The Hamilton Advertiser, Thursday, 12th May, 2005, Page 39.
During shot firing in Cadzow Colliery, a blower of deadly, black damp gas was released, sending an invisible cloud of death into the workings. The effects of gas poisoning were almost instantaneous. In this story, WILMA BOLTON tells how three men lost their lives despite valiant attempts to save them.
For weeks, miners working in No1 Pit Cadzow Colliery had been searching for coal in the Kiltongue seam and finally, on October 9, they found it.
The following day the nightshift went down the pit at 10pm to start working the seam.
Although there were quite a few men working in the colliery that night, only six men were working in the immediate area: John (Jock) Whitton, Robinson (Robbie) Foster, Robert (Bob) Mathie, Terence (Terry) Murphy, and two younger men, Charles (Charlie) Russell and Robert Stein.
Russell and Stein moved further up the roadway to carry out some work. Foster, Matthews and Murphy took the chance for a rest and settled themselves down on their hunkers at a ‘gable’ some distance away, waiting for the sound of the blast when Jock Whitton plunged the handle of the charger.
The shot was heard to go off and a few minutes later Whitton, who, as fireman, was responsible for safety and shot firing, went off to connect the wires for a second shot.
The miners sat about waiting on the fireman coming back to fire the second shot but, after a few minutes, there was still no sign of him.
Bob Mathie shouted ” How did the shot go Jock? ” His voice echoed down the silent mine, but there was no responding answer.
Getting to his feet, Matthews said to his mates: ” I’d better go up and see what’s wrong, ” and off he went in the same direction as John Whitton.
Up until that point, the thought of something being wrong hadn’t crossed the minds of the other miners. But after Bob Mathie left, there was the same ominous silence.
Terry Murphy stood up and shouted: ” Are you alright, Bob? ” and, in the silence as he listened for an answer, he heard a groan from the workings.
At this point Robbie Foster jumped up and said: ” He must be gassed, ” and ran forward to see what he could do. He had only gone a short distance when, in full view of his workmates, he started staggering and collapsed on his face.
Terry Murphy ran towards him and, getting him underneath the armpits, managed to pull him back up the roadway for a distance of 18ft before he also collapsed. However Murphy, who by this time was seriously affected by black damp gas, managed to shout out a warning just as he was loosing consciousness.
My Great Grandfather Terry Murphy
Without regard to his own safety, he tried to rescue the unconscious Robbie Foster.
Charlie Russell and drawer Robert Stein, who had been working in the vicinity, heard the echoing cry and ran along to see what was up. Spotting Terry Murphy lying on the roadway, Russell sprinted forward, grabbed him, and managed to drag him back to where the air was clear.
Terry Murphy, who by this time was semi-conscious managed to tell them that there were still three men in the section, Charlie Russell went back into the gas-filled workings. He had only gone a short distance when he started to feel lightheaded , his legs started to give way, and he had to turn back.
Help began to arrive from other parts of the pit and, with gas masks obtained from the surface, a rescue party of miners – including George Rodger, Roadsman, and James McCann – entered the workings.
Robbie Foster was still alive when the men reached him but, despite, desperate efforts by local GP Dr Nora Steel to resuscitate him, he died underground at the bottom of the pit shaft.
The two other miners were recovered shortly after. One was beyond any help and the other could not be revived despite prolonged efforts at resuscitation.
When Dr Steel returned to the surface, it was obvious the amount of effort she had put into her attempt to save the men. Her clothes were damaged and both her knees were badly bruised.
The mining community was stunned by the loss of the three miners. The men were well-known and respected. Both John Whitton and Robbie Foster were married with families, and Robert Mathie was due to be married in a few months.
Robbie Foster, Terry Murphy and Charlie Russell all entered the workings knowing that they were filled with gas. Terry Murphy tried his best to recover the unconscious Robbie Foster, and he would have lost his own life had it not been for the bravery of Charlie Russell.
Robbie Foster was the first miner to recognise that gas was the problem but in spite of this he ran straight into the workings to see if he could help.
Robbie had been a miner at Cadzow Colliery until September 9th, 1914, when he left the pit and joined the army after the outbreak of WW1. He had seen active service on all the chief battlefronts, with the exception of Mesopotamia.
He had gone out to Dardanelles in July, 1915, and had been in the retreat from Serbia. He had fought in Egypt and Palestine and returned from there, to france, in 1918.
He had seen all the horrors of the battlefield and had himself displayed an exceptional courage far beyond the call of duty.
On October 18th, 1918, Robbie Foster, by then a Lance – Corporal in the Royal Munster Fusiliers, had been ordered to withdraw to a new position when he noticed a wounded comrade lying at the front of the line.
Running back under heavy artillery fire, he managed to reach the wounded soldier, bandage his wounds, and then carry him back to safety. For this action he was awarded the Military Medal.
Less than three weeks later, he was reconnoitring on the left of the line on the railway embankment near La Chapelle when he saw a party of about 30 German soldiers armed with several machine guns taking up a position about 20 yards away. knowing that they would use the guns on British soldiers (inflicting many casualties), He ran back, seized a Lewis gun and returned to where he had seen the Germans. He turned the gun on them, causing them to retreat. He then rushed forward, capturing two prisoners and a machine gun.
This action allowed his battalion to reorganise and advance without giving the enemy time to consolidate. For his bravery he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. He was also awarded the French Croix de Guerre.
Robert Mathie was buried in his home town of Motherwell and both John Whitton and Robbie Foster were buried at the Bent Cemetery in Hamilton.
On the day of the funeral, the Hamilton branch of the British Legion formed a guard of honour outside Robbie Foster’s home as the coffin, draped in the Union Jack, was lifted out through the window and gently placed on the hearse.
A firing party of Cameronians with reversed arms marched behind the cortege , honouring the memory of an exceptionally brave man.
Fireman John Whitton’s cortege joined the procession and, together, the two miners started their last journey, watched by crowds of silent people who lined the pavements six-deep.
They were buried in adjoining graves and, as Robert Foster was being lowered into the earth, the sound of the bugler playing the Last Poet echoed round the cemetery.
As the notes died away, the guard of honour fired a volley of shots over his grave – a fitting tribute to a man who was a hero, both in war and in peace.
Hamilton Historian. Terry Murphy
Holding the original page from the Hamilton Advertiser;
” Deadly Gas killed Three Miners And Brought Tragedy To Cadzow Colliery “, Thursday 12th May 2005.
Transcribed and Republished By
Hamilton Historian.
Terry Murphy
Ref: My late Great Aunt Evelyn Stewart who provided the photograph of my Great Grandfather and his story to Wilma Bolton, the author who retold the story. And, the Hamilton Advertiser newspaper.
The story also features in Wilma’s book, Black Faces And Tackety Boots and is titled: ” Are you alright, Bob? “.
Hamilton Historian. Terry Murphy 