FATAL ACCIDENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1934, 16 November 1906, Page 3

FATAL ACCIDENT.

Waihi, Tuesday. A serious accident occurred at the Waihi mine about midday to-day, resulting in two miners named William Gray and Harry Boxall being badly injured, Tho former expired soon after reaching tho hospital. Tho reports as to tho cause are conflicting, and as tho affair will form the subject of an enquiry to-morrow the mine officials aro reticent.

It appears that tho two men in question wore engaged sinking the No. 2 shaft from No, 8 level down to No. 9. Between tho

two points a winch is operated by means of compressed air. After firing a number of holes the two men jumped on the side of the bucket and rang up to be drawn to No. 8 level. This it seems they had done because, through their light going out, they were unable to locate the ladderway, and took this method of escaping from danger It was stated that no response was made to the signal, owing to the fact that just at that particular moment the air pressure which worked the winch had been cut off, in order to effect certain repairs The two men knowing that they could not escape could only wait for the explosives to do their work of destruction.

Whou the shots wens off, and the cries of the wounded attracted attention, no time was lost in getting them out of the workings, and removed to tho hospital. Gray was vory badly injured about the hoad and body, one leg and one arm being brokeD, He was taken to the hospital by his mates, but ho never survived tho terrible ehock.

Boxall, though not in such a critical oondition, was also soverely injured, having sustained a compound fraoturo of the left leg between tho hip and kooo, besides

the shock to his system, Mr J- Gontts (mining inspector) happened to be in Waihi, and, in company with Mr Bannie (‘issiaiant-inspeotjr), Mr Soanlon (seoretary of the Mines’ Union), and the management staff of tho Waihi Company, visited and inspected the eoena of the accident this afternoon,

Tho affair has cast quite a gloom over the community, tho deceased being wall kaown and highly respectod. He was a married man, and lenvos a wifo and young family.—NZ, Herald.