THE CATASTROPHE AT BUNDALEER.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8538, 9 June 1899, Page 4

THE CATASTROPHE AT BUNDALEER.

FIVE MEN KILLED.

THREE OTHERS INJURED.

SOME EXCITING EXPERIENCES.

Bundai-eer, May 26. The fatality which occurred at Bundaleer Waterworks on Thursday, May 25, was perhaps the worst catastrophe of the kind known in South Australia. There have beon falls of enrth in connection with large works by which solitary individuals have lost their lives, but on Thursday, without the slightest sign of warning, tons of earth fell and entombed workmen beneath, some never to be restored to their friends alive. Others were maimed, and probably injured for life. When the information reached Adelaide, the Engineer-in-Chief, Mr A. B. Mmicreiff, requested the Conservator of Water, Mr J. W. Jones, to proceed to Bundaleer to make inquiries. He was accompanied by representatives of the press. Beaching there it was at once apparont that some calamity had befallen the place. The hive of industry was silent and solemn j the men were hushed and congregated in groups around their tents, or collected in proximity to the room in which the dead bodies of their comrades lay. The information regarding the fatality had been sa meagre and contradictory that the first question asked on arrival was — "How many men have been killed?" Six had been the number telegraphed to Adelaide, and it was a source of consolation to find that at least one of the six had been saved. Joseph Naulty, the workman in question, was completely buried by the debris, and remained in what seemed likely to be his grave for no less than three hours, and then the gladly welcome and restoring fresh air was admitted into his prison cell, and he was free — saved from death, but somewhat injured. When the visitors from the city arrived everyone summoned for the inquest was examining the scene of the accident. Inquiries soon ascertained the-whole facts of the case. For the foundations of ihe main dam it is necessary to sink a puddle trench down to bedrock. This is technically known as a gullet. When the bed lias been reached the puddle is put in, and the embankment raised from that. The gullet has been advanced considerably already in places. It is down to the rock, but in others it is still being sunk. Nearly all along from end to end the trench has been strongly timbered, except in the spot where the accident occurred. The stays had not been put up there, because in the opinion of all the officers they were not required. The men, had been working in 'the place for about six months. The walls each side looked firm and strong, and having regard to the underlay it was not considered necessary to timber. These walls have stood for six months, and there was never the slightest suspicion of them. The mishap occurred at a spot a little to the north-west of the bottom level of the valley, across which the dam is to be erected. Forty feet away from the slip a pumping engine shed is located, and the engine was working. About ten men were down at the bottom of the 25ft deep trench using picks and shovels. They, were not touching the sides, but digging the bottom. In half an hour's time work for the dny would have been over, and the men would have been out of the cutting and safe in the tents, but the fatality was hanging over them. Inspector James and Ganger Jordan, who had been in the service of the department for years, were in charge of operations. The resident engineer, Mr C. S Mann, at .the time was away in another part of the district. It was a curious coincidence that when the Commissioner of Public ' Works was on the works on the previous Tuesday he was standing on the bank which gave way, and remarked to Mr Mann, "It is strange, Mann, you have been so fortunate in not having any accidents."

At half-past four, without the slightest sign or warning, scores of tons of earth and rocks broke away from the side, and came crashing down among the men. Instantly there was a scramble and rush out of the trench, and when. the dust cleared for a moment it was seen that Borne of the men Vvere missing. One named O'Loughlin was partly buried, and he was soon pulled out. Then the roll was called, and Abeam, Crotty, Hamilton and Lark in failed to respond to their names. Before this could be ascertained, the men had rushed back into the trench, and were digging heroically to' rescue any of their comrades who might be there beneath the death-dealing stoneß. Ganger Jordan, to guard against any more men being caught in a trap, pasted two men on the opposite bank to watch for any movement, while, before oven volunteers could be called, all the available men were tearing away the stones by pick, shovel, and hands, and the news had spread through the camp, and everyone hastened to the scene. Messengers were sent for Dr Harbison and Mr Mann. The foreman carpenter, named Wheeler, McGrath, McMahon, and Naulty were foremost in the hole, casting aside the debris. O'Loughlin was released. Others were trying to oxtricate Crotty, who was buried up to his neck, and was murmuring something. He died as they tenderly lifted him away from the fatal spot. Scarcely had this been done— it took half an hour — and a stay placed aoross the trench, when a loud yell from the watchers warned the rescue party of danger. It came too late. Another huge mass was on top of them, and the men who had been risking their lives to save their fellows were among the missing. Again the roll was called, and this time solemn silence followed the reading of the names of Wheeler, McGrath, McMahon, and Naulty. They were missing. Once more willing hands were working. The cloud of dust having cleared away, forms could be seen among the rocks and stones. Wheeler was buried up to his waist, and four men rushed to pull him out. They tugged and pulled, while the poor fellow must have been suffering intense agony, because both his legs were broken. Every now and then the rescuers looked up in alarm at the gaping wall above. Wheeler gazed piteously at it. Another fall meant death to him. Suddenly the warning cry rang out again, and the rescue party fled. It was happily a false alarm, and a moment more and the watchers cried, "Fall to, lads." They did work, with every implement handy, and with feet and hands. Wheeler was at last set free. McMahon then came out, and afterwards were found the bodies of McGralh and Lnrkin, the latter having his arms folded across his breast. Two hours had gone by, and the men were digging by lamp and moonlight, and then, as if from the dead, came a voice from beneath the earth calling for help. If anything were needed to make them redouble their efforts it was supplied by this voice, and they labored even more fiercely at the pile of debris, and three hours after tho fall Naulty was dragged out wounded, but alive, Later on the bodies of Hamilton and Abeam were uncovered, they having had Cft of earth upon them. The following are tho names of the dead : —Patrick McGrath, single, aged 32, of Adelaide ; William Lnrkin, supposed to be married, 40, of Victoria; James Crotty, single, aged 30, of Stockport ; William B. Hamilton, married, aged 35, of Bowden; nnd William Ahearn, married, aged 30, of Sevenhills.

The injured arc : Joseph Naulty, single, Clare, internal injuries ; Kphraim Wheeler, married, of Georgetown, both legs broken ; mid Michael McMahon, single, Port Pine, back injured. Naulty had an escape which seemed like an intervention of Providence. He was caught iv the second tall of eartb. He fell below an iron girder and a stay. Two huge stones fell on each side of him. One rested ucross the stones and the iron girder. He was shut in a cave, but he had enough air to last him threo hours. " I felt a bit of a smother," siiid he afterwards, " and then remembered no more." But the other side party, when they cot close enough, heard him crying out to them to hurry, and when he got out the first thing he said to M. C. O'Connell, who was on the spot, when he remarked, "Well, I am an unlucky beggar," and then, putting out his hand, he added, " Put it there." The ruling passion was strong with him, and he asked for a smoke, because it was cold.

Every attention was paid to the dead bodies, and those who were injured. The corpses were conveyed to a suitable room, and the wounded were takon to the institute, where Dr Harbison and Mr Mann

attended to their wounds. On Friday morning Wheeler, McMahon, and Naulty were sent to the Jamestown Hospital. Mr Mann has received a telegram from Lord and Lady Tennyson, expressing profound regret at the sad news of tho disaster, and the Premier, Mr Kingston, sent a message expressing regret on behalf of tho Ministry and heads of tho Department.