MINING ACCIDENTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2232, 10 December 1896, Page 15

MINING ACCIDENTS.

Sydney, December 2. A shocking mining accident occurred at Gundagni. A man named Wilson was crushed to death by a fall of earth. His mate, Webb, was caught in the debris, and great tfE-rts wore made to extrioa'te him, but <he mullock and water gradually rose and drowned the unfoi'tuuato msui in the presence of his helpless comrades. Two mineri named Oarran and Smith have been found dead in the Stockton mine at Newcastle. It is supposed they were sviff icated by white damp. The Government inspector fears there must be a tire in the old workings or that a fire is generating, and hats closed the mine until a careful inspection has been made. D.cjmber 4. A terrible fatality took place at the Stockton mine, Newcastle, this morning. A party of miners under Mr Oockburn, mine surveyor,, entered tha mine to ascertain the cause which led to the death of two men a few days ago. The party were suddenly overcome by the fumes, and a rescue party went to their assistance. Three of these lost their lives, together with five of the original party. Seven bodies have been recovered; one is still in the mine, and one man in the hospital without hope of recovery, Lite last night the discovery was made ! that seven men had been suffocated in the j Siockburn mine. Intense excitement pre- ] vailed, and crowds wended their way to the pit's month. When the return of the exploring party was not signalled, tha roiae officials apprehended that something was wrong and oaUed for a rescue party who snocseded in rescuing seven men, wbo were brought up in an insansible condition. T»'OBe engaged ia the rescue work had a hard battle with foul air. The following were brought up dead :— Cockburn (surveyor), Bailey, M'Apine (2), Sweeney, G«*frg"igne, Oharleßworth, Fitzpatciok. A Binth man named Snedden 1 was brought up insensible, and his recovery is regarded as hopeless. &a the bodies wsre brought to the surface there were heartrending scenes. Mr M'Aaliffe, tho mine manager of the pit, says that when he saw four men lying down helpless he pioked one up, who clutched him round the waist I and cried, "For God's sake help me to save my life, M'Auliffe 1 " He was then overcome by foul air and bad to drop the j unfortunate fellow. M'Aurffe's lamp then went out, and he had to crawl' to the bottom of the shaft. Poor Sweeney had been one of ! the rescue* party, and had saved two lives when he, too, was overcome and met his death. Fitzpatrick was one of the rescue party. Only two of the victims were married, and one was a widower with a number of children. j December 5. The bodies recovered from the Stockton mine, Newcastle, in most instances showed that the greater number of the deaths bad been very sudden. Others, however, appeared to have suffered great agony, blood oozing from tha mouths, and nostrils. Thomas M'Aipine was much disfigured about the face. Jt appeared that he bad lain down on his side when overcome by the foul air, and the lamp burnt dotfn, burning bis cap and badly scotching Mb face. Sydney M' Alpine, whose body was first; recovered, had on the previous day acted as pall-bearer at the funeral of the victims of the Stockton accident. December 7. One of the survivors of the Stockton catastrophe states that the exploring party were advancing when they heard a concussion, and fearing that something might occur behind them began to retrace their steps; and had they done co five minutes earlier he believed that all would have escaped. He thinks that the rush of foul air was caused by concussion. The rescue party acted with conspicuous bravery, but had they been stronger more of the unconscious men would have been got out. Sneddon, another of the men rescued from the Stockton Colliery, has died from the effect of the fumes. The Mayor of Sydney is opening a relief fund.