A MINING DISASTER AT SKIPPERS

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1246, 5 March 1878, Page 3

A MINING DISASTER AT SKIPPERS

The Skippers correspondent of the Like Wakatip “ Mail ” furnishes the following under date February 18th : I am sorry to have to record one of the most melancholy accidents which has occurred in our district for many years. On Monday morning, about nine o’clock, the whole of the terraces resounded with the screeches of women, half frantic with fright, and calling for help. As usual in our locality every man within hearing at once made for the scene of the accident, a place most difficult of access, it being in a gorge of Sboney Creek. On one side of the mountain were to bo seen men and women running along a narrow sheep track which would at any other time have made the boldi sb n trvous ere he ventured ; others took the creek on a face, crossing and re-crossing, climbing over immense racks—all anxious to render assistance. Those on the high tracks got there first. The scene of the accident was a claim on a small terrace worked by three brothers, named James Egan, Michael Egan, and William Egan, and by another miner named James Fitzgerald, From all accounts they went into the claim on that morning, and commenced to draw out timber to put into a fresh place —a thing that, cannot be too much censured, more especially when attempted by men not thoroughly experineed. Two of the brothers, Michael and William, were sitting under a cap piece, while the third man, James Fitzgerald, was poking out the legs of another cap ahead ; as soon as the logs started the cap behind canted and fell amongst (lie men, burying William Egan and James Fitzgerald— Michael having a very narrow escape. The unfortunate man, William, who was only partially buried with debris at first, could speak strongly, and Michael to call James.

Mrs Michael Egan started off, leaving the yotmg infant behind, and was the means of

bringing on to the ground the help eo much needed. The men started with a will, and got at the body of the youngest man William Egan, but life had been extinct some time; the debris was still coming down as fast as the men could shovel, not more than four being able to work at one time —and in about three hours James Fitzgerald was brought to the surface very much bruised and completely exhausted; in fact, ten minutes more would have sealed his fate. Everything was done for the survivor by friends and neighbours, and he is in a fair way of recovery.