Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
22 SEPTEMBER 1908

EXPLOSION OF SLAG AT STEVENSTON

An explosion took place at the new wharf on Stevenston beach yesterday afternoon which caused alarm among the residenters of Stevenston and Saltcoats until the cause of it was known.

A pier is being constructed with slag from the ironworks, and while the waggons of hot slag were being tipped into the sea one of the blocks of slag, which apparently was hotter than the others, on striking the water generated steam and burst, causing a loud explosion, the sound being heard as far away as Ardrossan.

There was no damage done and nobody was hurt.

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GLASGOW HERALD
23 SEPTEMBER 1929

LADY HAIG AND THE BRITISH LEGION

At Auchenharvie Grounds, Stevenston, on Saturday a fete organised by the Ardrossan, Saltcoats, and Stevenston branch of the British Legion was held.

Captain James Robb presided.

Special interest was shown in a stall which had gifts from Princess Mary.

Lady Haig in declaring the fete open, urged the need for amalgamation of the Scottish Branch of the British Legion with England. So long as Scotland, the country her husband belonged to and loved, remained apart, it was not answering his call.

The whole Empire excepting Scotland, was now linked up, and she thought Scotland did not realise that besides forming one Legion, they could take advantage of the schemes started by the Canteen funds, such as Preston Hall and Heatherwood Hospital for tubercular cases, and many schemes for employment.

She congratulated the women’s section of the county for the work they had done, £3800 being collected last year.

Lord Home said that for the last nine years the International League of Nations had been working to obtain peace and security. This great piece of international machinery only required a motive power that could make for peace and goodwill on earth.

The Marquis of Ailsa and Sir Aylmer Hunter-Weston also spoke.

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GLASGOW HERALD
25 SEPTEMBER 1967

HOPE FADES FOR MISSING MAN AND SON

An Automobile Association spotter aircraft and A.A. patrolmen yesterday assisted police and coastguards in a search for Mr. Walter Kingsford, aged 35, the A.A.’s sign sergeant in Glasgow, and his nine year old son, Ralph, who are missing on a fishing trip from Irvine, Ayrshire.

Hope that Mr. Kingsford and his son might still be alive faded last night when the six-foot dinghy he borrowed from a friend was found upturned on a beach at Stevenston.

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CASUALTY OF WAR
26 SEPTEMBER 1917

Missing, later presumed killed in action, Private John ‘Jack’ Nicol, 1st Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – enlisted at Ardeer - mother and sister resident in Stevenston.

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GLASGOW HERALD
27 SEPTEMBER 1918

FATAL ACCIDENT

While engaged in their employment in an Ayrshire factory two workers – MARGARET ECCLES, Croft Street, Tarbolton, and JAMES ROE, New Street, Stevenston – were severely burned.

The woman died shortly afterwards.

[Family intimations post-war in the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald suggest that James Roe also died on 26 September, 1918, indicating at the same time that the accident occurred at Ardeer Factory.]

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GLASGOW HERALD
29 SEPTEMBER 1916

CARNEGIE HERO FUND TRUST

David Hendry Forrester, joiner, Moorpark East, Stevenston, lost his life endeavouring to rescue a man from drowning in the Firth of Clyde at Stevenston, Ayrshire.

His widow was awarded a memorial certificate and an allowance at the rate of 20s a week, with an additional 2s 6d per week for each of her two children under 14 years, until they respectively attain that age.

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GLASGOW HERALD
1 OCTOBER 1862

GRAND COUNTY DRAUGHT MATCH

A match of draughts, open to the county, came off in the Assembly Rooms, Ayr, on Saturday and Monday, for four prizes, the first being a handsome gilt timepiece, with glass shade; 2nd, a brass-bound writing-desk; 3rd, a draught board and a set of bone men; 4th, a set of bone men.

There were players present from Ayr, Newton, and Wallacetown, Kilmarnock, Maybole, Stewarton, Dalmellington, Stevenston, Mauchline, and Tarbolton – in all twenty players.

By that time three ties had been played, when further playing was adjourned till Monday morning.

At the close of the match on Monday it was found that the first prize had been gained by Mr. William Reid, Mauchline; the second by Mr. Joseph Dunlop, Maybole; the third by Mr. Thomas Gray, Saltcoats; and the fourth by Mr. George Wright, Ayr.

It is intended, we learn, to have an annual contest among the draught players of the county.

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GLASGOW HERALD
2 OCTOBER 1879

TRADE AND WAGES
MEETING OF MINERS

A meeting of miners of the Irvine, Kilwinning, and Stevenston districts was held in Irvine yesterday, for the purpose of considering the advance of wages lately given by the masters.

There was a large attendance, upwards of 300 being present.

Reports from the various districts showed that the men had received an advance on wages of from 4d to 4½d per day, but that during the past fortnight they had been restricted to 2s 6d per day.

Mr. Archibald Coats, Kilmarnock, and Mr. Gillan, Wishaw, addressed the meeting.

The latter spoke at great length on the benefits that would accrue from a restricted output, and gave a glowing description of the benefits of the Miners’ Union.

A resolution was passed to the effect that all the young men should try to get work elsewhere, as they were at present only getting half-time in this district.

This motion was carried by exclamation, and at the close all present joined the Union.

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CASUALTY OF WAR
3 OCTOBER 1917

Killed in action, Private MICHAEL LOGAN, 1st Battalion Australian Infantry – Theatre of war, France and Flanders – son of William and Christina Love Logan, Auchenharvie Cottage, Stevenston.

The Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald subsequently reported:-

Private Michael Logan, son of Mr. William Logan, Auchenharvie Cottages, Stevenston, has, we regret to say, been killed in action.

As a lad of 18 years he joined the Cameron Highlanders, and served as a private for 9 years, and as a reservist for 3 years. He took part in the Boer War, and then emigrated to Australia. When the present war broke out he again volunteered for service and has been in the thick of the fighting since his enlistment.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 OCTOBER 1902

ACCIDENT AT NOBEL'S
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION - ONE MAN KILLED

An alarming explosion of nitro-glycerine occurred at Nobel's Dynamite Works, Stevenston, last evening at 20 minutes past five, resulting in the death of one man.

The explosion took place in the final washing-house, No. 5 Dynamite Factory, near the spot when a similar explosion occurred in January last. Two tanks of nitro-glycerine, each containing 2000 lb weight exploded.

The only man near at the time was WILLIAM CARSON, and he was literally blown to atoms, fragments of his clothing being found afterwards several hundred yards from the spot where the explosion occurred.

Carson was married, and resided in Bog Street, Stevenston. He was 35 years of age. He had seven of a family the eldest of whom is under 14 years of age.

The officials at the factory have not the slightest idea how the explosion occurred. Carson came on duty at five o'clock, and there is not a single operation in the part of the works where he is located which is considered dangerous. He was an experienced nitro-glycerine worker, had been in the factory since August 1888, over 14 years, and had the reputation of being a thoroughly reliable and steady man.

Immediately after the explosion a large and melancholy crowd wended its way from Stevenston to the dynamite factory which is two miles distant. Each little group was anxiously discussing the situation, and many times the fear was expressed that some friend might be amongst the killed or injured. As soon as it was known that there was only one casualty there was a general relief, though profound sympathy was expressed with the widow and children of the unfortunate man who had met his death.

The explosion was distinctly heard at Ardrossan, and the ominous sound was at once recognised. Windows and some houses were shaken, and it seemed at first as if a slight earthquake had occurred, so terrific was the force of the explosion.

In the direction of the dynamite factory a greyish white cloud was seen slowly rising in the sky.

At the moment when the explosion was heard, a flash of light was distinctly seen at a farmhouse several miles from Ardrossan.

The sound of the explosion was distinctly heard at several places in Arran, and there too, windows were violently shaken.

The explosion is remarkable as being the loudest which has been heard for many years.

Work at the dynamite factory will be carried on as usual today except in the part affected by the explosion.

The company always gives substantial pecuniary assistance to the relatives of those killed or injured in the factory, and the widow and family of Carson will be no exception.

A large window in a bar in Saltcoats was blown into the street, and not far from the same place the plate glass window of a draper's shop was fractured.

So far as Irvine was concerned the explosion was by no means to be compared with its forerunner of seven months ago in sensational effect. It made itself felt however, all over the district, and knocked in a few panes of glass in buildings at Irvine Harbour, as well as extinguishing the light in the harbour beacon at the bar mouth.

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GLASGOW HERALD
9 OCTOBER 1903

STEVENSTON – POSTAL DESPATCHES

At a meeting of the Parish Council – Mr. George Sinclair presiding – Mr. George Sinclair moved that a petition be forwarded to the Postmaster-General suggesting a despatch of letters daily at eight a.m., the same as in other towns. It was stated that the despatch at present was ten o’clock, and if there was one at eight replies to letters could be delivered to Glasgow before two.

The motion was unanimously agreed to.

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GLASGOW HERALD
8 OCTOBER 1902

ACCIDENT AT NOBEL'S
TERRIFIC EXPLOSION - ONE MAN KILLED

An alarming explosion of nitro-glycerine occurred at Nobel's Dynamite Works, Stevenston, last evening at 20 minutes past five, resulting in the death of one man.

The explosion took place in the final washing-house, No. 5 Dynamite Factory, near the spot when a similar explosion occurred in January last. Two tanks of nitro-glycerine, each containing 2000 lb weight exploded.

The only man near at the time was WILLIAM CARSON, and he was literally blown to atoms, fragments of his clothing being found afterwards several hundred yards from the spot where the explosion occurred.

Carson was married, and resided in Bog Street, Stevenston. He was 35 years of age. He had seven of a family the eldest of whom is under 14 years of age.

The officials at the factory have not the slightest idea how the explosion occurred. Carson came on duty at five o'clock, and there is not a single operation in the part of the works where he is located which is considered dangerous. He was an experienced nitro-glycerine worker, had been in the factory since August 1888, over 14 years, and had the reputation of being a thoroughly reliable and steady man.

Immediately after the explosion a large and melancholy crowd wended its way from Stevenston to the dynamite factory which is two miles distant. Each little group was anxiously discussing the situation, and many times the fear was expressed that some friend might be amongst the killed or injured. As soon as it was known that there was only one casualty there was a general relief, though profound sympathy was expressed with the widow and children of the unfortunate man who had met his death.

The explosion was distinctly heard at Ardrossan, and the ominous sound was at once recognised. Windows and some houses were shaken, and it seemed at first as if a slight earthquake had occurred, so terrific was the force of the explosion.

In the direction of the dynamite factory a greyish white cloud was seen slowly rising in the sky.

At the moment when the explosion was heard, a flash of light was distinctly seen at a farmhouse several miles from Ardrossan.

The sound of the explosion was distinctly heard at several places in Arran, and there too, windows were violently shaken.

The explosion is remarkable as being the loudest which has been heard for many years.

Work at the dynamite factory will be carried on as usual today except in the part affected by the explosion.

The company always gives substantial pecuniary assistance to the relatives of those killed or injured in the factory, and the widow and family of Carson will be no exception.

A large window in a bar in Saltcoats was blown into the street, and not far from the same place the plate glass window of a draper's shop was fractured.

So far as Irvine was concerned the explosion was by no means to be compared with its forerunner of seven months ago in sensational effect. It made itself felt however, all over the district, and knocked in a few panes of glass in buildings at Irvine Harbour, as well as extinguishing the light in the harbour beacon at the bar mouth.

GLASGOW HERALD
9 OCTOBER 1902

THE ARDEER EXPLOSION

Yesterday in the danger department of the factory workers were not allowed to start. They came out in the morning, but were sent home again. It is expected that work will be resumed very soon.

In all other parts of the factory business is proceeding as usual.

It is expected that the Government Inspector of Explosives, who will inquire into the accident, will arrive at the factory today.

The excitement in connection with the accident has now subsided. The explosion was the loudest ever heard in Stevenston, and for the first time occasioned damage in the town by the breakage of several windows. Hitherto the town had escaped injury when an explosion occurred.

At Saltcoats it was supposed that the gasometer had exploded, so close did the noise seem.