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Full Details

Surname
RUSSELL
Forename
John Brown
Day
04
Month
04
Year
1921
Age
Occupation
Oversman
Mine/Quarry Name
Frankfield
Mineral Worked
Coal
Owner
Frankfield Navigation Coal Co. Ltd
Location
Shettleston
County
Lanarkshire
Details of Event
4 April 1921: Pit Explosion – Shettleston Oversman Killed – Holytown Manager Injured - The first serious accident in the coal strike, as far as Lanarkshire district is concerned, took place on Monday morning as the result of an explosion in the Frankland Pit, Shettleston, when an oversman named John Russell, residing Shettleston was killed, and Charles Brown Sneddon, a native of Holytown, residing at Queen Avenue, Shettleston, was seriously injured. About midnight on Sunday it appears the two men descended the mine to make an examination of the pumps and ventilating fans, the fans not having been working since the miners stopped. In the absence of enginemen, it is stated, the lowering of the cage was done by Mr Gray, the under manager, who had had some experience of engines. About an hour and a half later Mr Gray heard an explosion, and, surmising that something serious had happened, procured the assistance of an engineman, with whom he descended the mine. Search revealed the scene of the mishap to be the main “dook” or incline of the Kiltongue coal seam, where Mr Gray found Mr Russell lying dead, and Mr Sneddon seriously injured. On being brought to the surface the manager was immediately conveyed to the Glasgow Infirmary, where he lies in a critical condition. Sneddon is well known the village of Holytown, where he was reared and schooled. His parents resided for many years adjacent to the Chapelhall Cooperative premises, Holytown. It was whilst in the employ at Thankerton Pit that Mr Sneddon gained his mine manager’s certificate. Mrs Sneddon, prior to her marriage, was a school teacher under Bothwell School Board Her name was Miss Brown, and she resided at Reid’s Land, Main Street, Holytown. [Motherwell Times 8 April 1921]