Editing Strontian (section)

=== Conditions for workers ===
In 1851, a miner named Duncan Cameron was killed by a rock-fall in the lead mine. A lengthy inquest followed for the office of the [[Procurator Fiscal]] of [[Tobermory, Mull|Tobermory]]. A number of witnesses to the accident testified that the workings were unsafe and that precautions for the workmen were insufficient. A case was brought against James Floyd, superintendent of the mines, for the culpable homicide of Duncan Cameron.

A number of complaints had previously been made to Sir James Riddell, local landowner and proprietor of the mines. One piece of evidence presented to the inquest notes:
<blockquote>
This insufficiency arises from the want of proper props in the workings & in the removal by Mr Barrat of the Middlings or partitions left by the former Company for supporting the workings - a feeling of this nature given expression to by almost all the workmen has existed for the last three years and a number of men left the work altogether in consequence, as they said, of the insecurity of the Mines – I knew this myself but I had either to submit to work there or starve – Necessity with me had no law – The other mines in which I had wrought are worked in a different, safer, principle & more attention paid to the security of the lives of the workmen.
</blockquote>
It was noted elsewhere that because the miners were paid for piece-work, no one was able or employed to undertake safety procedures in the mines.<ref>
{{cite web
 | title = Strontian Mines Inquest
 | url = http://www.moidart.org.uk/datasets/strontianmine.htm
}}
</ref>

In 1854, miners attempted to bring a case against the mining company, with many of those who presented evidence at the 1851 inquest involved in the action. The legal action failed and was ruled out of order by the sheriff substitute, with 4 pounds 15 shillings in court costs.<ref>
{{cite web
 | title = Miners Legal Action Fails
 | url = http://www.moidart.org.uk/datasets/failedminersaction.htm
}}
</ref>