The Fremantle Fatality.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 240, 18 October 1901, Page 1

The Fremantle Fatality.

TWO MEN KILLED.

As awful fatality occurred in Rooky Bay quarries, North Fremantle, on Tuesday last. Two laborers were killed, and four others received injuries; two were of a serious character and two only slight. On _ the previous evening four holes had been drilled., in the top quarry by a gang of men under a ganger named John O’Hara ready for explosion. A few minutes before 8 o’clock the holes being charged with blasting powder in the usual way, three of the were exploded by means of electric detonators, the other, as was afterwards proved in so terrible a manner, having hung fire. The men allowed 12 minutes to expire, and then, thinking that the whole of the charges had exploded, returned to the scene of operations. They had, however, resumed work only about four minutes when the fourth blast unexpectedly blew up. After the smoke had cleaved away it was found that six men had been injured by dying debris. The ballast train, which was standing close by, was utilised, and the injured men were placed upon it by their comrades and conveyed to East Fremantle station. There it was dis covered that one of the men, John Malone, was dead, having expired whilst being placed on the truck at Rocky Bay, whilst another, John Hartlett, breathed his last just before reaching the hospital. Upon arrival at that institution it was found that two of the others, Gustave Oakley and John Coffey, were severely wounded, and they were admitted for treatment. The remaining men, M. Cosgrove and W. Portion, being only bruised and suffering from shock, were sent to their homes.