FATAL ACCIDENT.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume VIII, Issue 469, 19 February 1898, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENT.

A MINER KILLED

On Tuesday evening last a- man named. Edwin Foordj a miner, working in the Golden Cross Mine, Waite- ■ kauri, fell from No. 1 level, No. 1 shaft, to the bottom of the shaft. It appears that he was working near the chamber ,at the No. 1 level, of the mine, when he by some means or other stepped out of . the chamber and fell down a distance of 170 feet. Those working near him immediately went down the shaft, but the poor, ■fellowwas dead, bis body being fearfully mutilated. It is surmised that when deceased stepped out of, the chamber he must have thought that he was ■ working at the No. 2 level where there is a .platform over the shaft. Constable Moore was advised of the occurrence and proceeded at once to the Cross. An inquest was held on the following evening, before Mr "W. Forrest, coroner, and after ! hearing- the ovidence, the jury' re - . turned a verdict of death from accidentally falling down shaft No. 1. The deceased was an- elderly man, aud loaves a wife and seven children at Arrowtown, Otago. He had only ■ beon in Waitekauri about f months, and was making arrangements for sending for his family .to join 9n there. The only relative he had in this part of the colony is- Mr Clayton, the assistant to the Ohinemuri County Engineer, who is a nephew to the de? ceased, and who, strange to say, did not hear of the accident until two days after it happonod. The funeral took place on. Thursday last, the body being taken to the Waihi Cemetery, where it was interred; The Rev.-Mr .. Ciriffit read the burial service.