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Full Details

Surname
McFADDEN
Forename
John
Day
23
Month
08
Year
1922
Age
34
Occupation
Brusher
Mine/Quarry Name
Bothwell Castle, Nos 1 & 2 Pits
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
William Baird & Co. Ltd
Location
Blantyre
County
Lanarkshire
Details of Event
23 August 1922: Bothwell – A Double Pit Fatality -A double fatality occurred on Wednesday morning at Bothwell Castle Colliery, belonging to Messrs William Baird & Company Ltd. Two men, James M'Ginlay and John M'Fadden, both residing at 10 Leechlee Street, Hamilton, were employed as brushers, and were working in the ell coal seam, which is between 200 and 300 feet from the bottom of the shaft. It is supposed that the men, thinking the cage was waiting, stepped out into the shaft, and, being unable to draw back, dropped to the bottom. When recovered their bodies were badly mutilated. The accident occurred when the men had finished their shift, and it is suggested that it might have been caused by their hurry to get to the surface, although no satisfactory explanation has yet been reached. It was stated that the safety and protective devices were in proper order, and that the management could not understand how the men had fallen into the shaft. [Hamilton Advertiser 26 August 1922] Two Men Killed in a Bothwell colliery - An accident took place at Messrs William Baird & Co.'s Bothwell Castle colliery, Bothwell, yesterday, whereby two men were instantly, killed. It is stated that John M'Ginlay and John M'Fadden, both residing at 10 Leechlee Street, Hamilton, were working in a seam about 250 feet from the bottom, and were stopping work when they both stepped into the shaft, believing that the cage was there. Both fell to the bottom and were killed. [Scotsman 24 August 1922] Falling from part way down – Men were waiting at a mid-inset to ascend the shaft. The cage arrived at the inset but was drawn away whilst two men were attempting to get on. Both men fell down the shaft and were killed. The onsetter had allowed one of the deceased men to open the shaft gate and either he signalled the cage away or the engineman was at fault. Newspaper report - Bothwell pages