Stevenston - On This Day In History

[Hughie]

Got to wondering on that one too, John.

[Hughie]

This did prove to be a relative on my Stevenston Kelly side. Thanks to regular member, Irene, hahaya2004 for confirming this with documentation. Many thanks, Irene, and to Penny Tray for alerting us to such incidents.

GLASGOW HERALD
17 FEBRUARY 1882

STEVENSTON – DEATH OF A SCHOOLBOY UNDER PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES

A boy named PATRICK KELLY, aged 8 years, son of HUGH KELLY, steamboat fireman, died suddenly about 5 o’clock on Wednesday evening under circumstances which have called for an investigation by the authorities.

The boy, it appears, was attending Stevenston Public School, and on Tuesday, it is said, was punished by a pupil-teacher named GRACE GAIT.

On returning home he complained of being unwell, and went to bed. Medical assistance was obtained, but the boy died the next day.

It is alleged that the pupil-teacher struck the boy about the head. This is denied by her, and she states that he received only slight punishment on the head. It is also said that the boy met with an accident on Monday, falling from a dyke on his head.

Miss Gait was taken before the Sheriff at Kilmarnock yesterday and after emitting a declaration she was liberated pending the result of an inquiry into the case.

A post-mortem examination was made by Dr. McFarlane, Kilmarnock, but the result has not been made known.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
18 FEBRUARY 1889

FOOTBALL

Stevenston Thistle v 3rd Lanark Strollers
Played at Stevenston
Strollers 1, Thistle 4.

Now that's interesting, for two reasons.
The game was played at Stevenston, but the format of the result would imply that it was played at Lanark.
The team was Third Lanark Strollers. Now, do I deduce from that that there were also the First and Second Lanark Strollers? I always wondered why they were called THIRD Lanark.
JD.

In the early days of football reporting it was not uncommon for the newspapers to adopt this reverse "fixture/location" format.

There are many other examples on George Ardrossan's excellent football website:-

http://www.ardrossanfootballclubs.net/

And Third Lanark Football Club, now sadly defunct, owed their origin to the 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers.

[Penny Tray]

This did prove to be a relative on my Stevenston Kelly side. Thanks to regular member, Irene, hahaya2004 for confirming this with documentation. Many thanks, Irene, and to Penny Tray for alerting us to such incidents.

GLASGOW HERALD
17 FEBRUARY 1882

STEVENSTON – DEATH OF A SCHOOLBOY UNDER PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES

A boy named PATRICK KELLY, aged 8 years, son of HUGH KELLY, steamboat fireman, died suddenly about 5 o’clock on Wednesday evening under circumstances which have called for an investigation by the authorities.

The boy, it appears, was attending Stevenston Public School, and on Tuesday, it is said, was punished by a pupil-teacher named GRACE GAIT.

On returning home he complained of being unwell, and went to bed. Medical assistance was obtained, but the boy died the next day.

It is alleged that the pupil-teacher struck the boy about the head. This is denied by her, and she states that he received only slight punishment on the head. It is also said that the boy met with an accident on Monday, falling from a dyke on his head.

Miss Gait was taken before the Sheriff at Kilmarnock yesterday and after emitting a declaration she was liberated pending the result of an inquiry into the case.

A post-mortem examination was made by Dr. McFarlane, Kilmarnock, but the result has not been made known.

Hughie,

While the circumstances are dreadful it's beneficial, I imagine, to become aware of such an important piece of family history. Hopefully, in the longer term, myself or somebody else, will determine how the legal process, involving Miss Gait, ended.

[John Donnelly]

In the early days of football reporting it was not uncommon for the newspapers to adopt this reverse "fixture/location" format.

There are many other examples on George Ardrossan's excellent football website:-

http://www.ardrossanfootballclubs.net/

And Third Lanark Football Club, now sadly defunct, owed their origin to the 3rd Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers.

Thanks PT.
JD.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
20 FEBRUARY 1888

ROUP OF GRASS PARKS IN STEVENSTON

The annual roup of grass parks on Kerelaw Estate took place on Saturday.

An average of nearly £2 per imperial acre was obtained, being a slight falling off from last year’s prices, Mr Magee, Saltcoats, acted as auctioneer.

[Vivc113]

What is a roup of grass parks?? What would have been going on??

Googled this but it just took me to people sitting in the park (!!)

[5siamese7]

I imagine that would be an annual public auction of fields for grazing.

[bonzo]

I had to Google it as well but my search came up as an old scots word for auction which makes sense.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
23 FEBRUARY 1907

FATAL ACCIDENT INQUIRIES AT KILMARNOCK

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday – before Sheriff Mackenzie and a jury – three public inquiries were held under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry (Scotland) Acts.

The first related to the death of JAMES CUNNINGHAM, New Street, WILLIAM McKNIGHT, The Folly, both of Stevenston, and ROBERT REID, Union Street, Saltcoats, who were killed by an explosion at Nobel’s Explosives Factory, Ardeer, Stevenston, on February 5 last.

It appeared from the evidence that nitro-glycerine was being conveyed through a gutter from one hut to another, and that the gutter having become frozen, Cunningham, who was the foreman, had taken means to thaw it in order that the flow of nitro-glycerine might not be obstructed. He also tried to do away with the effect of some of the nitro-glycerine which had overflowed from the gutter to the ground by using cold water upon it, and this induced a condition in the substance which led to the explosion.

The three men were killed almost instantaneously.

It was brought out in evidence that Nobel’s Company had compensated the relatives of the deceased by payments of £468, £559, and £468, while the possible liability in the respective cases was only £255 11s 9d, £300, and £274 9s 6d.

The second inquiry related to the death of JOHN WILSON, pit drawer, 33 New Street, Riccarton, who met his death in the Nursery Pit, Kilmarnock, on January 13 last by a fall from the roof.

In both these cases a formal verdict was returned.

The third inquiry had reference to the death of CHARLES CURRIE, junior, plumber, West Doura Cottages, Stevenston Road, Kilwinning, who was so severely injured at the works of the Scottish Acid and Alkali Company Limited, Stevenston, on February 4 last, that he died in Kilmarnock Infirmary two days later.

The evidence showed that while deceased and another man named Findlay, were lifting a syphon out of a tank or tub containing sulphuric acid for the purpose of cleaning it, the planks on which they were standing, and which were placed across the centre of the tank, gave way, and they fell among the sulphuric acid and were badly burned.

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence, and added that in their opinion the planks in use across the tubs or tanks ought to be replaced periodically by new planks.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
24 FEBRUARY 1921

FATAL ACCIDENT

A railway workman named JOSEPH NELSON, who resided at Greenfoot, Kilwinning, was killed on the Glasgow & South-Western Railway between Stevenston and Kilwinning on Tuesday evening.

Along with some other men he was engaged cleaning a drain at the side of the line, when a portion of a wall fell on him.

Another workman named ARCHIBALD BANNERMAN, belonging to Kilwinning, received slight injuries.

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
26 FEBRUARY 1938

MATCHES AT ARDEER FACTORY
SHERIFF AND “ACT OF A MADMAN”

Fines totalling £4 10s were imposed at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday on ROBERT HAMILTON McLELLAN, (18), cordite worker, 77 Glencairn Street, Stevenston, who pleaded guilty to charges of having on three occasions taken a match into a packing-house in the danger area of the cordite section of Ardeer Explosives Factory, Stevenston.

Mr R. D. C. McKechnie, Procurator-Fiscal, stated that on three occasions accused took a live match into the danger area at Ardeer Explosives Factory and inserted it among the cordite which was being packed. It was almost inconceivable imbecility or wickedness. This cordite w8th the match might have gone into an arsenal.

Accused offered no explanation for his conduct.

SHERIFF MARTIN LAING – What on earth possessed him to do a mad thing of this kind? Has he been mentally examined? One would suspect that he had something wrong with him.

THE FISCAL – There is no intimation to me about that. He looks an intelligent lad.

THE SHERIFF – Have you any explanation of this mad act of yours?

ACCUSED – No.

THE SHERIFF – Were you wanting to kill other people? This foolish thing is worse than what a baby would do. It is just reckless folly. It is a pity I do not have the power to send you to prison. This was nothing else than the sheer act of a madman.”

Sheriff Laing imposed a fine of 30s in respect of each offence, a total of £4 10s, the alternative being 30 days’ imprisonment. Time to pay the fine was refused.