Pit No15

Twenty-two men perished. A fire engulfed Pit No15 Cadder near Bishopbriggs. This was in 1913. Pit No15 was 175 fathoms deep. It belonged to the Carron Coal Company. About 300 men worked there. On that fateful Sunday afternoon a back shift of 26 men went down. They began their eight-hour day. Around 8 pm a fireman discovered flames below. He immediately alerted others. They attempted rescue. The fire was too intense. Their hoses were too short. Hopeless. Five bodies were found. Then twenty-two. Only four survived. This tragedy at Pit No15 became Scotland’s worst mining disaster. The miners showed incredible bravery. Despite danger they volunteered for rescue work. They faced smoke and poisonous fumes. They searched for their comrades. It was a desperate fight against time. The fire hadn’t even been completely extinguished. The conditions were atrocious. The pit was described as a blazing inferno. The funeral procession in Glasgow was immense. Fifty thousand mourners gathered. They paid tribute to the fallen. Many were fathers and sons. Brothers. The miners’ families were inconsolable. A memorial to the victims stands near Nitshill war memorial. The inquiry into the Pit No15 disaster investigated the cause of the fire. It was uncertain whether it was an electrical fault or an accident involving lamps or matches. The inquiry concluded that Pit No15’s lighting cables should have been armoured. This would have provided better protection. The inquiry discussed the importance of a bottomer. This person would have been responsible for signals. A bottomer might have detected the fire earlier. The inquiry also highlighted the lack of a rescue brigade. The absence of proper equipment hindered the rescue effort. The Pit No15 disaster serves as a sobering reminder. It emphasizes the importance of safety regulations. It underlines the risks faced by miners. It showcases the courage of those who risked their lives in the rescue attempts. The memory of those lost at Pit No15 continues to resonate. Let us remember their sacrifice. Let us learn from this catastrophe.