The Express.
London, England, 1850-04-29 00:00:00

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SCOTLAND.

COAL-MINE ACCIDENT FROM CARELESSNESS.—At
Glasgow Circuit Court of Justiciary, on the 25th instant,
Robert Blair, contractor, and Robert Lumsden, mineral
manager, were charged with culpable homicide, or culpable
neglect of duty, in so far as, it being their duty to see that
the ropes and tackles and in the pit No. 2, Souterhouse,
parish of Old Monkland, and in the occupation of Mr. Wil-
son, of Dundyno, wen in sale working order, they omitted
and failed to do so, in consequence of which, on the 21st of
September last, a part of the rope or tackle gave way while
John Thomson, senior, Robert Thomson (now demand),
William Thomson, Alex. Thomson, 414 John Thomson, jun.,
were in the course of being raised out of the pit, whereby
the said parties fell from a great distance to the bottom of
the pit—Robert Thomson being mortally injured, and the
others more or less hurt.—John Thomson, a collier, proved
that on the 21st 01 September last, he and his three eons,
cad his grandson, were working at the bottom of the pit,
acd, in the course of that day, they got into a hutch to come
out of the pit. They went into • cage without a hutch. It
was a double cage, and they got into the under compartment
of the cage. There was • hutch of coals above them.
The cage was raised when a signal was given, and rose about
40 or 50 fathoms, when the rope broke, and the cage tell
to the very bottom of the pit. He (Thomson) was very
much hurt about the body, and has been unable to work
ever since. His son Robert was also very much hurt. He
died six days afterwards from the effects of his injuries.
The others were more or less hurt Other testimony in
respect of the accident was heard ; it corroborated that of
Thcmscn. With regard to the cause of the accident, the
badniss of the rope, a witness named Bankier said that
Mr. Lumsden came to the pit every two days to see that
matten went on regularly. Mr. Lumsden and Mr. Blair
were at the pit three days before the accident and examined
the rope. The part they examined was a little way above
the cage, between the cage and the end of the rope, about
two feet above the chains. This was the part that after-
wards broke. The rope at the part was a little ragged.
There was • new rope lying at the mouth of the pit on the
rise side. It was to be put on because the other one wee
eondemaed as not being safe for the men to ride upon.
Aft. r a great deal more evidence had been gone into, the.
jury found Robert Blair guilty of culpable neglect of duty,
and Robert Lumsden not guilty. The sentence of the court
was that Robert Blair b imprisoned for six calendar months.

ESCAPE FROM Daowistito.—On Saturday lot
David Barclay, Req., l►te M P. for Sunderland, and who
resides at liastwick Park, near Leatherbead, Surrey, was
rescued from a watery grave, under extraordinary circus..
Mince.. On that ern the neighbourhood of Dotting was
visited by a terrific storm, during ',hied Mr. Barclay was
going on hors.diack from Emden& l'uk over Ramer*
Common to hie brother's, Mr. Charles Bar:lay, of Bury
Milt. Proceeding along the valley, he reached the bottom
end of Milton Court Pond, which supplies an overshot wheel
below. Ou nearing its none, where the water was nearly
overflowing the banks, the gushing and roaring of the rapid
current through the floodgate frightened Mr. Barclay's pony,
and, backing towards the pond, the pony and its rider were
precipitated into a depth of from 12 to 14 feet of water, with
a strong current towards the floodgates. George Quail., a
youth about IS years of age, who Ind observ.d the accident,
from an opal window at the beck part of the mills, jumped
through it, and ran instantly to the floodgates. At first Mr.
Barclay was not visible, but a few seconds had only elapsed
when 44461i41 saw his body coming some little depth under
water, and rapidly carried hr the current to the fliedgates,
whe, e he would have been " sucked under," and all human
avail would have been use', as. !limit', s.,aed Mr. Barclay
by his hair, sod brought Li. head above water, at the same
t me hi. F. of. ram. wi•h great force against the floodgates,
a•.d bis lope were forced omicron ath by the impetuous cur-
rent ; oth. r persons then rushed forward, and owing to their
exortioes, Mr Barclay was brought safe to the hank, war
then tel. n into the 'sillies house and put to hod in hot
blankets, is 44. After a lai.se of some hours, Mr. Barclay was
au far recov..red as to be enabled to endure rem:val to his
brother's residence, and i 9, we hear, doing well. The mill
and form adjoining are the property of W. J. Evelyn, !•;ray,
:cr. for t3urrey. Ins pony swam ashore.