boiler explosion

[blueladybird]

I have a simon carr or kerr killed in a boiler explosion in uphall works on 19 sept 1879, I have the death cert and rce report, but wondered if there was a newspaper report or if anyone else was killed. I dont suppose the families would have got any compensation in those days would they?

[AndrewP]

Hi Blueladybird,

On searching for Simon Kerr, there is something in The Scotsman (available on their online archives for a fee). The Saturday 20-Sep-1879 headline is showing as "Serious explosion at Uphall Oilworks", but I am getting a web error message when I try to view the article.

All the best,

AndrewP

[blueladybird]

Thanks Andrew, will see if I can check this out.

[Currie]

Hello BlueLadybird,

The Leeds Mercury, Monday, September 22, 1879
SERIOUS EXPLOSION AT UPHALL OILWORKS.
TWO MEN KILLED AND FOUR INJURED.
A serious explosion occurred at Uphall Mineral Oil-works on Friday morning, about ten o'clock, whereby two men lost their lives and other four were seriously injured, one of them so severely that his recovery is very doubtful. The circumstances of the case, so far as can he gathered, are as follows:—Acting upon instructions, an engineer named Robert Rogers had been engaged in disconnecting the joint of a pipe which communicated with another pipe leading from one of the paraffin stills into a receiver. The receiver, which consisted of an old engine boiler fitted up for the purpose, contained about 1,500 gallons of crude oil, was raised only one or two feet above the level of the ground. In disconnecting the joint, in place of using a cold steel chisel as it is alleged he ought to have done, he used a pair of red hot tongs, in order, as he explained, to dissolve the solder by which the joint was secured. The result was that the gas contained in the pipe ignited, and travelled into the pipe connected with the still and the receiving tank, and, running along the latter into the tank, which was necessarily filled with gas generated by the oil, burst with a loud report, scattering death and destruction all round. Previous warning had been given of the danger by fire being observed at the worm-ends of the still, and it was while the workmen were engaged inn endeavouring to smother these by throwing shovelfuls of earth upon the flames, that the explosion occurred. The one end of the receiving tank or boiler was blown completely out, and the burning oil scattered in all directions. The two men who were killed were at this moment passing to aid in extinguishing the fire at the worm ends, which threatened danger. One of them, named Gainer, after being knocked down by the force of the explosion, got up, although enveloped in flames, and ran a distance of fifty yards, shouting for assistance. He then fell down and expired in at few minutes. The other man was killed on the spot. Both bodies were frightfully burned, and charred almost beyond recognition. Among the injured, a young man named John Dunlop was so severely burned about the head, neck, chest, and arms that he is not expected to recover. The whole of the sufferers were attended to by the local medical practitioners, and afterwards removed to the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh. The names of the killed were James Gainer, refiner, aged about 30 years; wife died a few days ago—no family; Simon Kerr, labourer, aged about 45, leaves a wife and five of a family; both resided at Stankard Rows, near the works. Injured:—William Fletcher, aged 24, labourer, residing at the Station Rows, burned about the face and arms; John Bremner, aged 21, labourer, East Calder, severely burned about the head, chest, and feet; Donald M`Innes, aged 29, refiner, Office Rows, severely burned about the head, face, and neck; John Dunlop, aged 23, labourer, Blackburn, very severely burned on head and body not expected to recover. Early in the forenoon the county police were at the works and after inquiries they apprehended the engineer, Rogers, who, later in the day was conveyed to Linlithgow, pending further inquiries. Much sympathy is felt in the neighbourhood for the relatives of the killed and injured men. The four sufferers, Dunlop, M'Innes, Fletcher, and Bremner, were brought into the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in the course of the day. The men were placed in Mr. Annandale's ward and all found to be severely burned—Dunlop so severely that it is feared he may not recover.


Check the index at the NAS http://www.nas.gov.uk/onlineCatalogue/ for Simon Kerr, and you’ll find this

Repository National Archives of Scotland
Reference JC26/1879/311
Title Trial papers relating to Robert Rodger for the crime of culpable homicide and culpable and reckless conduct by a person employed in a mineral oil works at Uphall Mineral Oil Works, Uphall, Linlithgow. Tried at High Court, Edinburgh Dates 8 Dec 1879
Accused Robert Rodger, Verdict: Outlawed, Verdict Comments: Outlaw and fugitive, Sentence: Outlawed and put to the horn
Victim James Gainer, Stankard Rows, Uphall, Linlithgow
John Dunlop, Station Rows, Uphall, Linlithgow
Simon Kerr, Stankard Rows, Uphall, Linlithgow

See this page for an explanation of ‘Put to the horn’
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=Igj ... 22&f=false

I couldn’t find anything in the newspapers relating to a compensation claim. Perhaps they could not claim against the Company if the blame rested on one of the Company’s servants. I can’t see the full article but there seems to be a suggestion of this in “The History of the Working Classes in Scotland” by Thomas Johnston. http://www.google.com.au/webhp?complete ... 7723addee9

“... in 1879 the numbers were 4469; in 1880 the numbers were 5203; and in all these lists it is alleged that not half of the injured were given. o The doctrine of "common employment," which was conveniently read into the law by judicial hacks of the capitalist class, forbade the injured servant from receiving compensation, his injury not being directly due to the negligence or fault of the Company, but to some of the Company's servants who were in the same employment.”

Hope that helps,
Alan

[LesleyB]

Just incase the link given for an explanation of "put to the horn" does not work ( I got a blank page with a "you have reached your viewing limit for this book" message ), there is also an explanation here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letters_of_horning

[blueladybird]

Thanks ver much Alan , that was great, verty informative, good job they dont use the PUT TO THE HORN today, we would all be going deaf.

[blueladybird]

should have thanked you too Lesley, for the link.

[Falkyrn]

The excellent link provided regarding a definition of "Put to the Horn" is for Civil cases of debtors - this case was a Criminal Case and the granting of a warrant and the accused (Mr. Rodgers) being declared outlaw and put to the horn meant that he failed to appear at Court to answer the summons charging him with the culpable homicides.

[Rockford]

Hi Blueladybird,

West Lothian Council has a newspaper index on their website, which you can access for free from their library catalogue at http://webpac.westlothian.gov.uk/#focus.

This shows two entries in the West Lothian Courier (then and still the local weekly paper) for a "Terrible Explosion" at Uphall Oil Co Works, one on 20 September, which might have provided the basis for the Leeds Mercury article Alan found, plus one the following week, on 27 September, which might have been a follow up and 'may' include summary details of the condition of the injured and the funerals of those killed. I searched for 'Uphall Oil Works'.

i have no idea how long the articles are, but you could contact West Lothian Local Studies Library, who were very good at sending me information a year or so ago. Their contact details are here http://www.westlothian.gov.uk/siteconte ... calhistory

I'm also intrigued as there is a chance that John Dunlop, one of the injured, could be one of mine, as a 'wheen' of my folks moved from Blackburn to Uphall around the time of the accident to work in the shale industry.

Best wishes

Brian

[blueladybird]

Thanks Brian, will check that out, good luck in your research.