Stevenston - On This Day In History

Published stories from each town's past.
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GLASGOW HERALD
30 MARCH 1885

STEVENSTON SCHOOL BOARD – ELECTION

Seven seats, twelve candidates: - Robert Bickett, flesher; Patrick Walker of Ardeer; David Donaldson, stationmaster; William Kerr, ironfounder; William Stewart, colliery agent; Thomas Stewart Lyon, foreman, dynamite works; James McIsaac of Parkend; Rev. John Grahame, parish minister; Hugh Smith, farmer; John G. Halkett, banker; Andrew Cumming, spirit merchant; and William Gemmell, tailor.

All the members of the old Board have been nominated, with one exception.

The election takes place on 11 April.
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GLASGOW HERALD
30 MARCH 1896

WRECKAGE WASHED ASHORE AT IRVINE

On Saturday evening near the mouth of the Gailes burn, a hogshead sewn in a canvas covering was washed ashore, and promptly lodged with the Receiver of Wrecks for the Irvine district. The value is estimated between £20 and £30 sterling. The marks on the canvas consist of the initials SDG in black ink and EP within a circle over the figure 5 in claret-coloured ink. It has evidently formed part of a consignment or cargo of wine.

On the Stevenston shore two boats and a quantity of wreckage have been picked up, but the names on the boats, if they bear the name of the vessel to which they belonged, are not yet known at Irvine.

The boats and hogshead are doubtless part of the wreckage of the same vessel.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
31 MARCH 1891

STEVENSTON SCHOOL BOARD – ELECTION

For seven seats, 12 candidates have been nominated as follows: - D. Donaldson, stationmaster; William Gemmell, clothier; Andrew Kerr, ironfounder; Rev. R. J. Kyd, parish minister; Rev. John Livingstone, F.C. minister; Thomas S. Lyon, dynamite foreman; Rev. James Mackintosh, R.C.C; Matthew Orr, postmaster; Charles Smith, merchant; Rev. J. Drummond Taylor, U.P. minister, Saltcoats; Hugh Thomson, joiner; and Adam Wilson, grocer.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
31 MARCH 1896

A FREQUENT OFFENDER

JOHN ALLAN, carter, made his 30th appearance before Saltcoats J.P. Court. He was fined 15s for breach of the peace at the Limekilns, Stevenston.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
1 APRIL 1895

FOOTBALL
STEVENSTON THISTLE v. NEILSTON

At Stevenston

In favour of the home team by 4 goals to 2.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
1 APRIL 1896

STEVENSTON FREE CHURCH

The annual congregational social meeting took place last night in the church – Rev. J. Livingstone presiding.

The financial statement showed that the receipts from all sources for the past year amounted to £530 14s 3d, and there was a balance of £15 10s.

Excellent addresses were given by the chairman; Rev. Dr. Cosh, Dalry; Rev. James Muir, Kilbirnie; Miss Small, Poonah; and Rev. John Angus, Barr.

Sacred selections were rendered by the choir at intervals – Mr. R. Anderson, conducting.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
4 APRIL 1898

FOOTBALL
STEVENSTON THISTLE v. DALRY

At Stevenston

Result – Stevenston Thistle, 2; Dalry, 1.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
5 APRIL 1897

FOOTBALL
QUEEN’S PARK STROLLERS v. STEVENSTON THISTLE

At Stevenston

Result – Queen’s Park Strollers, 4; Stevenston Thistle, 3.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
5 APRIL 1893

DEATH

SPEIR: At Bankend, Ardrossan, on the 3rd instant, in her 69th year, Jeanie Archibald, relict of Robert Speir, farmer, Bog, Stevenston.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
5 APRIL 1897

STEVENSTON SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION

Result:
Rev. P. McColl, R.C. Clergyman, 981; John Montgomerie, 675; Rev. John Livingstone, Free Church minister, 518; Rev. A. Morris Moodie, U. P. minister, 516; George Sinclair, 478; R. Beckett, 468; R. Duncan, 468.

Unsuccessful Candidates:
M. Orr, A. Wilson, T. Oswald, T. Orr.

There are three old members among the defeated candidates. Messrs Montgomerie, Moodie, and Duncan are new members.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
5 APRIL 1915

ARDEER ACCIDENT
A GELATINE EXPLOSION THREE LIVES LOST


Three men were killed by an explosion which occurred on Saturday at the Ardeer factory of Nobel’s Explosives Company Limited, near Stevenston.

Within the past two years these works, which rank among the largest of their kind in the world, have been the scene of similar disasters.

Saturday’s accident was characteristic of the others in its most important aspects. It occurred with appalling suddenness, it shattered to atoms the light structures in which it occurred, it hurtled to death the persons immediately concerned with the explosive material, and its cause (consequent on the last circumstances) remain a matter for speculation.

The official report issued by the company does not indicate the specific explosives involved. It merely describes the material as “blasting explosives.” It is understood, however, that it was gelatine, an explosive with a force half as powerful again as dynamite.

Since the factory was opened in 1871 – by the late Mr. Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, there have been numerous accidents, many of a minor character, but it was not until February of last year that disaster was experienced in the handling of gelatine.

In the earlier accidents the explosives concerned included nitro-glycerine and guncotton.

The cause of Saturday’s accident will, it is expected, be inquired into by a representative of the Home Office.

THE OFFICIAL REPORT

The following account of the accident was issued for publication from the Glasgow office of Nobel’s Explosives Company in the course of Saturday: -

“Shortly after six o’clock this morning a building in which blasting explosives are mixed exploded. The building was completely wrecked, and a certain amount of structural damage was done to other buildings throughout the factory.

The work was just starting for the day, and it is to be regretted that three men lost their lives.

At present it is not known to us what caused the accident.

The names of the men killed are: -

THOMAS McCUBBIN, 34 Townhead, Stevenston, married.
ANDREW McALLISTER, 6 Station Square, Stevenston, married.
SAMUEL TELFORD, 73 Boglemart Street, Stevenston, married.”

On inquiry it was learned that McCubbin was the foreman of the squad in the hut. He had a long connection with Ardeer Factory. His brother was killed in the accident which took place at Nobel’s two years ago, and on that occasion he himself had a narrow escape.

Telford was 24 years of age, and leaves a widow and four young children. He was a member of Stevenston Parish Church, and was one of a family in which there were eight sons. One is a prisoner in Germany, another invalided from the navy died recently, and another is in the Lowland Artillery Brigade.

EFFECTS OF THE EXPLOSION

The scene of the disaster was in the same part of the works as that which occurred last year – in the north-west corner of the stretch of sand dunes covered by the factory. It was, however, nearer the shore, and also further removed from the works offices. The hut, like the other structures, in which the other operations are carried on, was lightly built.

To minimise possible damage by explosion the huts are placed in isolated positions, and are surrounded by banks of sand. The wisdom of this arrangement has been exemplified in previous disasters, and again on Saturday the damage to other parts of the works was small in relation to the force of the explosion. Other buildings did not completely escape injury, but the damage done by flying debris and by concussion was not serious.

Fortunately the wind was blowing away from the main portion of the works. As a result the force of the explosion was felt more in Kilwinning than in Stevenston, though the latter town is in closer proximity to the factory. Even in Kilwinning, however, the damage caused was much more restricted than on some previous occasions.

The report of the explosion itself was heard over a wide area, embracing Glasgow, Paisley, and Kilmarnock districts.

Those who witnessed its effects from near at hand state that the explosion was accompanied by a ball of flame and a column of white smoke, the latter of which hung over the scene for several minutes.

It will be seen that all three victims resided in Stevenston, from which the works are situated fully a mile distant, the approach being by a thoroughfare known as Dynamite Road.

An explosion in Nobel’s factory is naturally an event fraught with grave personal interests to many households in these places.

The main body of the employees were not due to start the day’s operations until fully an hour after the accident happened. Following the custom on other occasions, the management immediately decided to suspend ordinary work for the day, and the employees arriving at 7.30 were asked to return home, the only persons on duty during the forenoon being the clerical staff and a squad of joiners.

It soon leaked out that the death-roll was not serious, and this news brought a general feeling of relief. The gates were closely guarded. It is stated that the explosion was not of such a nature as would interfere in any way with the work of supplying cordite for the Government.

PREVIOUS DISASTERS AT ARDEER

Considering the highly dangerous material which is handled in all departments of the factory, the death-rate from the accident has been comparatively light.

Major Cooper Key, H.M. Chief Inspector of Explosives, in a report on the disaster two years ago, makes note of this fact. “The licensees,” he stated, “have always co-operated with us most cordially, in endeavouring to eliminate any possible source of danger; and the fact that in these huge works, although since the year 1871, when the factory was first started, no fewer than 175 accidents have occurred, only 28 persons have been killed – exclusive of the fatalities now reported - is an indication that their efforts have not been in vain.” To this death-roll there falls to be added the victims of the disaster of March, 1913, February 1914, and those of Saturday.

In the 1913 accident seven persons lost their lives, in 1914 the death-roll was eight, and these with the three men killed on Saturday bring the total death-roll up to 46 over the 44 years in which the factory has been in existence.

The most serious disaster it may be recalled, was that which happened on May 8, 1884, when 10 persons, all girls, lost their lives.

That explosion was located in a cartridge hut and affected three other structures.


On February 24, 1897, a nitro-glycerine explosion occurred and six workers were killed.

The disaster of March, 1914, was due to an explosion of guncotton.

POWER OF BLASTING GELATINE

The explosive material in Saturday’s accident was, as stated, blasting gelatine. Gelatinous explosives like dynamite were invented by the late Alfred Nobel. Blasting gelatine, the strongest of these compounds, consists of a blending of nitro-cotton and nitro-glycerine. The latter being the main constituent. It was early recognised as perfect chemical compound. It is, as already stated, almost 50 per cent more powerful than dynamite, and bulk for bulk it is almost ten times as powerful as gunpowder. Yet it is unquestionably much less dangerous than gunpowder in case of ordinary mishandling. Nobel, it is asserted, claimed that dynamite could not be exploded by being thrown to the ground from any height, and that blasting gelatine was even more insensible to shocks. And he proved his statements by demonstrations at the factory.

HEARD 40 MILES AWAY

The sound of the explosion at Ardeer was distinctly heard in Sanquhar. Windows rattled and several doors banged. Many people proceeding to their work heard the shock, and for a time considerable excitement prevailed.

A telegram from Sanquhar was received by an Irvine family – a member of which is an employee in the works – making inquiry as to his safety. Sanquhar is about 40 miles from Ardeer in a straight line – about 10 miles further from the scene than Glasgow is. Inquiries by telephone as to the cause of the disturbance felt in various parts of South Ayrshire were also received in the town. In spite of the direction of the wind the concussion seems to have travelled with considerable strength to the south-east.

EFFECT ON BIRD LIFE

At the co-operative buildings, Kilwinning, a large plate-glass window was demolished, as also was a window in the licensed premises occupied by Mr. McGlade in Main Street. A number of ceilings in dwelling-houses have also been cracked and otherwise damaged, and at the passenger booking office of the Glasgow & South-Western Railway it was stated that a heavy partition had been dislodged a distance of six inches.

A curious effect on bird life was witnessed immediately following the explosion, hundreds of birds in the surrounding district being observed flying away in an opposite direction, and for some time after no signs of life in the air were visible.

In Saltcoats the explosion was heard very distinctly but no damage was done to property.
Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.
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Re: Stevenston - On This Day In History

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GLASGOW HERALD
6 APRIL 1899

DEATH

LIVINGSTONE: At Johnstone, aged 75, beloved wife of John Livingstone, and mother of the Rev. John Livingstone, Stevenston.
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