Isn’t it sobering to stand before the Udston Colliery Disaster Memorial Plaque? This plaque serves as a stark reminder of a tragedy. It is a tragedy that shook this community to its core. The Udston Colliery disaster occurred on May 28 1887. Seventy-three miners lost their lives in a devastating firedamp explosion.
Udston Colliery was owned by the Udston Coal Company. The mine was located in Hamilton. It sat atop Hillhouse behind where Townhill Road now runs. The colliery opened in 1875. It was a relatively small pit. It employed approximately 200 men and boys. They worked in three coal seams at depths of up to 1000 feet. The workings stretched across 150 acres.
Imagine the scene on that fateful Saturday morning. One hundred and eighty-four men descended into the mine. It was like any other day. By 9 AM many had already been working for hours. They paused for a moment to eat their breakfast. Then at approximately 9:07 AM disaster struck. A massive explosion ripped through the Splint Seam. It destroyed everything in its path.
The explosion roared through the mine. Flames and dust shot out of the number two shaft. Moments later flames erupted from the number one shaft. The wooden sheds above the shaft immediately caught fire. The force of the explosion was immense. It was even felt in the neighboring Greenfield Colliery. Miners in the Blantyre Colliery were temporarily blinded by the dust.
Rescue efforts began immediately. Volunteers and experienced miners from nearby collieries rushed to help. By 3 PM all the men in the Ell and Main Coals were evacuated. It was discovered that these coal seams were undamaged. However five men in the Main Coal died from choke-damp. This arose from the Splint Coal. The focus shifted to the Splint Coal workings. The rescuers worked tirelessly. They ventilated the area. They began the grim task of removing the deceased.
Forty-five hours after the explosion they had explored all the workings. They had removed almost all the bodies. Two men were found alive. They were near the bottom of pit number two. Sadly all the others were deceased. Dr. Robertson of Hamilton examined the bodies. He determined that fifty-three miners had been burned. Twenty had suffocated.
The investigation into the Udston Colliery disaster was led by Ralph Moore. He was the Inspector of Mines. His conclusion was grim. The explosion was likely caused by a coal dust explosion. This was the result of unauthorized shot-firing.
The impact of the Udston Colliery disaster on the community was profound. Families were devastated. A plaque commemorating the men killed in the tragedy was placed here. It stands as a permanent reminder. It reminds us of the dangers faced by those who worked beneath the surface. The plaque serves as a solemn tribute. It honors the seventy-three lives lost in the Udston Colliery disaster. It also recognizes the sacrifices made by countless others in the pursuit of coal.