MINE SHAFT TRAGEDY.

Grey River Argus, 14 January 1928, Page 2

MINE SHAFT TRAGEDY.

Death of Black’s Point Licensee. YESTERDAY’S INQUEST. (By Our Own Correspondent.) REEFTON, January 13. An inquest concerning the death of Sidney H. Durward, licensee of Black’s Point Hotel, was held at the Court House to-day, before Mr W. B. Auld, Acting-Coroner, and a jury comprising Messrs C. P. Mori (foreman), J. W. Burley, N. Lawn, H. Neilson. Louisa Ruth Durward, wife of deceased, deposed that her husband left home at 6.5 a.m, on the 11th January, to go to work at the Inglewood Mine. He was in good health and spirits, and made no complaints. He should have returned about 5 p.m. When he did not return she .sent her daughter to Mr Krimmer’s house, about 5.45. Mr Krimmer worked at the same mine. He returned,to her place with her daughter and informed witness that Mr Durward had not been to work that day. Witness told some men who were in the hotel and they and Krimmer left to search for her husband. Later, witness was informed that his coat and cap were found at the mine head, alongside the Energetic shaft. The police later informed witness that his body had been located in the shaft. The body was recovered next day and brought to her home. She knew of nothing that would take her husband to the Energetic shaft. He should not pass that shaft on his way to work. The Energetic had been closed since September last. Deceased had sustained an injury in the Keep-it-Dark mine in 1919, through falling down the shaft. He had never been in the same state of health since. Deceased had consulted a doctor about three weeks before Christmas.

Doctor W. A. Conlon, of Reefton, stated that he had known the late Mr Durward. He last saw him professionally on 7th December last, and treated him for a nervous condition involving a disturbance of his heart and general tumidity. ’He seemed to recover well and become normal. In December, 1919, Mr Durward fell through the Keep-it-Dark shaft. He was injured by the fall, and suffered much from shock as a result of the accident. Since then he had not had the same mentality as to mining that lie had prior to that accident, and he feared shaft work particularly. He was a temperamental man and very reserved, but his work as a minor necessitated the continuance of an occupation he now feared. Witness was of the opinion that with such a nervous organisation, obsessed as ho was by the fear of his former accident in a shaft, that in a moment of impulsive irresponsibility, he throw himself into that place whi.ch he most feared. To the Coroner: He was not aware of many financial embarrassment. Deceased knew his business and he was not embarrassed financially. To the Foreman: Tie did not think that in his condition ho would fall down the shaft accidentally. Walter Coxall, miner at Inglewood Mine, stated that he had met deceased at Black’s Point, on the way to work. Witness and deceased had walked along the Murray Creek Road till they reached the bridge that leads to the Energetic Shaft. Just as they got to the bridge, deceased said “You could ride the bike here,” but I said I would wait until I got to the flat after passing the bridge. Apparently deceased did not want witness’s company, and he did not want to talk. Before they got to the mullock time, witness said, “Do you think the Energetic will ever start again?” and deceased replied “No.” Deceased also remarked that “it would be a hard shift to-day,” and I said “You will have to make the best of it.” When they got to the bridge, deceased" said, “I’ll wait for Webby Shaw\” Witness had said “yes,” and went on, leaving him leaning against the railing of the bridge. Deceased seemed depressed. He did not turn up to work, and witness thought he had returned home. Witness hoard that night that he had thrown himself down the Energetic shaft

To me coroner: That was the first time he had walked up the road with deceased. To the Foreman: Durward made the pace up the road. He was “puffing and blowing” when they arrived at the bridge. That probably accounted for him saying he’d wait there. G. Kremmer, miner at Inglewood Mine, residing at Black’s Point, stated that about G p.m. on 11th inst., Mrs Durward sent a messenger to his house and inquired if he had seen her husband on his way Jiomc. Witness at once went to deceased’s place and told her that Durward had not been to work that day. Witness and three others then wont to search for him, going to the Energetic Mine, where they found his coat and cap laying on the brace of the shaft. They suspected that he was down there, and sent for the police. They -waited there until the police arrived, but were not present when the body was recovered. To the Coroner: They went straight to the shaft. They went there because they had just previously come down the Murray Creek Road, and there was no sign of deceased. D. McKane, Secretary of the Miners’ Union, stated that he had known deceased for about sixteen years. He was present when the body was recovered, and identified it. Constable Houston stated that at 6.45 p.m. on 11th inst., he was informed that Durward was missing, and that his coat, cap and lunch had been found laying on the brace at the Energetic shaft. The shaft was open and exposed the mouth of the shaft, and everything pointed to the fact that do ceased was down the shaft. Messrs Spencer and Porter had located the body there that evening, and witness was present when the body was recovered. It was greatly mutilated. Nothing was found to indicate deceased’s intention to commit suicide and there were no signs of foul play. The Foreman stated, that the jury had agreed on the following verdict: “That deceased met his death by falling down the shaft of the Energetic mine, and that there was no evidence to show how the tragedy occurred. ”