Fife Wallace Bris David Brand Miner 48 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal at face  
1890 February 28 Corby Craigs No 6 Dalmellington Dalmellington Iron Co John Spiers Miner 45 Miscellaneous underground Struck by a stone from a shot while looking round a corner at it  
1890 March 3 Devon Clackmannan Alloa Coal Co Henry Muir Fireman 33 Explosions of fire damp Explosion of fire damp Yes
1890 March 4 Kelty, Lindsay Pit Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd Thos. Stenhouse Miner 48 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal and stone  
1890 March 6 Denbeath Fife Bowman & Co Thos. Thompson Miner 20 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof coal  
1890 March 10 Brownyside Lanark Wm Black & Sons George Burt Drawer 18 Miscellaneous underground Sudden death from natural causes  
1890 March 11 Loganlea Edinburgh John McCulloch James Smith Coal picker 15 Above ground Run over by waggons Yes
1890 March 11 Muirhead No 19 Lanark Niddrie & Benhar Coal Co Ltd Wm. Gardner Attending engine 14 Above ground Caught by crank Yes
1890 March 11 Wemyss Fife R G E Wemyss John Dryburgh Miner 22 Falls of roof & sides Fall of head coal  
1890 March 13 Sundrum No 3 Ayr George Taylor & Co David Vance Miner 19 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal  
1890 March 17 Banknock Livingstone Mine Denny John Young & Co Wm. Kirk Brusher 42 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof at brushing face  
1890 March 24 Gilbertfield No 2 Cambuslang Cambuslang Coal Co Andrew Young Miner 35 Explosions of fire damp Explosion of fire damp Occurred in a part of the workings where the Ell coal was being stooped. The deceased left his working place, and went towards the waste for a private purpose, when his naked light ignited some firedamp which had, evidently unknown to the fireman, accumulated there. He received fatal injuries, and another miner was slightly injured by the explosion.
1890 March 26 Bog No2 Lanark Hamilton McCulloch & Co Wm. Davidson Coal cleaner 15 Above ground Caught by engine fly wheel Yes
1890 March 28 Orbiston No 2 Bellshill Summerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co Ltd Mark Carlin Miner 60 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal while stooping  
1890 March 30 Glorat Kirkintilloch Gilbert Pitcairn & Co Gilbert Pitcairn Owner 35 Above ground Explosion of boiler (H Kelly, roadsman injured) Caused by the explosion of a boiler which killed one of the owners, and an engineman, and injured another man. This boiler explosion took place as Glorat mine, of which the deceased, Mr. Gilbert Pitcairn, was the managing partner. The boiler was of the ordinary egg-ended type, 15 ft. long by 3 1/2 ft. diameter, the plates having been originally 3/8 in. thick. I was informed that when the pit was sunk 18 years ago, the boiler was put in then, but that it had been in use before. The working pressure was said to be 40 lbs per square inch. It appears that on the morning; of the 29th March a longitudinal rupture of one of the bottom plates took place. This rupture was 18 or 20 ins in length, and through it the boiler emptied itself of water in two or three minutes, and put out the fire. It seems that the deceased then got two pieces of hoop iron, 35 ins long by 3 ins. wide by 1/8 in. thick, and after drilling three bolt holes along the line of rupture in the boiler and corresponding holes through the pieces of iron, they bolted them together, one on each side of the boiler shell, with a piece of sheet indiarubber between the inside piece of iron and the boiler. Water was then pumped into the boiler to a depth of 10 ins., and as it still ran out at the fracture, the engineman went inside and tightened up the bolts, which it was said had the effect of stopping the leakage. Water was then pumped in until it was within 6 ins. of the manhole, which was then put on. Next morning steam was raised to pump water out of the pit, and it appears that the deceased were on the top of the boiler, and the injured man was in the stokehole, when the boiler exploded. The back end with the first ring of plates was projected backwards 210 yards to the north, a portion of the front was blown 150 yards to the south, and the remainder 110 yards to the east. The owner's body was found 50 yards and. the engineman's 60 yards distant, while the injured man was found among the debris where the stokehole had been.
The plate where the rupture had taken place the day before the explosion was only from 1/32 to 1/16 in thick at that point, and in many other parts the plate and the one adjoining it was no more than 1/32 in. thick. Other parts of the shell were very much " pitted " and eaten away by corrosion. It appears that this boiler, which was the only one at the pit, had leaked badly at various parts, but so far as I could ascertain, no examination of it had ever been made by a competent person, and the leakages were stopped as best could be by caulking the seams, putting in horse's dung, and fitting in bolts tightly screwed up where there were bad rivets. At the time of the explosion the deceased were inserting a wire into the small pipes leading from the boiler to the gauge glass. I do not think that their clumsy attempt to close the fracture the previous day could possibly b successful, and I am of opinion that during the night the water had nearly all run out of the boiler. There can be no doubt that the boiler gave way first along the line of the fracture referred to, and the only wonder is that it had not exploded before in its weakened condition.
This accident showed either ignorance or foolhardiness on the part of the deceased to an extent that is hardly credible. Both men could not fail to know that the boiler was eaten away by corrosion until it was no thicker than a wafer, seeing that they actually drilled holes through the thinnest part. It is difficult to believe that they could be aware of the risk they ran, or that practical men would endeavour to repair the leakage in the manner they did. It appears, however, that the owners were giving up the colliery in a few days and I am of opinion that the deceased owner must have known to some extent the risk he was running, but thought that the boiler would last until they stopped. As to the engineman, he had signed the report book for .over two years, including the day previous to the explosion, but reported nothing wrong with the boiler. This being the case, his reports are untrustworthy, and are no index of his knowledge as to its real state.
Andrew Fleming Engineman 28
1890 April 3 Polkemmet Linlithgow James Wood Jas. Beveridge Roadsman 55 Miscellaneous underground Runaway tubs on incline Yes
1890 April 4 Hallside Newton James Dunlop & Co William Martin Drawer 17 Explosions of fire damp Explosion of fire damp Happened in a narrow heading which was being driven .in the Pyotshaw coal, and in which firedamp was freely being given off. This heading was 70 yards in length, and was ventilated by cloth bratticing round which the air circulated. It seems that the deceased was taking a loaded hutch down the heading when it went off the rails, knocked out a prop, and released a loose stone which in its fall tore down a portion of the bratticing some 45 yards distant from the heading face. The deceased, after inquiring at the pit bottom for the fireman who was in another section of the workings, commenced, along with the miner with whom he worked, to repair the bratticing with naked lights. About an hour after the breaking down of the bratticing it appears that the deceased was sent by the miner to the heading face to get a shovel, when the naked light which he carried ignited the firedamp which the derangement of the bratticing allowed to accumulate, and he was killed by the explosion. By the Special Rules it was the duty of the miner and his drawer to withdraw from their working place, instantly report what had happened to the bratticing to the overman or fireman, and not to return until proper remedies were applied. Proceedings for contravention of the Special Rules were taken against the miner, who was found guilty, but let off with an admonition.
1890 April 6 Newhouse Holytown Newhouse Coal Co Robert Notman Fireman 28 In shafts Found dead below cage  
1890 April 6 Broomhouse Broomhouse Haughhead Coal Co Thomas Shaw Fireman 45 Explosions of fire damp Explosion of fire damp Happened to a fireman while making his inspection previous to the commencement of the shift. He found the bratticing in a narrow heading broken down, and it is said that while repairing the bratticing his safety-lamp fell over and was extinguished, and that when striking a match to relight his lamp the explosion took place.
1890 April 9 Bathville Linlithgow James Wood John Sinclair Roadsman 56 Miscellaneous underground Caught by pinion wheel Yes
1890 April 10 Newliston Linlithgow Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Co Ltd Alex. McMichael Miner 24 Miscellaneous underground Explosion of a shot Yes
1890 April 11 Balgonie Fife Chas B Balfour George Wallace Drawer 19 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone  
1890 April 11 Durie Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd Patrick Brown Sinker 40 In shafts Fall from kettle Yes
1890 April 16 Broomlands No 8 Dreghorn Bourtreehill Coal Co Peter Strachan Miner 43 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof at working face  
1890 April 17 Newbattle Edinburgh Lothian Coal Co Ltd George Buchan Labourer 32 Above ground Crushed by waggon Yes
1890 April 19 Devon Clackmannan Alloa Coal Co George Davidson Pitwright 52 In shafts Sudden death from natural causes  
1890 April 22 Greenlea Pit, Jordanhill Maryhill Jas Dunlop & Co Ltd John Swan Engineman 25 Above ground Caught by fly-wheel owing to the engine creeping away  
1890 April 24 Burghlee No 1 Edinburgh Shotts Iron Co Ltd Peter Allan Miner 30 Miscellaneous underground Fall down incline Yes
1890 April 25 Dysart Fife Earl of Rosslyn Wm. Duncan Miner 42 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal  
Wm. Watson Miner 58
1890 May 3 Calderhead No 3 Lanark Shotts Iron Co Ltd John Campbell Miner 50 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone  
1890 May 6 Caldercruix Lanark James Nimmo & Co Jas. McGinnes Miner 28 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone Yes
1890 May 6 Longrigg No 11 Lanark James Nimmo & Co John Lundy Miner 13 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone  
1890 May 7 Dunsyston Lanark   Hugh Goldie         See entry under 17 December 1898 (from 1890 report)
1890 May 8 Dalzell Motherwell Wishaw Coal Co John Drinnan Manager 49 Miscellaneous underground Suffocated by gases from an underground fire Resulted in the death of two managers from suffocation by gases from an underground fire. Nos. 1 and 2 pits of Dalziel Colliery, belonging to the Wishaw Coal Company are sunk to the Splint coal, a depth of 75 fathoms, the Ell coal being 55 fathoms from the surface. No. 1 pit was used for drawing coal from the Ell and upper section of Main seams, while the coal from the Splint and lower section of Main seams was drawn to the surface by No. 2 pit. A steam engine for haulage and pumping purposes was placed in the Ell coal close to No. 1 pit which was the upcast shaft; the steam pipe, which was uncovered, being taken down that shaft from the boilers on the surface. The ventilation was maintained by the heat from the steam pipes and the exhaust steam.
A haulage road is driven in a straight line from the Ell coal bottom in No, 1 pit in a southeast direction, and at a distance of 660 yards from No. 1 pit passes by a stone mine into the main coal, and is continued in that seam. At a distance of 880 yards from No. 1 pit, a shaft is sunk from the surface close to the haulage road, and another shaft is also sunk to the Main coal near the line of the haulage road, 1,265 yards distant from the winding shafts, which are some 33 yards apart from each other. For convenience, I shall call the shaft 880 yards distant from the winding shafts A and the other B. A section of Ell coal was worked from the shaft B, the coals being lowered in cages to the Main coal, a depth of 9 fathoms and drawn by the haulage engine to No. 1 pit. There was also a ladder in the shaft B between the,two seams for the use of the workmen.
It appears that about 8.30 p.m. on the 7th of May, Wm. Drain an oncostman, and Charles Fisher, engineman, went down No. 1 pit to commence their shift. They stated that they both went into the engine house and after starting the engine to pump water out of the workings near the shaft B by means of a rope, they left the pit bottom about 9 p.m. Fisher stated that on returning to the pit bottom about 11 p.m., he found it full of smoke, and was unable to get near the enginehouse. The fire had previously, about 10.15 p.m., been discovered by a roadsman when about to descend No. 1 pit, and he informed Mr. Drinnan, the manager, who along with him went down the shaft A by the ladders and approached the fire, but they were unable to reach it on account of the smoke. After ascending by shaft A, a close scaffold was put over No. 1 pit mouth which was finished between 1 and 2 a.m., and efforts were then made to put out the fire by drawing water in chests, up No. 2 pit and pouring it down No. 1 pit. The next proceeding was to get the 13 horses up No. 2 pit from the Splint coal, but only five were got out when the others had to be left to their fate, owing to the smoke and foul air. There were 12 horses in the workings near the bottom of the shaft A, and these were all drawn to the surface by 1 p.m. At this time all the shaft mouths were closed, except the shaft B in which there was one horse in the Ell coal. This horse was got out, after which Mr. Drinnan, Mr. Weir, manager of the adjoining colliery of Shields, and Mr. Andrew Wilson, mining engineer, went down the shaft B to the Main coal, after leaving two other men at the Ell coal. It was stated by Mr. Wilson that, on reaching the Main coal, Mr. Weir said that he smelt smoke, and he (Wilson) also felt affected by it on reaching the haulage road some 40 yards distant from the shaft B. They then proceeded along the haulage road in the direction of No. 1 pit, when, on getting some 170 yards distant from shaft B he felt so affected by the bad air that he refused to go farther, and as the others would not return, he went back alone and could hardly manage to reach the shaft B. A few minutes after this, Alexr. Brown, bogie man, came down from the Ell coal and found Mr. Drinnan lying breathing heavily about 25 yards distant from the shaft, but the air, although the lamps burned brightly, was so bad that he had to retreat as fast as possible to the pit bottom, when, after some delay, Mr. Wilson and he were drawn up in the cage to the Ell coal, and thence to the surface. Word was next sent to remove a part of the scaffolding from No. 1 pit mouth, which at once restored the circulation of air, and allowed a descent to the Main coal. Messrs. Jas. Ormiston, Richard Gray, and Jas. McLurg went down and found Mr. Drinnan's body where he had been seen by Alexr. Brown, and that of Mr. Weir was found near it.
It is supposed that it was Mr. Drinnan's intention to reach if possible the stone mine through which the haulage road passes from the Ell to the Main coal, where it had been proposed to put in a stopping, but as about 8 a.m., or six hours before his last entrance to the Main coal, the smoke and fumes from the fire were found coming up this mine by the men engaged in taking the horses up the shaft A, he might have known that it would hardly be possible again to reach that point, and still less possible to put in a stopping unless he first restored the ventilation. From the fact that the lamps continued to burn brightly even when the men were overcome, it is probable that carbonic oxide gas was present, and was the cause of this unfortunate fatality. It is stated that Mr. Drinnan and some of those present had discussed the properties of this poisonous gas before going down the shaft B, and as they were aware of these, and as, owing to the mouth of the upcast being closed, the imperfect combustion was likely to produce carbonic oxide gas, it is difficult to imagine what could have induced the deceased and Mr. Wilson to enter the workings in the circumstances. No useful purpose could thereby have been effected, and there was no life at stake which might have been saved except the horses in the Splint coal, and these they could not possibly reach. I have been unable to ascertain how the fire originated.
Robert Weir Manager 31
1890 May 10 Longrigg Lanark James Nimmo & Co Wm. McGuire Labourer 50 Above ground Crushed between waggons  
1890 May 12 North Motherwell No 2 Motherwell Merry & Cunninghame Thomas Carey Miner 60 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal while “stooping”  
1890 May 17 Westburn Cambuslang Westburn Colliery Co Wm. Sinclair Chain runner 22 Miscellaneous underground Crushed between a “race” of hutches and a prop Newspaper Report
1890 May 17 Letterick Blantyre Mark Hurll John Stein Brusher 40 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof at road head Newspaper Report - Blantyre pages
1890 May 29 Quarter No 7 Lanark Colin Dunlop & Co Samuel Reid Miner 21 In shafts Crushed by cage Yes
1890 May 30 Rosehall No 13 Coatbridge Robt Addie & Sons Wm. Collins reddsman 19 Miscellaneous underground Run over by a bogie full of rails while drawing in front of it  
1890 May 31 Broadrigg Stirling John Nimmo & Son Thomas Blair Miner 17 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone  
1890 June 9 Bredisholm No 1 Bothwell Provanhall Coal Co Wm. Dollan Bottomer 21 In shafts Crushed by the cage in a blind pit coming down on him  
1890 June 10 Holmes Linlithgow Holmes Oil Co Ltd John McLachlan Miner 27 Explosions of fire damp Explosion of fire damp Yes
1890 June 10 Braidhurst No 2 Motherwell Summerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co Ltd James Penman Pony driver 26 Miscellaneous underground Run over by a “race” of hutches  
1890 June 13 Gartness Lanark Gartness Coal Co Thos. Fanlan Brusher 34 Miscellaneous underground Explosion of gunpowder Yes
1890 June 13 Hallhill No 1 Baillieston Wm Baird & Co John Allison Labourer 55 Above ground Caught by back balance of pumping engine while taking out a prop which had fallen into the pit beneath it  
1890 June 18 Kingshaw Lanark Shotts Iron Co Ltd David Dunlop Miner 37 Miscellaneous underground When igniting the fuse of a shot the powder exploded Third hour of shift  
1890 June 23 Pentland Edinburgh Clippens Oil Co Ltd John Wheelan Drawer 27 Miscellaneous underground Crushed by tubs  
1890 June 23 Westrigg Lanark Westrigg Coal Co Thos. Dunlop Miner 28 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone  
1890 June 28 Muiredge Fife Bowman & Co Thos. Taylor Waggoner 50 Above ground Fell before waggon Yes
1890 July 4 Grangemouth Stirling Grangemouth Coal Co Robt. Marshall Bottomer 73 In shafts Fell down shaft Yes
1890 July 8 Tillicoultry Clackmannan Alloa Coal Co John Wright Miner 16 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone and coal  
1890 July 14 Highfield No 1 Dalry Merry & Cunninghame Robt. Stevenson Blacksmith 53 In shafts Killed while ascending the shaft. Cause of accident unknown  
1890 July 19 Dykes No 1 Cumnock Eglinton Iron Co George Hyslop Fireman 66 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof on horse road  
1890 July 29 Balbardie Linlithgow Henry Walker & Cameron Richard Smith Brusher 16 Miscellaneous underground Breakage of dook rope Yes
1890 August 6 Eddlewood Lanark John Watson Ltd James Gowans Sinker 46 In shafts Fell from kettle

Yes

Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1890 August 8 Eddlewood Lanark John Watson Ltd Wm. Graham Office boy 16 Above ground Crushed between waggons  
1890 August 9 Dalbeath Fife Fife Coal Co Ltd Robert Stewart Miner 26 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof Newspaper report - Beath accidents
1890 August 18 Shotts Lanark Shotts Iron Co Ltd George Lindsay Miner 49 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal and stone  
1890 August 20 Longriggend Lanark Jas Nimmo & Co John McDonough Not employed 70 Above ground Crushed by machinery  
1890 August 21 Rawyards Lanark Rawyards Colliery Co Ltd Robt. McLean Miner 28 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone  
1890 August 21 Wellshot Cambuslang David G Dunn Richard Brown Miner 40 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof at working face  
1890 August 23 Drumpeller Nos 3 and 4 Coatbridge Summerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co Ltd Alex. English Pony driver 13 Miscellaneous underground Supposed to have fallen and got jammed between hutches  
1890 August 30 Kinneil Linlithgow Kinneil Coal & Coke Co Wm. Galloway Sinker 58 Explosions of fire damp Explosion of fire damp Yes
Wm. Whitefield Engineman 73
1890 September 1 Whitehill Edinburgh Lothian Coal Co Ltd David Pentland Miner 40 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone; pick pierced head  
1890 September 3 Little Raith Fife Lochgelly Iron & Coal Co Ltd Peter McCulloch Reddsman 50 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone  
1890 September 5 Tarbrax Lanark Caledonian Mineral Oil Co Ltd Wm. Brown Tub greaser 13 Above ground Crushed by haulage rope wheel Yes
1890 September 8 Pentland Edinburgh Clippens Oil Co Ltd James Mulholland Miner 23 Falls of roof & sides Knocked down shoot by fall of shale  
1890 September 9 Caldwell No 2 Beith Wm Dixon Ltd Michael Lennon Bottomer 67 In shafts The cage came down upon him while in th cage seat  
1890 September 10 Rochsolloch Lanark Airdrie Coal Co Patrick McDonach Miner 20 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal  
1890 September 12 Darngavil Lanark Darngavil Coal Co Ltd Thos. McLachlan Drawer 13 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1890 September 15 Polton Edinburgh Lothian Coal Co Ltd Michael Kelly Labourer 21 Above ground Blood poisoning, not due to accident  
1890 September 17 Ballochmyle No 7 Cumnock Wm Walker Robt. Kirkland Pony driver 14 Miscellaneous underground Run over by a “race” of hutches which he was driving  
1890 September 19 Nether Croy No 1 Kilsyth Carron Co Henry Tansh Miner 45 Explosions of fire damp Explosion of fire damp (two other men injured) Happened in the Kilsyth coking coal, resulted in the death of one man and the injury of other two. A downthrow fault of 7 feet had been met in the North-West level, and the deceased and another miner were engaged brushing the pavement about 55 yards back from the level face. From the point at which they were working bratticing was carried forward to the level face, and apparently by their operations the miners disarranged the bratticing and thus cut off the air current. It was stated that the deceased went through the bratticing towards the level face in order to look for nails with which to fasten rails, when his naked light ignited an accumulation of firedamp. I made an inspection of this colliery, in which the coking coal had just commenced to be worked, a fortnight previous to the explosion, and the following day wrote to the owners stating that, in my opinion, it was necessary to work this seam with safety-lamps. To this I got no definite reply until after the explosion, when they at once agreed to put in safety-lamps throughout the workings.
1890 September 26 Newbattle Edinburgh Lothian Coal Co Ltd John Dennison Pony driver 16 Miscellaneous underground Crushed by runaway tub Yes
1890 September 26 Hopetoun Linlithgow Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Co Ltd Peter Devine Waggon trimmer 55 Above ground Run over by waggons Yes
1890 September 27 Daldowie Broomhouse Dunn Brothers Hugh McKenna Pony driver 19 Miscellaneous underground Run over by a “race” of hutches which he was driving  
1890 September 29 Cadzow Lanark Cadzow Coal Co Ltd Felix Oaks Bottomer 46 In shafts Crushed by cage Yes
1890 October 1 Denbeath Fife Bowman & Co David Grey Wood cutter 59 Above ground Run over by waggons Yes
1890 October 3 Niddrie Edinburgh Niddrie & Benhar Coal Co Ltd Wm. Munro Roadsman 29 Miscellaneous underground Fall of material down incline Yes
1890 October 4 Arden Lanark Wm Black & Sons Robert Cheyne Miner 17 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1890 October 6 Millburn Lanark Cornsilloch Coal Co ---- Prentice Not employed 8 Above ground Decapitated by waggons  
1890 October 9 Billyford Haddington Deans & Moore James Stocks Bottomer 63 In shafts Crushed by cage Yes
1890 October 13 Hattonrigg No 3 Bellshill Summerlee & Mossend Iron & Steel Co Ltd David Crichton Pony driver 16 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof on drawing road  
1890 October 13 Eastfield Cambuslang J. R. Gray Buchanan Wm. Booth Fireman 50 Explosions of fire damp Explosion of fire damp while inspecting with a naked light Happened to a fireman who was making his inspection previous to the commencement of the night shift. Although he had on former occasions found firedamp in the part of the workings he was inspecting, he carried with him a naked light as well as a safety-lamp. On coming unexpectedly upon an accumulation of firedamp, the usual result under such circumstances followed, and he paid the penalty of his rashness with his life.
1890 October 14 Rankinstone No 2 Ayr Merry & Cunninghame Wm. Townsley Miner 38 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof at working face  
1890 October 15 Newbattle Edinburgh Lothian Coal Co Ltd Thomas Moffat Crane-footer 45 Miscellaneous underground Leg lacerated by chain on brae Yes
1890 October 17 Cauldhame Kilmarnock A. Finnie & Son Thos. Nottman Miner 19 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof at working face  
1890 October 24 Clyde Lanark Clyde Coal Co Ltd Archd. Ferguson Miner 36 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal  
1890 October 24 Blackston Paisley Blackston Mineral Co Thos. McGrerty Miner 53 Miscellaneous underground Premature ignition of a shot  
1890 October 24 Common No 11 Cumnock Eglinton Iron Co Frederick Anderson Steeplejack 26 Above ground Fell from a chimney which he was repairing  
1890 October 25 Little Raith Fife Lochgelly Iron & Coal Co Ltd John Innes Not employed 8 Above ground Run over by waggons  
1890 October 28 Cowdenbeath Fife Cowdenbeath Coal Co ---- ---- Not employed   Above ground Run over on railway  
1890 October 30 Greenhill Lanark Robert Young Peter Black Overman 51 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone  
1890 October 31 Newliston Linlithgow Young's Paraffin Light & Mineral Oil Co Ltd John Denholm Filler 17 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof  
1890 October 4 Wallyford Edinburgh Deans & Moore John Hughes Sinker 39 Miscellaneous underground Suffocated by choke damp Yes
1890 November 8 Wellshot No 1 Cambuslang David G Dunn Robt. McKillop Pony driver 22 In shafts Crushed by the cage being raised before he got off it  
1890 November 11 Fence Lanark Nitshill & Lesmahagow Coal Co Andrew Kerr Miner 45 Falls of roof & sides Fall of stone  
1890 November 12 Davie Pit Glenbuck Cairntable Gas Coal Co Robt. Kerr Miner 30 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal  
1890 November 14 Allanshaw Lanark Allanshaw Coal Co George Binnie Miner 65 Miscellaneous underground Crushed by tubs Yes
1890 November 21 Burntisland Fife Burntisland Oil Co Ltd Patrick Kelly Drawer 24 Miscellaneous underground Crushed by tubs Yes
1890 November 22 Gilmerton Edinburgh Gilmerton Gas Coal Co Ltd Thomas Sharpe Sinker 39 Miscellaneous underground Suffocated by choke damp Yes
John King Sinker 46
1890 November 22 Westburn No 1 Cambuslang Westburn Colliery Co Charles Kerr Miner 48 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal at stoops  
1890 December 5 Bent Lanark Bent Colliery Co Ltd John Freeland Roadsman 46 Miscellaneous underground Sudden death from natural causes  
1890 December 9 West Benhar Lanark Niddrie & Benhar Coal Co Ltd Geo. Harrison Sinker 41 In shafts Fell from kettle Yes
1890 December 9 Tannochside No 1 Uddingston Calderbank Steel & Coal Co Andrew Donnelly reddsman 35 Falls of roof & sides Fall of roof on road Newspaper report- Bothwell pages
1890 December 11 Quarter No 1 Denny Wm Baird & Co Andrew Murphy Miner 56 Miscellaneous underground Run over by hutches on self-acting incline Newspaper report
1890 December 12 Woodhall Airdrie Barr & Higgins Alexr. Davidson Miner 16 Miscellaneous underground Fell into lodgement and was drowned Newspaper report
1890 December 19 Longrigg Lanark James Nimmo & Co John Easton Under manager 45 Explosions of fire damp Explosion of fire damp Yes
1890 December 19 Earnock Lanark John Watson Ltd John Campbell Brusher 45 Miscellaneous underground Crushed by tubs Yes Newspaper report - Hamilton pages
1890 December 20 Annandale No 9 Kilmarnock Archd. Finnie & Son Jas. R. Breckenridge Miner 32 Falls of roof & sides Fall of coal The deceased man was working beneath a mass of coal which had an open end, and which he had holed to a depth of 4 feet and a length of 10 feet. His neighbour, who worked near him, happened to come into his place, and noticed that the coal beneath which he was working without being supported by sprags was loose, and warned him of his danger. He replied that there was no fear of it coming away, and continued at work, when shortly after this the coal gave way, and killed him. There are, unfortunately, miners who risk their lives in this manner, and too often suffer the penalty of their rashness.
1890 December 31 Gilmerton Edinburgh Gilmerton Gas Coal Co Ltd Archd. Blyth Miner 27 Miscellaneous underground Explosion of a shot Yes

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