Moray Memories: The 1907 Speyside Disaster
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It was close to midnight when the crane toppled over and plunged into the River Fiddich alongside a 5.5-ton girder it had been lifting.
William Riach was among a gang of six men who’d been employed on the hand-operated crane.
Falling 25ft into the river below, he died instantly.
Another of the six, George Cormie, landed on the gravel at the river’s edge, and lived for around 20 minutes, though ‘much mangled’.
Contemporary reports stated that he ‘showed great heroism in his last moments, telling those of his comrades who proffered him help to attend to the other injured men and not mind him’.
The accident occurred at Newton Bridge, on the eastern edge of Craigellachie, while its worn iron girders were being replaced with new steel ones.
With the line closed and revenue being lost, it was imperative for the Great North of Scotland Railway company that this be done quickly.
So despite the late hour, more than 50 workmen had been present.
The bodies of the dead pair were moved to Craigellachie station where they were laid out in the guards’ room.
On the afternoon of the following day, which was a Sunday, they were placed in coffins and taken home by a special train.
Riach, who was described as ‘quiet, unassuming and unpretentious’ went to Keith.
The 34-year-old’s funeral was held in the town that Wednesday where his pregnant wife Elizabeth and their two children were amongst the mourners.
Cormie’s body was returned to Drummuir, where he had lived with his sister.
The 22-year-old belonged to the cricket, gymnastic and draughts clubs and was described as a ‘great favourite’ in the area.
He too was interred on the Wednesday.
A third man, Charles Petrie, was severely injured, having also landed on the gravel at the river’s edge.
He was first tended to by one of his fellow workers who was trained in first aid.
Later Dr Sleigh arrived from Dufftown, as did Dr Bisset and Dr Ogg from Rothes.
Presumably Drs Campbell, Alexander and Stephen, from Craigellachie itself, were there as well.
Petrie, a 45-year-old father-of-nine from Botriphnie, was taken to Dr Gray’s Hospital in Elgin.
Here he died nine days later, the cause given as ‘shock and exhaustion from fractures of skull, collar bone, ribs, arm and hand’.
Meanwhile, Calder Calder had a very narrow escape, thanks to a work colleague.
As he jumped clear of the toppling crane, William Pressley had the presence of mind to push Calder clear.
The 47-year-old received a scalp wound, having landed on his head, but was deemed sufficiently well to return his home in Elgin.
A week later he was reported as still recuperating in bed, but expecting to soon recover.
Calder, a father-of-seven, went on to outlive three of his sons who were killed in the First World War. He was buried in Elgin Cemetery in 1924.
Last among the gang of six workmen who’d been on the crane was Charles Noble from Elgin.
He spent some time in hospital, however the 45-year-old had sufficiently recovered to be questioned at the subsequent inquiry.
“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” So the novelist L.P Hartley memorably wrote.
Anyone who requires evidence to support that proposition should read on.
Work on replacing the bridge’s girders resumed the very next day after the accident, and the line had reopened within two.
The public inquiry took place six weeks afterwards.
This came to the conclusion that, even by the standards of the time, the work had been planned inadequately.
Several steps had not been taken.
For starters, the crane’s balance box should have been fully extended to counteract the weight of the girder – but wasn’t.
Clips should have been employed to hold the crane in place – but weren’t.
Added to that, out-riggers were not useto distribute the load more widely and provide greater stability.
Yet, despite these findings, no penalty was handed down to Great North of Scotland Railway.
Instead, the rail firm was told to ‘at once take steps to ensure that all persons who are likely to be in charge of similar cranes are supplied with accurate information’.
Dr Mike Esbester is an academic from Portsmouth University who has studied the 1907 Speyside Disaster as part of his research into historical accidents on the railways.
He says: “By far the most numerous railway worker casualties happened in ones and twos. However, they rarely received much attention – at the time, or since.
“Put simply, there were so many accidents, it wasn’t news. The view was very much ‘these things happen’.
“But that doesn’t make them any the less significant, for the families and those affected, or for us at a distance.”
Dr Esberster writes a blog – Railway Work, Life & Death – which can be read HERE
