Thomas Gourlay killed by the fall of a wall 1872

[Piglet01]

Hello

I'm doing some research for the 83 year old friend of my mother in law.  I'd put it aside until after the 1911 census and now I want to tie up loose ends.

I 've just downloaded the death entry and RCE for Thomas Gourlay (a mason), was her gt gt grandfather.  He died on 19th April 1872 at 3.30 pm along with Peter Sangster and at least one other man, William Haynes, when a wall at 'Nairn and Companys Floor Cloth Factory' at Pathhead in the district of Dysart, Fife, fell on them - the 3 deaths one the one page from SP indicate that they were killed instantaneously. 

The RCE gives no other information other than he was the widower of Ann Dall (I was aware of his marriage to Ann and know of their children), and that his usual residence was in Cupar.

In view of the fact that there were 3 deaths at the same time I'd imagine it got some press coverage on the day.  Is anyone able to point me in the right direction?  Thanks very much.

Regards,   Steve   

 

[NorrieG]

Thomas Gourlay (a mason), was her gt gt grandfather.  He died on 19th April 1872 at 3.30 pm along with Peter Sangster and at least one other man, William Haynes, when a wall at 'Nairn and Companys Floor Cloth Factory' at Pathhead in the district of Dysart, Fife, fell on them - the 3 deaths one the one page from SP indicate that they were killed instantaneously. 

The RCE gives no other information other than he was the widower of Ann Dall (I was aware of his marriage to Ann and know of their children), and that his usual residence was in Cupar.

In view of the fact that there were 3 deaths at the same time I'd imagine it got some press coverage on the day.  Is anyone able to point me in the right direction?  Thanks very much.

Hi Steve you can contact Joyce Watson at Kirkcaldy Central Library
 they have the papers for that time.

Joyce Watson, Customer Services Librarian
Tel: 08451 55 55 55 + Ext 47 30 70 Contact Joyce Watson online
By Post: Fife Council, Museum And Art Gallery, Abbotshall Road, Kirkcaldy, KY1 1YG

Norrie

[..claire..]

Hi,

This was in the Exeter Flying Post

'An accident occured on Friday afternoon at Pithead Fifeshire, when five men were killed and four severely injured. The men were employed in building a retaining wall at a new floorcloth factory by the messrs. Nairn. The wall had reached a height of 60 ft, when it gave way and buried the men in the ruins. Thomas Gourley, mason, Cupar, john Mc kewan, quarryman, Peter Sangster, quarryman and William Hind, labourer were killed. Of the others one sustained severe bruises on the head and face, another had his right arm broken and spine injured, the third right arm and ankle broken, the fourth his thigh broken and his foot split upto the ankle. Great difficulty was experienced clearing the rubble away and it was midnight before the last body was extricated.
     The wall was four foot thick, and as it rose it was filled in behind with sand and earth from the bank, but the earth sank and this caused the wall to topple.'

You could also join the Lancashire County Library its free to UK residents, gives access to old newspapers, takes about a week to get card. Link below

http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/libraries/borrower/application_form.asp

Hope link works
claire

[Piglet01]

Claire and Norrie,

Thank you very, very much much for the replies - I've now got enough to get on with. 

Have a good weekend.  Regards,   Steve   

[nort]

hi Steve,my ggg grandfathers sister was married to George Gibson and he was one of the men badly injured in this accident.He died the day after it happened and there are reports of the accident in the Fifeshire Advertiser and the Fife Free Press.

Steve

[RJ_Paton]

According to the Dundee Courier of 20th April 1872 Thomas Gourlay was alive when pulled from the rubble but died shortly afterwards - He was one of 7 men reported missing when the wall which was reported as 60 feet in length and 20 feet in height collapsed on them.

The Glasgow Herald of Monday 22nd April 1872 reports that 5 men died with several others not expected to survive their injuries.

The Rev. Mr Black of the Free Church led a service of remembrance which was held within the Nairn Factory attended by relatives and staff of the factory.

It was reported that witnesses were being precognosed (formal interview) by the authorities within the George Hotel, Kirkcaldy to establish the facts of the event. No one provides a cause for the accident the Glasgow Herald reported that the wall was perfectly plumb at the time while a newspaper in Sheffield reported that the wall had slipped on its foundation. A London newspaper claimed that 9 men had died and that more were expected to succumb to their injuries

Several other newspapers reported the same basic information as the Dundee Courier and the Glasgow herald (no problems with copyright in those days) but after Monday 22nd April they appeared to forget the event

[Piglet01]

A big thank you 'nort' and 'Falyyrn'.  I'll print and scan and .pdf this reply and add it to the ever growing amount of info I'm gathering.

Have a very good day.

Regards,  Steve