Disaster at the Reading Pit near Falkirk. The pit was flooded by a inrush of water which had accumulated in a disused workings at a higher level. Ten men were able to escape imediately whilst 43 were missing. It was impossible for rescuers to descend the pit shaft, as the water had reached 40 fathoms deep. Efforts were made to save the miners by moving to an entrance half a mile away, were 21 exhausted men were saved. The rescue operations were witnessed by a crowd of relatives of the missing men.