Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
23 FEBRUARY 1914

DEATH - McLEAN

At Western Infirmary, Glasgow, on 20th February (the result of an accident at Ardeer Factory), David, aged 22 years, youngest son of Charles and Jeanie McLean, Saltcoats.

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GLASGOW HERALD
23 FEBRUARY 1914

THE ARDEER EXPLOSION

A large number of the men employed at Nobel’s Factory, Stevenston, were at work as usual on Saturday, but most of the girls had a day off.

A Government inspector and some other gentlemen arrived in Stevenston on Saturday afternoon and inspected the scene of the disaster at the factory.

The funeral arrangements of the victims of the explosion have not yet been completed.

The remains of David McLean were brought from the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, to Saltcoats on Saturday night and conveyed to his parent’s house in Manse Street. His funeral has been fixed for tomorrow, and it will be public.

A correspondent informs us that the shock of Friday’s explosion was distinctly felt at Hamilton a few minutes after ten o’clock.

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GLASGOW HERALD
23 FEBRUARY 1914

FOOTBALL - Estimate attendance, 5000. Drawings, £100.

Result: - Stevenston United, 3; Peebles Rovers, 2 - At Warner Park, Stevenston.

Stevenston United team – Montgomery, Thomson, Roxburgh, Woodside, Rae, Auld, T. Hamilton, Paton, McCurdy, Farrell, C. Hamilton.

Play during the opening half was largely in favour of the home side. McCurdy opened the scoring early in the game, but although attacking persistently the visitors’ defence prevailed until the interval. In the closing portion the exchanges were much more interesting. McLaren, equalised, but later Farrell and C. Hamilton added goals, while Cairncross got a second point for the Rovers close to time.

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 FEBRUARY 1912

AYRSHIRE AND THE RED CROSS SOCIETY

The Countess of Eglinton presided yesterday at the annual meeting in Ayr of the Ayrshire Division of the Scottish Branch of the Red Cross Society.

Lady Eglinton said that the work of the Society all over Scotland was being conducted with difficulty owing to financial considerations. They were expected by the War Office to do a great deal, but the War Office did not give them any financial support. Captain Bradbridge, joint secretary of the Voluntary Aid Detachments, reported that during the year men’s detachments had been registered at Ardrossan, Stevenston, and Monkton, and women’s detachments at Kilmarnock, Stewarton, Ardrossan, Ayr, Saltcoats, and Stevenston.

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 FEBRUARY 1913

ARDEER GOLF CLUB – COMPETITION FOR PRIZES PRESENTED BY MR ANDREW AITKEN

Winner, A. Gemmell, (12) 78.

Other scores, William Cambridge, (2) 79; A. L. Forsyth, (7) 80; Carrick Hamilton, (18) 81; and John Gemmell, junior, (12) 81.

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GLASGOW HERALD
24 FEBRUARY 1914

THE ARDEER EXPLOSION

The funeral of the victims in the Ardeer explosion will take place this afternoon. The remains of the seven men who were killed in the factory will be conveyed from the factory gates to Stevenston Cemetery. Along with fellow-workers the local section of the Territorials and representatives of friendly societies will march to the cemetery.

The funeral of the lad David McLean, who died in Glasgow Western Infirmary will be from his parents’ house in Manse Street, Saltcoats.

A large number of wreaths have been sent to the factory and to McLean’s house.

On inquiry at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow, last night it was learned that W. Harper, the young man who was injured in the tunnel leading to the mixing house in which the explosion occurred, is progressing favourably.

A correspondent says that the sound of the explosion was heard by many people in Duns and by gamekeepers and shepherds all round the east coast of Berwickshire. The county policeman at the village of Longformacus, 90 miles as the crow flies from the scene of the disaster, also heard the reports.

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GLASGOW HERALD
25 FEBRUARY 1914

THE ARDEER DISASTER

The eight men who lost their lives through the disastrous explosion at Ardeer Factory were yesterday interred, seven of them in Stevenston Cemetery and one in Ardrossan Cemetery.

The funeral of G. Mansell, J. McManus, W. J. Guiney, W. Kilpatrick, W. Armstrong, D. Begbie, and H. Taggart was from the Ardeer factory, and that of D. McLean (who died in Glasgow Infirmary) from his father’s house in Manse Street, Saltcoats.

The town of Stevenston was in mourning, all the places of business being closed.

At Ardeer Factory, work was suspended so that staff and employees had an opportunity of attending the funeral.

Friends and relatives of the victims arrived at Stevenston by the forenoon trains from neighbouring towns.

There was a funeral service in the hall attached to the general offices of the company, at which only relatives of the men and the Ardeer staff were present.

The ministers who took part in this service were the Rev. Alexander Gillespie, the Rev. R. J. Kyd, the Rev. D. D. Rees, the Rev. A. Morris Moodie, and the Rev. Matthew Miller, Stevenston.

Shortly after two o’clock the funeral cortege passed through the factory gates on the way to Stevenston Cemetery.

The pipe band of the Royal Scots Fusiliers led the way, followed by the officers and men of the local companies of the Territorials, Shepherds, Gardeners, Rechabites, Good Templars, and Freemasons.

Following these were the blasting department workers at Ardeer, in which the men were employed, and girl workers.

Then followed the hearse, with the coffins covered with wreaths, and a coach covered with wreaths.

The coaches containing the female relatives followed, and those who walked behind included the male relatives, Sir Frederic Nathan and heads of departments at Ardeer, the staff and other workers and the clergy men in the district.

Public bodies were represented by members of the Parish Council, School Board, and County Council, and many merchants and townspeople.

At the cemetery the Rev. Alexander Copland, rector of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, conducted the service.

Among the mourners were Captain Campbell, M.P., for North Ayrshire, and Messrs Milne and Rodger from Nobel’s head office, Glasgow.

The ground at the cemetery had been taken by the company, and it is intended to erect a memorial stone there.

A funeral service was held in the Victoria Institute by the Rechabites, conducted by the Rev. A. Morris Moodie.

There were many manifestations of sorrow at Saltcoats where the funeral of D. McLean took place. The shops were closed, and the principal streets deserted.

After the funeral at Stevenston most of the mourners proceeded to Saltcoats to join in paying the last tribute of respect to McLean. Manse Street, from which the funeral started, was crowded with people, and along the road to the cemetery large numbers were gathered. Many wreaths had been sent by sympathisers.

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GLASGOW HERALD
26 FEBRUARY 1889

SENT TO INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday, James Arthur Logan, junior, son of a labourer in Boglemart Street, Stevenston, was charged with the theft, on the 22nd instant, of a rabbit from the house in Manse Lane there, occupied by James Anderson, senior, labourer.

He pleaded guilty, and not being under parental control was sent five years to the Certified Industrial School.

The boy, who is ten years of age would not attend school, and was in the habit of staying out at night.

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GLASGOW HERALD
27 FEBRUARY 1877

THEFT

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday, Jane McKay, a hawker, was charged with the theft of a leather case containing a large number of letters and other documents from Auchenharvie House, Stevenston, on the 6th instant.

She pleaded guilty, and having been previously convicted of theft was sentenced to 60 days’ imprisonment.

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GLASGOW HERALD
28 FEBRUARY 1903

SEVERE STORM - GABLE KNOCKED DOWN AT STEVENSTON

Yesterday morning, during the gale, a strong gust of wind knocked down the gable of a new two-storey dwelling-house which had been erected at the head of Schoolwell Street, and was just about completed.

The falling material went right through the roof of the adjoining house, which was tenanted. Fortunately, the people were out at the time, or the consequences might have been serious. As it was, the furniture was damaged.

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GLASGOW HERALD
29 FEBRUARY 1956

DEATH – KIPPEN

At 58 McGregor Avenue, Stevenston, on 27th February, 1956, William Kippen, M.B.E., aged 84, husband of the late Lucy Edgar.

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GLASGOW HERALD
1 MARCH 1895

THE PRECENTOR’S WIFE AND THE ORGAN

Janet Love Bicket or Taylor, wife of Robert Taylor, the pursuer of the above case, sued Alexander Brown, Boglemart Street, Stevenston, for £12 as reparation in respect that on 22nd December last he falsely and calumniously stated to the Rev. Robert J. Kyd, minister of Stevenston, that the pursuer, on being asked if she was contributing anything to the bazaar on behalf of the organ fund, replied that she was not, but that if she did contribute anything it would be a pair of scissors to cut the bellows of the organ.

Defender did not deny having made the statement but contended that it was not slanderous and was quite currently reported in the village.

After hearing the evidence the Sheriff said the words here founded were not in themselves actionable. To his mind the statement was a smart epigrammatic way of expressing hostility to a particular movement for the introduction of an organ to the church and a bazaar to provide funds for that purpose. It was not at all defamatory to say that a man or woman was opposed to an organ or a bazaar. On that ground alone the action would fail. But it appeared to him that the communication made by Mr Brown to Mr Kyd was in the circumstances privileged, and therefore it was necessary for the pursuer, in order to succeed, to prove malice. She had failed to prove that defender was actuated by any malicious sentiment.

His Lordship therefore assoilzied the defender. Defender’s agent did not ask for expenses.