Stevenston - On This Day In History

Published stories from each town's past.
Penny Tray
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 19110
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:46 pm

Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

Post by Penny Tray »

SCOTTISH MINING WEBSITE
16 APRIL 1902

FATAL ACCIDENT

JOHN HIGGINS, (31), brusher, Main Street, Stevenston, was killed at Auchenharvie No. 5 Pit, when an empty runaway hutch ran down and caught him.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
Penny Tray
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 19110
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:46 pm

Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

Post by Penny Tray »

GLASGOW HERALD
16 APRIL 1907

CAUSE OF ARDEER EXPLOSION

The report to the Home Secretary on the circumstances attending an explosion of nitro-glycerine which occurred near one of the separating houses of the factory of Nobel’s Explosives Company Limited, Ardeer, near Stevenston, Ayrshire, on the 5th of February, 1907, by Captain J. H. Thomson, H. M. Inspector of Explosives, was issued yesterday.

Captain Thomson, in the course of his report, says, by this accident the following men were killed and injured:

KILLED:

JAMES CUNNINGHAM, foreman Hillman, aged 43, and having twenty-three years’ experience as a nitro-glycerine worker; WILLIAM McKNIGHT, Hillman, aged 35, with twelve years’ experience as a nitro-glycerine hand; and ROBERT REID, aged 34, with eleven years’ experience.

INJURED:

JOHN FINDLAY, Hillman, aged 26, with three years’ experience (seriously); and ROBERT CAREY, Hillman, aged 32, seven years’ experience (slightly).

Throwing water on to a mixture of nitro-glycerine and strong acids is very likely to lead to spontaneous decomposition, and this decomposition, if not immediately checked will most probably lead to an explosion.

This is what deceased Cunningham undoubtedly did. The water which he threw on the underside of the trough must have fallen on the ground soaked with nitro-glycerine and acids, and must have started the decomposition, which was observed by himself and three other hillmen.

Instead of withdrawing all the men from the spot he made a vain attempt to stop the action by throwing on more cold water, with the result that when the explosion occurred its results were so disastrous.

There was no illegality in Cunningham’s actions, nor did he commit any breach of the rules, it being within the duties of a hill foreman, in the absence of a chemist, to deal with frozen nitro-glycerine in any part of the apparatus in the manner in which his experience suggests.

I regret, however, to have to say that he committed a grave error of judgment in carrying out the throwing on of water when he knew that the ground was saturated with nitro-glycerine and acids.

That he did not fully realise the danger of this proceeding is shown by the fact that when decomposition had commenced and fumes were rising from the ground he did not at once withdraw all men from the spot, but actually continued to throw on water.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
Penny Tray
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 19110
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:46 pm

Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

Post by Penny Tray »

GLASGOW HERALD
17 APRIL 1900

ALTERING A PAY LINE

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday, ANDREW PAPER, blacksmith, (a Russian Pole), Ardeer Square Stevenston, was convicted of having attempted to commit a fraud on the 7th instant.

He got a pay line from the Glengarnock Iron & Steel Company Limited for £2 16s 10d, and before presenting at the office he altered the 2 to a 3, but the cashier noticed the change, and refused to pay the money.

The accused was sentenced to 10 days’ imprisonment.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
Penny Tray
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 19110
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:46 pm

Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

Post by Penny Tray »

GLASGOW HERALD
17 APRIL 1900

ASSAULT

At Kilmarnock Sheriff Court yesterday, THOMAS AULD, junior, collier, Chemical Row, Stevenston, pleaded guilty to having, on 15th instant, assaulted his father-in-law, Hugh Carey, senior, collier, and Joseph Currie, signalman, there, by striking them and dragging them about.

There were several previous convictions against him. He was fined in £3 or 30 days’ imprisonment.
Last edited by Penny Tray on Fri Apr 17, 2020 9:04 am, edited 1 time in total.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
Penny Tray
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 19110
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:46 pm

Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

Post by Penny Tray »

GLASGOW HERALD
17 APRIL 1907

STEVENSTON FREE CHURCH AND PROPERTY ALLOCATION

A meeting of the Free Church congregation, to the number of about 200, was held in the church at Stevenston to consider the recent allocation of church property.

Addresses were delivered by Rev. Samuel McCune, minister of the congregation; Mr. R. C. Orr, of Saltcoats, and several local office-bearers.

It was unanimously agreed to forward a petition asking for reconsideration of the decision.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
User avatar
Hughie
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 11138
Joined: Thu Dec 09, 2004 12:42 am
Location: Australia Formerly Ardrossan
Contact:

Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

Post by Hughie »

Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald
April 18, 1902

Mining Accident


On Wednesday morning. John Higgins, miner, New Street, was severely injured about the head and other parts of the body, by a run-away hutch in No. 5 Auchenharvie Pit. He was medically attended, and conveyed home, but the unfortunate man never regained consciousness, and died shortly after eight o'clock in the evening. He leaves a widow and five young children.
Penny Tray
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 19110
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:46 pm

Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

Post by Penny Tray »

GLASGOW HERALD
18 APRIL 1902

KILWINNING AND STEVENSTON CATTLE SHOW

This show was held yesterday, under very favourable conditions, in a field off Dalry Road, Kilwinning, belonging to Mr. Archibald Gray.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
Penny Tray
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 19110
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:46 pm

Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

Post by Penny Tray »

GLASGOW HERALD
18 APRIL 1905

DEATH

TAYLOR: At Schoolhouse, Stevenston, on the 16th instant, Elizabeth Chalmers, eldest daughter of the late Thomas Chalmers, Misk, Stevenston, and wife of John Taylor, schoolmaster, Stevenston.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
Penny Tray
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 19110
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:46 pm

Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

Post by Penny Tray »

GLASGOW HERALD
19 APRIL 1900

KILWINNING AND STEVENSTON CATTLE SHOW

The annual show under the auspices of Kilwinning and Stevenston Farmers’ Society was held on the fields of Oxenward yesterday in dull and yet favourable conditions.

The entries in the different classes were up to average.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
Penny Tray
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 19110
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:46 pm

Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

Post by Penny Tray »

GLASGOW HERALD
19 APRIL 1900

STEVENSTON SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION

For seven seats there were eight candidates.

Successful – Father Ryan; George Sinclair; Matthew Orr; John Montgomerie; Robert Bicket; Adam Wilson; and James Smith.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
Penny Tray
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 19110
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:46 pm

Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

Post by Penny Tray »

GLASGOW HERALD
19 APRIL 1904

ARDEER GOLF CLUB BAZAAR

As the result of the three-days’ bazaar held in Saltcoats Town Hall to raise funds for a new 18-hole course and clubhouse, the sum of £610 was realised.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
Penny Tray
Mega Heid Poster
Mega Heid Poster
Posts: 19110
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 2:46 pm

Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

Post by Penny Tray »

GLASGOW HERALD
19 APRIL 1906

STEVENSTON SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION

Nine candidates for seven seats.

Successful – Peter Reid, co-operative manager, 1299; William Horgan, R.C. clergyman, 1244; J. Morrison, maker, 1220; George Sinclair, spirit merchant, 1163; D. Lawson, grocer, 1064; H. Arnott, commercial traveller, 1034; and Alexander McGregor, ironfounder, 977.

Unsuccessful – R. Bicket, butcher, 915; and Matthew Orr, retired postmaster, 513.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
Post Reply