TEMPLETON'S - 1889

Photos: Glasgow City Council, Illustrated London News

On Nov. 1, 1889, high winds caused a collapse at James Templeton & Co's carpet factory in Glasgow. Twenty-nine people died. 

The website The Glasgow Story said:

"The workforce was composed almost entirely of East End women and many were buried in the ruins.

"The Eastern and Central Fire Brigades attended the scene under Superintendent William Paterson and they were assisted by the Glasgow Salvage Corps and policemen in their search for survivors."

In a July 2013 article recalling the tragedy, the Evening Times newspaper said:

"The victims had been in a weaving shed on Glasgow Green, next to an extension being constructed at the original Templeton's Carpet factory.

"The four-story extension's walls had been partially constructed and only the roof remained to be put in place.

"It was November 1, 1889 and a cold and windy winter day.

"At 5.15pm and it was dark outside.

"Suddenly one of the extension walls was blown over, crushing the shed."

The victims ranged in age from 14 to 25.

Their names were, according to the Evening Times:

Sisters Elizabeth, 17, and Agnes Broadfoot, 21
Margaret Arthur, 20
Margaret Blair, 16
Helen Bradley, 21
Margaret Cassidy, 18
Lilias Davitt, 19
Agnes Dickson, 16
Jane Duffie, 20
Janet Gibson, 16
Dinah Gillies, 19
Jean Glass, 20
Sarah Groves, 22
Ellen Wallace, 23
Margaret McCartney, 17
Minnie McGarrigle, 24
Agnes McGregor, 17
Martha Mackie, 20
Elizabeth McMillan, 15
Rose Ann McMillan, 21
Jeannie Marshall, 22
Jemima Morris, 23
Grace McQuillan, 19
Margaret Shields, 22
Elizabeth Sinclair, 25
Mary Ann Stewart, 16
Annie Strathearn, 19
Mary Turnbull, 15
Annie Wilson, 14

KINGSTON DOCK - 1914

Photo: Illustrated London News

On June 18, 1914, fire swept Kingston Dock in Glasgow. According to the website The Glasgow Story:  "Two workmen started the fire while boring holes using a red-hot bar" on timber soaked in creosote. "The blaze spread quickly round the dock and destroyed all of the sheds and four wooden schooners moored in the basin."

ST ENOCH - 1903

On July 27, 1903, train at Glasgow's St Enoch station collided with buffer stop, killing 16 people and injuring 27 others.

JAMES DUNLOP

Photo: Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Heritage Trust

 

He was awarded the George Medal for heroism in the line of duty. Retired fireman James Dunlop, a survivor of the 1960 Cheapside disaster, died Sept. 28, 2014, at the age of 85.

Excerpt from obituary in The Scotsman newspaper:

On his first day as a qualified fireman, James Dunlop and his colleagues were called out to what seemed to be a routine incident in the city centre: smoke was seen issuing from a whisky bond in Cheapside Street.

James Dunlop drove the turntable ladder into Warroch Street, which flanked the west side of the bond.

In Warroch Street Dunlop’s colleague, William Watters, mounted the ladder, which was then extended so that Watters could direct water on to the bond.

As firemen searched for the source of the smoke there was an explosion.

The blast blew out the walls overlooking Cheapside and Warroch Streets and the falling masonry killed 14 firemen and five members of Glasgow Salvage Corps.

The masonry also damaged the South’s turntable ladder and Watters was left hanging by his safety belt high above the street.

Whisky barrels in the bond then rolled out of their racks and smashed open on Warroch Street, creating streams of burning alcohol which started to envelop the ladder.

Ignoring the flames surrounding him, James Dunlop extended the turntable ladder to its full height to release safety catches and then lowered Watters to the ground.

Both men made their way to safety as their turntable ladder was totally destroyed by the fire.

Six members of Glasgow Fire Service received bravery awards for their actions at Cheapside Street.

James Dunlop was one of two who received the George Medal.

His citation read: “Fireman James Dunlop displayed great personal courage by remaining at the controls of his ladder … and assisting Fireman William Watters to safety.”

GLASGOW SCOOSHER

Photo: Glasgow City Council

From Glasgow Story: Mark 1 Scoosher at warehouse fire at St Ninian's Street, Gorbals, on Nov. 23, 1969. Unique to Glasgow. Hydraulic boom featured infrared detector, steel spike and water monitor. Allowed operator to detect fire, break window and extinguish. 

EMERGENCY TENDER

Photo: The Doric Columns
Aberdeen Fire Brigade emergency tender, circa 1930, at the city's King Street fire station

INVERGOWRIE BAY - 1979

Fire brigade at scene

On Oct. 22, 1979, an express plowed into a stalled train near Dundee, Scotland, killing five people and injuring 51 others in the Invergowrie rail disaster.

The Courier newspaper recalled on the 35th anniversary:

"Dozens of police, firemen and paramedics fought through weeds and thick foliage to reach the wreckage at Dargie Glebe.

"They were then confronted with a scene of almost unimaginable horror.

"The two carriages that had landed on the wet sand of Invergowrie Bay were beginning to sink and passengers were frantically trying to smash windows and doors so they could escape.

"Ladders and ropes were used to reach the carriages and injured passengers.

"One of the first task medics had to carry out at the scene was to amputate the leg of a 74-year-old woman."