Fatal Mining Accident.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 228, 24 March 1874, Page 7

Fatal Mining Accident.

\ls(MLisMmi HeraM, Marnh 3.) A very shocking and fatal accident took place at the Wealth of Nations battery on Saturday morning last, about nine o'clock* the •vjctim being onejbdm MJnroy. who,H[aß engM*l in the mafh|ne-hpu»e. wofd was passed to stop the batteries for the purpose --* of clean ing-up the tables, and the deceased ,% proceeded to carry out the order. The batteries are thrown out of gear by a patent clutch ( but this working somewhat atifllv, it is'd'istoinary for one man to ascend the platform between the water-wheel and the ma-chine-house, and by levering back the wheel cistern is erected close byio's'upply the tables, and the continual dripping from this had caused an accumulation of green slime, which rendered the platform extremely slippery. Having ascended the platform, the deceased proceeded to ease the pinion-wheel, and it is supposed that having effected this, the exertion exercised in levering back the wheel caused him to slip his footing before recovering him self r -and she- then landed with his - head between an-arm of the wheel and the pinion-shaft. It will be readily understood that even after turning off the water in the race., there remains sufficient in the buckets to turn the wheel 6ne revolution as soon as it is relieved of the weight of the batteries ; and therefore as soon as the deceased had llevered up the man inside the jmachine-honse had unshipped*'the batteries, the wheel revolved,.resulting'in, the instantaneous death of sr%tsy.- The space between the wheel and the pinion-shaft does not exceed four'inches; and the deceased's head was compressed to this width, the pressure completely crushing the skull. Uuaware of the extent of. the deceased's in juries, medical aid was sent •'for, and within' half-an-hour Dr Bulmer wa&ori the* spot, but only, to find ■that assistance was, (totally, unavailing. The deceased was conveyed,to, town and an inquest held the'"saihe''afternoon, resulting in a verdict of accidental death. The body was interred the following day in the-Roof ton cemetery, a cortege numbering upwards of two hundred following the rcmainjj to their last, resting place,' "' •"