MineArchiveOrbiston Colliery fire, 1893
About midnight on Friday 26 May 1893 fire was found in the Splint coal of Orbiston Colliery, Bellshill, where a fall of coal and rubbish had come down by a working pump. Seven men sent to put it out stayed too long and were overcome by 'white damp'; most were got out, but Peter M'Allister, John M'Killop and William Maddison, who went in to save a fellow-workman, died. The fire was under control by midday on Saturday.
| Date | 27 May 1893 |
|---|---|
| Mine | Orbiston Colliery |
| Region | North Lanarkshire |
| Primary type | Fire |
| Associated types | Gas / Asphyxiation |
| Fatalities | 3 (3: Peter M'Allister, bottomer, of Orbiston Old Rows; John M'Killop, reddsman, of Larkhall; and William Maddison, wood-setter, of Orbiston New Rows, who died in an attempt to rescue another. All were married.) |
| Context | During active mining |
Cause
A fall of coal and rubbish from the roof and sides where a pump was at work; the friction was supposed to have generated enough heat to set fire to the woodwork and coal.
What happened
Seven men were detailed to put out the fire and were overcome by the fumes of what was called white damp, then thought rare enough that leading members of the Mining Institute of Scotland admitted never having seen it; it was suggested to be the product of incomplete combustion.
Rescue & recovery
Several of the workmen found their way out of the bad air and rescued others; volunteers went in after the missing men, and Maddison died in the attempt. The fire was got under by about midday on Saturday.
What's uncertain
Points where sources disagree or the record could not be settled; both accounts are kept. All open questions in the archive.
- The Glasgow Herald placed the fire in No. 1 pit, belonging to the Summerlee and Mossend Iron and Steel Company. (disputed) 1
- The Press Association reports placed it in No. 2 pit, belonging to Messrs Addie. (disputed) 1,2,3
Recorded claims
Individual factual claims, each attached to the source(s) that support it below. Where sources disagree, both are kept.
- On 27 May 1893 three men were suffocated while fighting a fire in the workings of Orbiston Colliery, Bellshill. 1,2,3
- The dead were Peter M'Allister, bottomer, John M'Killop, reddsman, and William Maddison, wood-setter, who died trying to reach the others. 1,2
- The fire was found about midnight in the Splint coal where a pump was working, after a fall of coal and rubbish, and was supposed to have been started by friction heat. 1
- The Glasgow Herald placed the fire in No. 1 pit, belonging to the Summerlee and Mossend Iron and Steel Company. (disputed) 1
- The Press Association reports placed it in No. 2 pit, belonging to Messrs Addie. (disputed) 1,2,3
Related terminology
Mining terms this disaster is structurally linked to, with the nature of the relationship.
- Bad Air (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s rescue and recovery: “Several of the workmen found their way out of the bad air and rescued others; volunteers went in after the missing men, and…” - Coal (contextual relationship)
Named 4 times in this record, first in the summary: “About midnight on Friday 26 May 1893 fire was found in the Splint coal of Orbiston Colliery, Bellshill, where a fall of coal and rubbish…” - Colliery (contextual relationship)
Named in this record’s summary: “…on Friday 26 May 1893 fire was found in the Splint coal of Orbiston Colliery, Bellshill, where a fall of coal and rubbish had come down by a…”
Sources
- (secondary) Scottish Mining Website: Lanarkshire accidents 1870-1899 (Bothwell, Bellshill, Uddingston) — Scottish Mining Website
- (primary) Welsh Newspapers: Evening Express, 27 May 1893, 'Fire in a Scotch colliery' — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)
- (primary) Welsh Newspapers: South Wales Daily Post, 29 May 1893, 'Fire in a coal pit' — Welsh Newspapers (National Library of Wales)
Record created: 13 October 2026 · Last researched: 16 October 2026