VICISSITUDES OF A MINER’S LIFE.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2729, 15 November 1871, Page 3

VICISSITUDES OF A MINER’S LIFE.

JLiJ-i. 1 JCn Wc have been favored with the sight of a private letter from Westport which details a very sad accident which occurred there, andj we give extracts nearly in the writer’s words, as showing the heroic disposition of the parties. oue Ned Carton was working at the reefs in that locality, and in company with a mate named Jack Henderson was drilling a hole in the rock. They had got it tamped with a wood tamper, and then inserted an iron one to drive the powder, &c., home tb'ht. By some means or other it went off, and Henderson was so injured that he died an hour after, never becoming sensible during the time. Carton was severely hit on the face with the powder and small stones, yet he managed to crawl out and give the alaim, and although he was stone blind he had crept back into the tunnel before any assisatnee arrived. When the men came up they did not perceive that anything was wrong with Carton till they wcic taking out the body of Henderson, one asked him to hold the light. Ned asked him to put it into his hand, for he was blind. One of the men who was present said b? never felt so affected in his lit? as \vh n he looked at poor Ned, V'ith the blood dropping down off hia beard, and yet trying to help them with the other man. This happened on the Tuesday, but it was Thursday before they could start with Ned for town as there was a heavy Hood on the lhangauua. ’When the

party arrived half way between the junction of Ihanganua with the Duller, they had to cross in a canoe. One of the men named Brown being tho best hand with the canoe, ■went into it with Ned to take him across. Ned was all bandaged up about the head, and wrapped up in shawls. When they got about the middle of the river, Brown lost command of the frail vessel, and she went down over a fall in the presence of a large crowd of persons on the banks, but who were unable to help them. Ned sat in the boat tiil after it had sank over his waist, and poor Brown, who was a splendid swimmer, seemed to be excited about ed s position, and cried out “Oh Ned what will we do.” Then he struck out, and called out to come “ this way.” Ned, however, felt he could not against the current, so he let himself settle down in the water, and commenced to tear of his clothes and bandages. In this way he was swept down the river, for about a mile ; then he put up his hand and rubbed one of his eyes, and found that he could see a little, and so made for the bushes, where was a shanty. Boor Brown was never seen again ; everyone thought he was sure to get out, and that Ned was drowned, but when they got down the river, They found Ntd cooeying for Brown, and trying to make his way to look for him. It has since transpired that Ned’s eyes v erc burned together, and the water and rubbing together loosened them. He has one good eye left, hut the doctor thinks the other one is gone.— Advocate.