Stevenston - On This Day In History

Published stories from each town's past.
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George Ardrossan
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

Post by George Ardrossan »

17 JUNE

EXPLOSIVES FACTORY ACCIDENT
Three Men Killed and Two Injured at Ardeer
FIVE HUTS BLOWN UP
Noise Heard Twenty Five Miles Away - Men's Escape in Thirty Feet Deep Pit

Three workmen were killed and two seriously injured when a series of explosions occurred yesterday at Nobel's Explosives Factory, Ardeer, Ayrshire. The men were working in the corning house of the black powder section of the works where blasting powder is prepared for quarrying purposes. Five huts were blown up, while the sound of the explosions was heard a distance of twenty-five miles from the scene of the accident. Up till a late hour last night, the bodies of the victims had not been recovered. Apparently, there were a series of four explosions and workmen in the vicinity who attempted to run after the first explosion, after having been thrown to the ground, were again thrown to the ground and had to crawl to places of safety. Seven men employed in a thirty feet deep pit at the Garnock sewage scheme, over a mile from Ardeer Works, had a narrow escape when the sides of the pit caved in following the explosion. The ground surrounding the excavation reverberated as a result of the concussion and the sand at the sides started pouring into the cavity. Ordered out of the trench, the workmen just reached the surface when the sides collapsed. The following are names the workmen who were killed:
George McCulley, fitter, 49 Sydney Street, Saltcoats
James Rainey, 30, process man, 3 Canal Street, Saltcoats and
Robert Niblock, process man, 3 School Road, Kilwinning.
The injured, who were taken by ambulance to the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, are:
James McNay, 32, 17 Hill Street. Ardrossan –condition serious – and
James Paterson, 33, 6 Station Square, Stevenston - severe burning injuries.
It is understood that Niblock, one of the men killed, was to have been married this month. James Rainey was a prominent junior footballer in the West of Scotland and leaves a wife and two young children. His uncle was killed in an explosion at Ardeer in 1914. MGulley, the other victim, was unmarried and had been employed at Ardeer for about two years. Two hours after the accident, the following official statement was posted at the gates of the factory. “It is regretted that an accident occurred in the black powder section of the Ardeer Factory shortly before 11 o'clock today. Unfortunately, three workers were killed and two were seriously injured. The cause of the accident is being investigated.” A later statement issued by Imperial Chemical Industries said “The men were working in the corning house of the black powder section when the explosion occurred. It is in the corning house that blasting powder is prepared for quarrying purposes”. Five out of six huts were involved in a series of four explosions, flames leaping from one building to another. The rumble of the explosion was heard over a twenty-five mile radius and people from the surrounding districts hurried to the factory to ascertain the reason for the thunderous noise. A workman, who was within fifty yards of the hut where the first explosion happened, started to run to safety but was thrown to the ground by the concussion. He rose again and attempted to run but the earth trembled so violently that he was again thrown to the .ground. The man finally buried himself in the sand while fragments of timber, mortar and corrugated iron flew around him. Several other workmen had similar experiences but were able to crawl to places of safety, some seeking refuge in emergency tunnels. Immediately following the accident, officials sent for medic assistance to Stevenston and in a short time, doctors arrived at the factory. At the request of the company, the LMS Railway Company was asked to stand by with an ambulance train in readiness to transport the injured to Glasgow but this was later cancelled and the injured were taken by the company's ambulance waggon to the Western Infirmary, Glasgow. Before being conveyed to the city their injuries were dressed in the works hospital. A roll-call of all the employees was made following the explosion and work was suspended for the day. Residents and holidaymakers from the districts surrounding the factory hurried to the work gates after hearing the first blast. Those who were in the streets of Stevenston saw huge clouds of black smoke and flames issuing from the affected buildings. A curious feature of the explosion was that, contrary to the experience of previous accidents, no windows in nearby houses were shattered. People on the island of Arran, alarmed by the noise, telephoned to the mainland to inquire the reason for the disturbance. “The first indication of the accident" stated a Stevenston resident to a representative of The Scotsman, "came when I heard four distinct and loud explosions. They are using a new explosive called black powder which is a highly dangerous material. Owing to the nature of the explosion, I was surprised that not more people had been involved. The first report was a warning to the other workers to scatter out of their huts to places of safety. Rumours were current in the town at first that the death-roll was much higher than that officially announced. A Kilwinning woman characterised the explosion as one of the fiercest she had heard during her residence in that town. "There were four explosions, three of which shook the pictures on the walls. I thought my house was going to be blown about my ears. The earth trembled and I was absolutely terrifıed”. At Irvine, which, as the crow flies, is only a short distance away, the inhabitants were scared by the repeated explosions which shook the town. In some houses and shops, articles were displaced on shelves and counters but no material damage was reported. Large crowds of workers and others on the outskirts of the town had an uninterrupted view of the explosions which they described as being accompanied by flames and dense smoke.
The Scotsman, 17 June 1937
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
18 JUNE 1895

STEVENSTON U.P. CHURCH

Special services were held in this church on Sabbath, when Rev. Professor Wardrop, Edinburgh, and Rev. A. Morris Moodie, the pastor, officiated.

The collection amounted to £20.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
18 JUNE 1897

MORE DETAILS OF THE DAMAGE AT STEVENSTON

The damage caused by the flood turns out to be even greater than was supposed.

The burn has now subsided, and the flooded areas have been relieved of the water, revealing a state of affairs that is deplorable.

Many of the houses consist of two apartments, and the furniture and clothing in three houses have been almost spoiled. In one house, which is a sample of many others, the water rose to above four feet. The beds were saturated with water, and all the furniture was floating. When the flood abated the household was found lying in the greatest disorder. A chest of drawers had toppled over, and in falling the drawers came out, littering the floor with the contents, which consisted for the most part of clothing. Chairs, tables, and other articles lay in the greatest confusion, and over all was a thick coating of mud.

In a grocer’s shop the torrent burst open the front door and made its way out at the back door, destroying in its passage a great quantity of goods.

The stock of a boot and shoe shop is greatly damaged by water and mud.

This has been the experience, more or less, of nearly every merchant in the town, and on some the loss will fall heavily.

The flooded quarters presented a scene of great activity yesterday. The sunshine and breeze had dried the streets, and workmen were busy clearing away the mud and filling up the ruts. The force of the torrent had carried the large stones and blocks which formed the parapet wall several hundred yards along the street, and these had been collected and placed near their original position. A wooden barricade was erected in order to prevent accidents, where the wall was broken down.

The victims of the flood were busy spreading out beds and bedding to dry, or carrying out furniture to get cleaned. In all available open spaces household goods were deposited to get the benefit of the sunshine. The mud was being carried out of the dwellings and the floors washed. The high-water mark is visible both outside and inside all the houses which were in the flooded area.

Steps have been taken to repair the damage done to the Free Church, and the staff of workers had ample employment.

When the children assembled at the public school, it was deemed expedient to dismiss them, as the school was in a condition of great disorder. They will not come back till after the holiday in August.

At the golf course a bridge which spans the burn was nearly carried away, but was secured by means of ropes.

Considering the extent of the flood it is fortunate that no lives were lost. Had the torrent not found an outlet at the gas work, when it rushed along Boglemart Street, it is considered probable that some people would have been drowned before they had time to escape.

There is a strong feeling among the inhabitants that something should be done to prevent damage by future flooding. It is said that the bridge at the Caledonian Railway Station is not wide enough to allow the passage of the burn when in flood. The same may be said of the other bridges in the town.

A number of the sufferers by the disaster have formed themselves into a committee to see what can be done in the matter.

Last night a meeting was held in the Public School to consider what steps should be taken to prevent a recurrence of the disastrous flood. Mr. Charles Smith, merchant, presided.

After discussion, it was agreed to appoint a committee to wait on the Parish Council and bring under their notice the bridge over the burn at the Caledonian Railway Station, which it was stated was quite inadequate to allow the passage of water when the stream is in flood. It was also suggested that the burn should be deepened at the bridges at Fullarton Place.

The following committee was appointed: -

C. Smith, W. Boyd, James Wyllie, William Harvey, R. Boyd, Thomas Orr, R. Taylor, Matthew Orr, and H. Banks.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
18 JUNE 1897

STEVENSTON SCHOOL BOARD

At a meeting of the School Board last night, it was intimated that Nobel’s Explosives Company had given a subscription of £20 to provide entertainment for the school children of the parish.

The company have also decided to grant a holiday and a day’s pay to all employees of Ardeer Factory on Jubilee Day.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
18 JUNE 1895

WIFE ASSAULT

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday JOSEPH BROWN, collier, Auchenharvie Row, Stevenston, pleaded guilty to assaulting Margaret Walker or Brown, his wife, by striking her with a fire shovel, knocking her to the ground, and kicking her on the left arm.

Having been previously convicted, he was sentenced to 60 days’ imprisonment.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
20 JUNE 1904

CRICKET
ARDEER v. AYR VICTORIA

At Stevenston

Result – Victoria, 49 (J. Large, 13; W. Jack, 11); Ardeer, 39 (W. Harvey, 20).
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
20 JUNE 1899

DEATH

ANDERSON: At Warner Place, Stevenston, on the 19th instant, Mary Barbour, wife of Robert Anderson, draper.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
21 JUNE 1910

A CHILD’S WANDERINGS

On Sunday the Stevenston police and townspeople were engaged searching the sandhills for a boy, four years of age, who went amissing on Saturday.

The child was one of a party of Kilmarnock excursionists who arrived in Stevenston for the day, and his parents thought he had been taken home with some friends. When they arrived in Kilmarnock no trace could be found of the boy.

The father went to Stevenston on Sunday and a search was commenced.

While this search was proceeding a Kilmarnock man cycling to Stevenston to take part in the search found the child in one of the streets of Irvine and restored him to his parents.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
22 JUNE 1896

CRICKET
ARDEER v. BEITH


At Ardeer in breezy weather, before a fair turnout of spectators.

Scores – Beith (M. Wyllie, not out, 12) 44; Ardeer (W. Kellie, 17) 42.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
22 JUNE 1897

STEVENSTON – THE RECENT FLOOD

At a special meeting of the Parish Council last night – Mr. George Sinclair presiding – a deputation headed by Mr. Charles Smith, merchant, appeared to state their views with reference to the recent flood.

They represented that the culvert at the Caledonian station was quite insufficient to allow the water to pass through when the burn is in flood. The bridges at Fullerton Place were also inadequate.

If these alterations were carried out it would probably prevent a recurrence of the floods.

The Parish Council afterwards discussed the matter, and it was agreed that the clerk write to the Stevenston Committee of the Northern District County Council asking them to meet with the Parish Council in order to see what can be done.

The bridge giving entrance to the cemetery having been swept away by the flood, it was decided to appoint a committee to have the stream cleared and a new bridge erected.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
23 JUNE 1896

ASSAULT IN AN ICE CREAM SHOP

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday JOHN MURRAY, collier, Chapelwell Street, Saltcoats, was charged with having on the 20th instant, assaulted Lawrence Mark Antony, assistant in an ice cream shop in Schoolwell Street, Stevenston, by striking him on the mouth with a plate, and cutting him on the lip.

There being 11 convictions against him, he was fined in £3, or 30 days’ imprisonment.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 JUNE 1898

ASSAULTING A HOUSE PROPRIETOR

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday ROBERT LUMSDEN, pit brusher, Townhead, Stevenston, was charged with having, on 18th instant, assaulted Charles Fraser, house proprietor there, by striking him a blow on the face and knocking him to the ground, whereby his head came in contact with a stone wall and was cut.

He pleaded guilty only to pushing Fraser, and this was accepted.

There being previous convictions against the accused, he was fined in £3, or 30 days’ imprisonment.
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