Glen Albyn Distressing Accident Two Men Suffocated 1851



This report comes from the Aberdeen Journal and was published on Wednesday, 26th November 1851, having come from the Inverness Courier. And looking at it, I'd envisage the accident took place on Tuesday 18th November and I've transcribed it below, adding some paragraphs for ease of reading.

Distressing Accident - Two Men Suffocated

'On Tuesday evening last, at a few minutes after six o' clock, an occurrence of a very melancholy character took place at the Glen Albyn Distillery here, which resulted in the death of two men, one a workmen employed there and the other a poor stranger.

It is necessary at intervals to cleanse out the vats, or rather the wash-backs - large covered wooden tubs, ten or twelve feet deep, with an opening at the top. This is done when they are empty, but as carbonic gas is generated in them, in considerable quantities during the distillation process, it is a standing regulation that they are only to be entered on special orders to that effect and after the state of the gas has been ascertained.

On the evening in question this rule was violated by one of the workmen named Macgillivray, who recklessly entered the tub to clean it, without instructions and without the requisite precautions having been first taken. he had no sooner got to the bottom, than the alarm was raised that he was suffocated, when the engineer, Alexander Grant, at once went down to assist him. 

Grant fell instantly, choked by the gas; when a third man, named Macleod, descended to draw them out. He, too, fell down: when a fourth named Fraser entered; but he also became insensible and helpless.

An occurrence too dreadful and alarming might well have unnerved the bravest, but another workman, named Charles Mackintosh, sprung in unhesitatingly, having a rope around his waist, held by the other workmen, who had gathered round in the most excited state.

Mackintosh first got hold of Macgillivray, who had struggled up, and he was at once drawn out. Fraser was next got at, lifted, and taken out; and after him the other two men, who were all carried into the neighbouring houses attached to the work. 

Dr Forbes fortunately was in the neighbourhood of the distillery at the moment; he was sent for, and was instantly in attendance. He found two of the men, Grant and Macleod, quite dead, and Macgillivray and Fraser insensible. The proper means to assist their recovery were of course instantly taken; and we are glad to say they are promising fairly.'

I discussed this sad story with Alan Winchester for his insight, and he commented that:

'That was an unfortunate incident, and is common a double fatality the person going in to rescue being a victim, the history is littered with similar incidents, and this one could have been much worse. Has happened in recent times in 1980s' Dailuaine and Dalmore.'

I can also recall a very distressing historical incident at Glenglassaugh, which is documented and also resulted in the loss of life, with the good will and haste of others to rescue ultimately leading to more fatalities. 

The article uncovers that Glen Albyn had resumed production, at least in part, following the catastrophic fire of November 1849. Previous information indicated that the rebuilding process was sluggish, hampered by financial constraints, and stretched from 1850 into 1852. However, it has now come to light that in 1851, some distillation activities were occurring, though they were met with tragic outcomes as noted.

Given the backdrop of the earlier fire, the unfortunate loss of life, and the distillery's less-than-stellar reputation for its whisky at that time, one can truly grasp the uphill battle the Glen Albyn team faced in trying to rise above the shadows of despair.

Ultimately, this chapter in the distillery's history came to a close in 1855 when it shut its doors for good, leading to the sale of its equipment in 1857 and distilling on the site would not return for several decades. 

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