Blantyre mining disaster

The Blantyre mining disaster, which happened on the morning of October 22 1877, in Blantyre, Scotland, was and remains Scotland’s worst Mining accident and disaster.

Firedamp Claims 207

Blantyre Colliery, William Dixons pit, numbers 1 and 2 both blasted killing 207 miners of which the youngest victim was a boy of 11. It was known that fire damp was present in the pit and it is likely that this was ignited by a naked flame. The accident left 92 widows and 250 fatherless children.

Rescue Prevented

At this time rescue arrangements were inadequate and Alexander Macdonald, president of the Miners' National Association and a former miner prevented the surviving employees from attempting a rescue on safety grounds.

Safety Complaints Ignored

Although complaints about the working conditions at High Blantyre had been made repeatedly, they were ignored. In fact, a year before, the Blantyre miners had been so fearful for their safety in the mines that, when Dixons refused them a wage rise to compensate, they went on strike and were immediately sacked.

Another explosion 2 years later

There was another explosion, this time at Dixons pit number 1, on July 2, 1879, with the loss of 28 lives.

Granite Monument

Soon after the explosions William Dixon Ltd. erected a large granite monument to mark both disasters. The carved dedication reads: "William Dixon Ltd. in memory of 240 of their workmen who were killed by explosions in Blantyre Colliery on 22nd October, 1877 and 2nd July 1879 and many of whom are buried here".

Widows Evicted

Six months after the accident, Dixons raised summonses against 34 widows whose husbands had been killed and who had not left their tied cottages which they and their husbands had rented from the mining company. They were evicted two weeks later.

External links

* [http://www.mining-villages.co.uk/55.html Blantyre Disaster]
* [http://www.blantyrepast.com Blantyre Disaster - A Blast From The Past]
* [http://heritage.scotsman.com/people.cfm?id=621352006 Blantyre and the blackness of darkness]

ee also

* List of United Kingdom disasters by death toll