The Great Gale of Saturday

22nd December 1894

The Joseph Johnstone cabinet works of Lochwinnoch was started 12 years ago in 1882. In August 1893 it was destroyed by fire and rebuilt within 9 months, reopening May 1894. Seven months later it was destroyed by a gale on Christmas eve 1894. The Viewfield Chair Works was the largest in the village devoted solely to making chairs. It supplied chairs to some of the finest steamers afloat. The following is a account of what happened together with eye witness recollections of this dreadful event.

The building was “L” shaped with the longer part around 200ft by 30ft. Machining was located on the ground floor, chairmaking on the first and second and carving on the third floor. The shorter leg of the building accommodated the office with sandpapering and polishing in the floors above. The attics served as storage space. In light of the fire a year earlier the building was well equipped with fire-extinguishers.

The factory had only just returned to full time working due to a turndown in business when the storm struck demolishing the building. Sixty staff turned up for work at 6am. At around 8am apprentice carpenter John Ferguson came down to the machine shop to tell Mr James Cooper, the manager, that several windows had blown in. Both Mr Cooper and Mr Joseph Johnstone went to fasten the windows. Immediately thereafter the entire 200ft section of the building collapsed.

The collapse was witnessed from the outside by Mr William Crawford, designer and traveler for the firm. He had been in the machine room with a chair design and was crossing the yard back to the office when this part of the building collapsed. He described the roof moving like a wave, the wall bulging out then collapsing. Another man said the building just came down like the closing of a concertina. Mr Crawford ran to the remaining section which remained upright to get the four girls out who were sandpapering in the first floor. About 20 men managed to get out of the building when they sensed its imminent collapse leaving around 30 when it fell to the ground.

Viewing the scene afterwards it seems almost miraculous that any person escaped death, especially as employees were at work in all parts of the building. Praise is due to the engineman, John Stuart, who, seeing the building collapse, bravely rushed into the engine house and stopped the machinery while the eastern gable was crashing through the roof above him.

There were several narrow escapes. Mr Johnstone, the father of the owner of the works, was at a band saw when the walls gave way, but a beam held up the floor above sufficiently long to allow an escape. One of his sons, James Johnstone, a step brother of the owner, jumped from a window on the second floor, alighted on the grass and escaped unhurt. Two other sons of Mr Johnstone escaped unhurt. Hugh Kilpatrick who leapt with him received several bruises. William Wylie, a clerk, was talking to a chairmaker on the first floor when a gust of wind blew off his bonnet. He had just caught it when the building fell. Acting on impulse he jumped through one of the windows that had been blown in and landed safely on grass only sustaining a slight wound on the head.

Half a dozen carvers, including James Rankin, the foreman, and Robert Houston jr. worked overtime the previous evening. Before they stopped for the night Rankin heard Houston humming the psalm “Dunfermline”; it was the last incident he remembered in connection with the young man whose lifeless body was taken out of the ruins the next morning. After work Houston attended choir practice in the Free Church. Rankin went to a shop in the village and was engaged on his own account decorating it until after midnight. As a result he slept in and although he was sent for at 20 minutes to 8 o’clock, he resolved not to begin work before breakfast. It was a providential resolution.

James Arthur, foreman of the machine shop, and Willie Milligan were saved by the building fall away from where they were inside. Nonetheless they were trapped with heavy beams landing on top of them. Mr Arthur recalled that an apprentice had called him to another part of the machine shop and had he had the time to go he would have almost certainly been killed. He said he had seen bodies after explosions and accidents but some he saw that day were in the most pitiful state he had ever seen a human body.

News of the disaster spread quickly, wives, mothers, sisters and brothers and other relatives of the employees rushed to the scene with other villagers. Willing hands with saws and crowbars worked to extricate the dead and wounded as speedily as possible. Brandy and other stimulants were at hand to restore animation. It was two hours before the last of the imprisoned workers was released, a lad named Jonathan Goudie had been struck dead at the foot of the stairs while endeavouring to escape.

Four had died, they were:-

James Cooper, who had been manager of the works for eight years, was still alive when extricated but died shortly afterwards. He was 47 years old and lived in High Street. He was a member of the Established Church and has left a widow, daughter and three sons the eldest of whom is married. One of his sons, John Cooper, is among the injured.

Robert Campbell Houston jr was instantly killed by a blow to the head. He was 24 years old and employed as a wood carver. He lived with his father in Calder Street and was a member of the Free Church, frequently playing the harmonium at meetings in the church hall.

Jonathan Goudie, an apprentice chairmaker, 18 years old who also resided in Calder Street and was also killed by a blow to the head. He was also a member of the Free Church.

Thomaas Orr who was 15 years old and an apprentice wood carver was extricated alive but insensible. His spine was injured and his head crushed. He died after lingering unconscious for three hours. His father, Mr James Orr, is a watch and clock maker in Glasgow, resides at the West Gate, Castle Semple. He attended the Free Church.

Sixteen persons were injured:-

Joseph Johnstone, 36 years old, the proprietor was severely hurt internally. He was in the carving shop on the third floor when the building collapsed. He was the third person to be rescued from the debris.

Archibald McCaig, 20 years old, a machinist residing in Calder Street received a severe scalp wound and bruises all over his body. He is also suffering from internal injuries.

James McCaig, 23 years old, who resides with his brother Archibald was also employed as a machinist. His left leg was bruised and his head was cut, but his condition is not considered so serious as that of his brother.

George Morrison, 41 years of age, a wood carver residing in Calder Street sustained a broken left leg at the thigh and severe bruising was moved by ambulance to the Cottage Hospital in Johnstone.

John Graham, 26 years old, a wood carver residing in High Street sustained serious injuries to his head and was also taken to the Cottage Hospital.

Hugh Kilpatrick, 18 years old, a wood carver jumped from a window as the building was falling. His left hip and both his elbows were bruised.

John Cooper, 15 years old, an apprentice sawyer, a son of the manager, was injured internally. He did not regain consciousness until the following morning. He was taken to Johnstone Cottage Hospital. His condition is still very critical.

Robert McIntyre, 33 years old, a chair maker residing in High Street had his left collar bone fractured and received a severe cut above the left eye and on the left ear. His left side and thigh were bruised.

Robert Macintosh, 26 years old, a machinist dwelling in Calder Haugh had his ribs, chest, head and both knees injured.

Robert Arthur, 30 years old, foreman of the machine shop who resides in Main Street had his back injured.

William Miller, 26 years old, a chairmaker residing in Factory Street had his right leg bruised above the knee as well as bruising to his right arm and shoulder.

Willie Millar and father playing draughts. There is a Bitesize article about the exploits of Willie's father John as an accomplished draughts player. He resided at No 8 Factory Street (now known as St Winnoc Road).

Robert Grant, 30 years old, a sawyer who resides in Church Street had his back injured and also sustained several slight bruises.

James Smellie, 15 years old, an apprentice turner who resides in Calder Street was slightly injured.

William Thomson, 32 years of age, a labourer was hurt on the head. The forefinger of his right hand was cut off and in his agitation, he did not notice the loss until he reached home.

William Morrison, 20 years old, a wood turner residing in High Street had his right leg much bruised from knee to foot with some bruising to his left thigh.

Mr Lambie, who was working on the second floor, noticed the walls shaking but before he could escape the floor collapsed beneath him. He became partly insensible and was burned on the head and other parts of his body by a steam pipe.

The first medic on the scene was Dr Low who was soon followed by his colleague Dr Ramsay. Drs Syson and Kirkwood of Beith, Miss Hutton, the District Association nurse and Mrs Henry McDowall of Garthland House all rendered valuable assistance. The Rev. Mr Stevenson of the Established Church, Revs John Russell and Henry Gray of the Free Church and Mr Williamson JP were also on the scene. Because the storm brough down the telegraph system Constable Charles Grassick who is in charge of the police station at Lochwinnoch dispatched a mounted messenger to Kilbarchan, four miles distant and Inspector Gordon who is stationed there was fortunately able to utilize the telephone to Paisley to appraise Chief Constable Harding. Capt Harding with praiseworthy forethought and promptitude ordered an ambulance wagon to be driven to Lochwinnoch and also dispatched two constables from Paisley and another from Howwood to render what assistance was in their power. Captain Harding, Dr Penman of Paisley and Inspector Gordon all arrived at the scene around 11am. The ambulance took injured men to the Cottage Hospital in Johnstone which had opened last summer.

There will be the usual investigation on behalf of the Procurator-Fiscal into the disaster which seems to have been caused by the furious gale bursting in several of the numerous windows. Having thus gained admission the wind forced out the walls and the whole building collapsed. The chair making works of Messrs. Hunter, Hamilton & Crawford situated immediately to the south of Mr Johnstone’s establishment, also suffered from the storm, many of the windows having been blown in, but fortunately without more serious damage ensuing.

Much sympathy is felt for Mr Johnstone. His monetary loss must be considerable, for the building and plant, the greater part of which have been destroyed, were valued at £4000. There were also many valuable chairs in various stages of manufacture. Mr Johnstone was found among the debris at the south-east corner of the factory and was carried to his residence, Calder House where he now lies suffering from severe internal injuries. He has a wife and three children. He has had a particularly difficult time of late, his works burned down in August 1893 and in December 1893 two of his children died of diphtheria croup. And just as trade was beginning to pick up this disaster strikes. The case of Mrs Cooper is a particularly sad one. Not only has she been suddenly bereft of her husband, but one of her sons is among the injured. But indeed sympathy is to be felt for all who were connected with the works for if they or their friends are now not suffering from bereavement or injuries they have been thrown out of employment in midwinter, and, in the meantime at least, it is impossible to say when work will resume at Viewfield.

Yesterday, Sunday 23rd the injured were progressing as favourably as could be expected. The Herald reported that by Wednesday 26th all four men in the Cottage Hospital were improving. The fourth man, Robert McIntosh, had been admitted to hospital earlier that day. The Doctors think he will pull through although he is much bruised about the ribs. John Graham is conscious at intervals and his case is improving. John Cooper is as well as can be expected but is very badly bruised all over his body. William Morrison is progressing favourably. The majority of injured who went home are all progressing well except the proprietor, Mr Joseph Johnstone, and Robert McIntyre, a chairmaker. Mr McIntyre leapt from the third storey and sustained internal and head injuries and as noted above was admitted to hospital on Sunday.

The funerals of all victims of the disaster took place on Wednesday afternoon. All shops in the village were closed from 11:30 and the Parish Church bell was tolled from 12 till 3 o’clock. The remains of Thomas Orr were conveyed to Craigton Cemetery near Glasgow and R.C. Houston jr. and John Goudie were interred in the Lochwinnoch churchyard. All funerals were public and largely attended. Those of Goudie, Houston and Orr were also attended by members of the Free Gardeners Lodge of Lochwinnoch, of which they were all members.

A subscription was opened in Johnstone by Provost Thomson, Baillie John Lang JP and Mr William Reid the town clerk. In the first two hours over £50 was subscribed. Sir Michael R Shaw-Stewart donated £50, Mr Peter Coats £20 and subscriptions of £10, £5 and smaller amounts from a large number of others including Mr JGA Baird MP and Mr J Parker-Smith MP. Mr Johnstone had the foresight and prudence to have his workforce insured against accident or death and consequently the Insurance Company will likely be called upon to make provision for the bereaved and injured.

Mr Lambie who was injured is treasurer of the local lodge of the British Order of Free Gardeners Friendly Society (The Fern of Calder). Two of those killed, Jonathan Goudie and R C Houston jr. are members and among those injured, Robert McIntyre, John Graham, James McCaig, William Millar, Robert Arthur, William Morrison are also members. Thomas Orr, one of those killed, was a member of the Juvenile Lodge of Free Gardeners. The Lodge has a fund into which members pay 1 penny per month and this finances their contributions while out of employment. Three others, Robert Grant, Malcolm Love and Robert McIntosh belong to the Lodge of Shepherds Friendly Society.