Les,

John is most probably correct about the origins of this song. It was common for songs to be composed for such events. They were usually printed up and sold (sometimes to raise money for the widows and orphans.

The disaster happened at Dixon's Colliery, High Blantyre, Lanarkshire (near Glasgow) on 22 October 1877.

The tune most commonly used is a varient of "St James' Infirmary"; "The Soldier/Sailor Cut down in his Prime" "Streets of Larado" family. I have heard it sung to the tune commonly used for these.