HOUSEHILL WOOD Barrhead 12th August 1839
We regret to state that on Monday afternoon a dreadful accident occurred at Househill Wood Colliery, near Barrhead, belonging to Mr Galloway, Paisley, by which nine persons (seven men and two boys) lost their lives. The names of the sufferers are: John Hassan, Philip Hassan, John Gallacher, John Reilly, Robert Johnstone, Edward Doherty, James Leggatt, and two boys of the name of Campbell. A boy named Patrick O’Neill, has also received some very severe contusions on the head, but not such, we believe, as to endanger his life; and one John Smith, who, although buried for a short period below the rubbish, has suffered no material injury. The occurrence took place about by about a foot and a half of “till” falling from the roof of one of the rooms in the pit upon the above mentioned individuals, who were all sitting near each other, conversing, it is supposed, with two of their friends who had come to see them there, both of whom have unfortunately lost their lives.
We understand that this room, where the “till” fell, has not been wrought in the last four or five months, and, of course, no danger was apprehended, especially since one of the men killed and another of the miners had inspected it only a few minutes before the fatal occurrence took place. This melancholy accident has shed a deep gloom over Nitshill; although a number of coal pits are situated in the neighbourhood, no accident anything like this has occurred to a great number of years
The following burials are listed under 13th August 1839 in OPR Abbey Parish:
- Robert Johnston, Miner, residence, Nitshill, born, Glasgow, Accident at Coal Pit, age 26
- John Reily, Miner, residence Nitshill, born Ireland, Accident at Coal Pit, age 20
- John Hasson, Miner, residence Nitshill, born Abbey, Accident at Coal Pit, age 28
- Philip Hasson, Miner, residence Nitshill, born Abbey, Accident at Coal Pit, age 27
Those who died are:
- John Hassan,
- Philip Hassan,
- John Gallacher,
- John Reilly,
- Robert Johnstone,
- Edward Doherty,
- James Leggatt,
- Two boys of the name of Campbell
REFERENCES
The Scotsman
Information supplied by Ian Winstanley and the Coal Mining History Resource Centre.
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