Single Record

Full Details

Surname

STRACHAN

Forename

Stewart

Day

08

Month

08

Year

1935

Age

46

Occupation

Mine/Quarry Name

Highhouse

Mineral Worked

Coal

Owner

Bairds & Dalmellington Ltd

Location

Auchinleck

County

Ayrshire

Details of Event

8 August 1935: Two Miners Dead - Overcome By Gas In Ayrshire Colliery - Two men were fatally gassed in Highhouse Colliery, Auchinleck, Ayrshire, owned by Messrs Baird & Dalmellington, early yesterday. They were Stewart Strachan, aged 46, and Peter M'Cartney, aged 33, both belonging to the little village of Cronberry, near Cumnock. Jack Johnstone, Whitletts, Ayr, who was also overcome, was revived and taken to Ayr County Hospital. Artificial respiration was also tried on Strachan and M'Cartney. There were five men in the area affected. William Guthrie, Herdston Place, Cumnock, one of the five, stated in an interview that Strachan left his companions to go up the brae for something he had left. As he failed to return, Johnstone followed, but had not gone far when he was affected by fumes, and shouted to M'Cartney. Johnstone, on M'Cartney reaching him, suggested he should carry on as far as he could in Strachan's direction, but come back whenever he felt the gas getting the better of him. M'Cartney, true to the traditional heroism of the mine, hurried on up the brae to what proved to be his death. Guthrie, now thoroughly alarmed, set out after M'Cartney, but had not gone far when his lamp went out, indicating that gas had accumulated to a dangerous extent. Quite giddy from the effects of the gas, he shouted a warning to William Cameron, Catrine, the wireman in the section, who phoned for the rescue brigade. Mr Herbert Lorimer, colliery manager, who led the rescue brigade, entered the affected area, and, though almost overcome himself, dragged Johnstone to safety. George Bryan, Cumnock, managed to reach M'Cartney, but was so affected by the fumes that he could not stoop to lift him, and had to shout to the brigade to haul him to a place of safety. Dr M'Queen and Dr Campbell, Cumnock, descended the pit and attended to the affected men. M'Cartney was unmarried, but Strachan leaves a widow and a grown-up son and daughter. His son, John Strachan, is also employed in Highhouse Colliery, but he was not in the colliery at the time of his father's death. [Scotsman 9 August 1935] Pit Tragedy Recalled – Miners' Heroism Recognised – Ceremony At Colliery - An impressive ceremony took place at Highhouse Colliery, Auchinleck, yesterday afternoon when six certificates and cheques from the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust were awarded to the men associated with the rescue work at the fatal accident in Highhouse Colliery on August 8 last. The ceremony was held in the colliery yard and the backshift was delayed to enable fellow workers to be present Mr David L. M'Cardel, general manager of Bairds & Dalmellington (Ltd.), the owners of the colliery who presided briefly recalled the tragedy, the victims of which were Stuart Strachan and Peter M'Cartney, both of Cronberry , who died from suffocation. Mr M'Cardel said that all concerned with colliery work knew that when accidents occurred there was no scarcity of men whose one urge was to help those affected without consideration of risk to themselves. Often the courage and selflessness displayed on such occasions were revealed only to a few, but the accident they had in mind that day and the self-sacrifices made had become widely known and reached the ears of the Carnegie Hero-Fund Trust who had most fittingly decided to grant the awards that it was their privilege to present that day. Mr George M'Turk, miners' agent, Cumnock, said he was glad that the Carnegie Hero Fund should recognise the supreme sacrifice made, particularly by young Peter M'Cartney, who, heedless of his own life, had given it freely in an attempt to save a stricken comrade. There was nothing outstanding in the accident of August 8. As a practical miner of 30 years' standing he had witnessed many a tragedy of a similar nature, but the public recognition of the heroism displayed on that day made the present occasion a unique one. Mr M'Turk then handed over certificates and cheques to William Guthrie, Cumnock; George Bryan, Auchinleck; John Johnstone, Ayr; and William G. Cooper, Auchinleck. Mr M'Cardel stated that a cheque and certificate had previously been forwarded to Mr Herbert Lorimer of Auchinleck, and that along with Mr M'Turk and Mr William Macintyre of Cronberry School, he would visit Mrs M'Cartney and present to her a cheque and memorial certificate granted posthumously to her son. [Scotsman 31 December 1935]