INANGAHUA TRAGEDY.

Grey River Argus, 13 January 1928, Page 3

INANGAHUA TRAGEDY.

Man Falls in Mine Shaft. SUICIDE SURMISED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) REEFTON, January 12. A shocking tragedy occurred here yesterday Sidney Dur wood, licensee of Hie Black’s Point Hotel, set out from his home to go to work in the Inglewood Mine, and whilst on his way stopped and went to the Energetic Mine, which is not working. Apparently ho slipped and fell down the shaft, his coat and crib bag being found last night on the top of the shaft, while the shaft door was open. When the deceased did not return home after work, his wife became anxious, and a search party set out to look for him. A search was made in the vicinity of the mine, and his coat having been found near the open shaft, ir was concluded that he had fallen down the mine.

The police and a party of men left this morning with grappling irons to recover the body, the later being recovered at 11 a.m. The party worked with the grappling irons from No. 4 level. The tragedy has cast a gloom over the whole district. The deceased, who was a native of Warrabea Forest, South Australia, was 50 years of age, and up till Christmas had been working at the Blackwater Mines at Waiuta. He had not gone back there after Christmas, but obtained work in the Inglewood quartz mine. He was his way to his first shift.

Deceased was licensee of the Crushington Hotel for about two years, and then took over the Black’s Point Hotel about two years ago. He was well respected ami liked by all who knew him. lie leaves a widow, two daughters, and one son, to whom the greatest sympathy is extended. The body, when recovered, was badly mutilated and cut abf .t, and it is surmised that he committed suicide. The inquest will be held at Black’s Point to-morrow morning at 11 o’clock.