THE OPENING of a DEATHCHAMBER.

Evening Post, Volume L, Issue 31, 5 August 1895, Page 2

THE OPENING of a DEATHCHAMBER.

HOW THE ELDOBA.DO VICTIMS' BODIES WERE FOUND. FpEIBB ASSOCIATION.] Melbourne, 3rd August. When the relief party reaohed the bodies of the Tiotims in the Eldorado mine disaster, the Bight which met their gaze wag horrifying in the extreme. The "slum," or liqnid nml'oek, had ex. tended in & large volume to the end of the workings, and almost reaohed its limits, and when the party entered the drive it stood abont two feet in depth. There was an aoonmulation of water that had drained through the " Blnm " from the workings, and it was 20 feet from the flood-gates to the face of the workings. It was this retreat to which Bnrke, Dawkins, Crane, and Armstrong rnshed when the inbnrst oocnrred, and they were foroed to remain there until they shonld be removed by the relief parties It is apparent that the chamber into which they retreated waß dry for some time, but they were utterly powerless to escape. The unfortunate men could have bad only one thought, viz., that they were entombed beyond all hope of reaone, and had simply to await their death. How long they remained alive cannot by any means be ascertained, but it is conjectured that the quantity of air remaining between the slum and the end of the drive waß only sufficient to last them for 24 hours. 'I he first body which came to view was that of Edear Crane, who was lying on his back peaceably at rest, with one arm beneath him, the other extended aorosa hia breast. He was clothed just as when be 1 was last eeen. The features were not in > any way disturbed, and he had apparently lain down from exhaustion and died calmly. Close to him lay Charles L>n.wkins. His faoe was towards the ground, and he was • on his knees, and seemed as if he h»d spent the last minutes in prayer. His hands ' were not olasped, but donbtless he had * fallen forward when the end came. Like . his comrade Crane, Dawkina was fully : dressed. Armstrong was next found, four feet away from Crane and Dawkins, lying prostrate. He had stripped himself of his clothes, and . there only remained a flannel band around ' the waist. Armstrong's clothes were thrown in various places, and the last few minutes i of his life can only be imagined, but it is conjectured that he lost his reason before he , suconmbed, tearing off his clothes in sheer , desperation. Dawkins evidently also attempted to take off his olothes, bnt could not draw his trousers over his boots. ' Tho air gradnally beooming exhausted and more vitiated, at each breath the suffering's of the men became keener, nntil at length even clothing: was oppressive. Armstrong doubtless surriv.d the longest, and ' at last threw himself down in the intensity { of his Bufferings and died along with his comrades. Burke was found about 20ft away from the other three. His head was turned towards the face of the drive in the same ' manner as Dawkins, and he had knelt down while awaiting the end. ICneebone must have made a desperate attempt for his life, but hod been overwhelmed in the mullock. He was found lying face downwards. The body was hardly recognisable. Both legs were broken, and other marks proved that the body was thrown with great force ugainst some hard substance. (Received August 5, 11.45 a m.) Melbourne, This Dat. It took nearly six hours to completely decipher the messages scratohed on the cans in the Eldorado mine. All tho men wrote brief and pathetic messages.