SHOCKING ACCIDENT AT WAIHI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12267, 11 May 1903, Page 5

SHOCKING ACCIDENT AT WAIHI.

A TERRIBLE FALL.

ONE MAN KILLED.

ANOTHER SERIOUSLY INJURS©.

[RT TELEGHAriI.— CORBESrOjp&NT.]

Waihi, Saturday.

A fatal accident occurred in 'tho Waihi mine last night, about half-fasb eleven o'clock, when a miner tamed M. N. Parry (unmarried) was filled outright, and another miner namei William Cornthwaite (who has a wifr and family) was so seriously injured that little hope is entertained of his recovery.

A party of Messrs. W. M. Corntawaite (in charge ,df the shift), Melbourne Parry, Charles Ikncham, and Thos. Kennedy—were engaged in the shaft, about 180 it down. Amy, C'ornthwaite, and Boneham were girding the roc's (wooden, 25in square, and about 13ft long), while Kennedy was below in No. 5 level, in the main hauling compartment. Tho steadying of the rods as they were lowered into position was done by hand from ladders in tiio shaft, and down the ladders at intervals of about 30ft platforms were fixed. It was on one of these stages that Boneham, who had preceded Parry and Cornthwaite. was standing waiting for them. The rod was then stationary, and Parry and Cornthwaite were to join Boneham oh the platform below, before commencing the lowering of tho next rod. It was at this point that the accident occurred. There was a terrible fall, both men (Cornthwaite and Parry) in their descent, striking Boneham, but not heavily. The news of "A man down the shaft," was immediately communicated to those on the surface," who, with as little delay as possible, hurried down to the scene of the accident, Mr. John Henderson, the engineer in charge, meanwhile sending for the doctor.

Coruthwaite, who was the first victim reached, was jammed in a sitting position between a set of the iron girders placed at intervals in the shaft, with his knees doubled up to within a few inches of his face. He was unconscious, and his head was covered with blood. He was at once sent to the surface.

Twelve feet further down the unfortunate man Parry was picked up off a wooden girder with Iris head downwards, his shoulders being jammed in the opening between the girders. His clothing from his waist had been stripped off. ■ He was moved from the fearful position, and taken to the surface. Both men were then taken to the change house, where Dr. Guinness was immediately in attendance. Almost at a glance the "doctor pronounced that life was extinct in Parry's case, while Cornthwaite, though terribly injured on the bead, was breathing. Parry's body was removed to the Stirling Hotel, and Cornthwaite was taken to Mr. Barron's pharmacy, and subsequently to his father-in-law's (Mr. John Flett) hotel. It is surmised tiut deceased was on the ladder above Cornthwaite, and that he missed his footing and fell, and in falling knocked Coruthwaite off the ladder. lb is not known how far they fell, as there is nothing to show definitely from what point they began the descent, but it is thought that the distance would be somewhere about 80ft, Cornthwalle's fall being 10ft to 15ft shorter than Parry's. Deceased was only 26 years of age, and a man of splendid physique. He commenced his mining career in Tasmania, at the age of 17, and had followed it up till the time of his death. He came to Waihi along with his brother two and a-half years ago, his cousin (Mr. Thomas Owen) joining him a few months later. Within a week or so of his arrival ju Waihi he commenced contracting in the Waihi mine, and since that time he has been continuously engaged with that company, either on contracts or on wages. During this time he was engaged exclusively in shaft work, commencing in the No. 5 shaft, where he yesterday met his terrible end. He was considered by the mine manager and engineer in charge of No. 5 shaft to be one of the most experienced shafthands and most reliable. He was powerful in the extreme, and as Mr. Henderson, the engineer in charge, remarked to our representative ,this morning, his strength was so great that he (Mr. Henderson) felt like a child when 'lifting with lam. Deceased leaves a father and mother, four sisters and four brothers to mourn their loss. Mr. and Mrs. Parry have thenhome in Back Creek, Tasmania, Mr. W. Cornthwaite is lying in a precarious and unconscious condition. He received several deep cuts on the head, and injuries to his leg and arm. Mr. Cornthwaite has for the past four or five years been engaged in mining, principally in shaft work. He is a steady and safe man in a mine, and has had the confidence of mine manager and men alike. He was in charge of the shifts in the sinking of No. 2, No. 4, and No. 5 shafts. It was while acting in this capacity that he met with the accident, Mr. Cornthwaite is a married man, and has two of a family, one little girl two and a-half years of age and the other a mere child in arms. The greatest sympathy is felt for Mrs. Cornthwaite. The death of Melbourne Party, the doctor says, was due to a broken neck. His skull was also fractured. The doctor was unable to state whether there were any bones broken, as lie did not make a close examination after finding the cause of death. . . Mr. W. Forrest, district coroner, arrived in* Waihi this afternoon, and Mr. J. Coutts, the mining inspector, arrived about three p.m. The jury was duly empanelled, and, after viewing the body, ail adjournment was made until six p.m.. These accidents, following so closely on the heels of recent fatalities, have cast a heavy gloom over Waihi. The football matches were postponed, and the two bands also cancelled their engagements to play.