BURIED ALIVE.

Grey River Argus, Volume IX, Issue 701, 16 July 1870, Page 4

BURIED ALIVE.

The Ballamt Post- has the painful duty of " once again chronicling an accident at one of the mines in diat district, unfortunately attended with loss of life. The claim of the Band and Albion Consols Company, in the Sebastopol borough, was the scene of this melancholy case. From the information obtained at the mine, and in that neighborhood, we learned that at twelve o'clock the previous night, the usual hour of changing shifts, two men, named respectively Thomas Lee and James M'Grath, went to work in a drive on the South Reef. Nothing oeourred to stay the progress of the work 1 until just before 'billy time,' four o'clock a. m. on Saturday morning, when ( the ; men were busily engaged puttiug in a false set of .timber. In driving home one of the laths, a misdirected blow caused several tons of gravel and clay to cant into the face of the drive. The debris, which was several tons in weight, came down without the slightest warning,, and completely covering the man Lee, who was nearest the face.■M'Grath, being near the shaft, was. but partially buried, and immediately called out for help. A man named Shyne, working in the next face, was the first to hear the cries for assistance, and he at once made his way tb> the spot. Other men came to the rescue, and very soon M'Grath was taken from his perilous position. It was found that he was not much hurt, although bruised in one or two places, and wa3 at" once sent home. Mr Ward, the miniug manager, and Mr •H. Cameron, the assistant miniug manager; by this time had arrived at the claim, and at once directed all-hands to clear away the large body of dirt lying betwixt them and. the unfortunate man Lee. Although there were but few hopes of taking him out alive, a powerful stream of air was kept on the face of the drive, and all hands worked with a will in clearing away the debris. At eight o'clock those who had been at work were, allowed to go ; and a fresh number of men were put on ; but notwithstanding their indefatigable labors, it was ten o'clock_befo.re. the -body was recovered. It then presented a very sickening appearance. The head, face, and , ; in fact, tlie . whole of the body 'was mutilated arid bruised to a very great extent. The ' body was removed to the United Consols Hotel. The deceased was a single man, about thirty-four years of age, aud a native of Ireland. We understand that his brother is at present working at Daylesford."

At the inquest, the Stqr reports, it vras deposed that John Shyne, a miner ; in an adjoining drive, heard .deceased screaming about four o'clock in the. morning, and on going to his assistance, found him buried up to his head and shoulders. The man 1 was dead. Witness called some more men, arid they got M'Grath out, and then commenced to clear away the earth to get Lee out. They dfd riot get Mm out until between ten and eleven o'cl'.ick on the forerioou'of tlie same day. The earth had fallen from the roof, for the face of the drive was all right. There was one set of timber down. James M'Grath deposed that he was putting in a false set of timber, and deceased "was standing at the face clearing the way for the laths, while witness was driving oyer the false cap. He had only struck the Jath two light taps with the hammer, when! the roof over them came down, and covered deceased wholly arid witness j partially: 5 Was sure he did not hit the false cap. John Nicliolson deposed that he could riot say that the accident would not have happened had dogs beeu Used ;. but if in : -this case dogs had been used, they might have enabled deceased to escape. A great quantity of earth came down. Never saw a iman so "pinned in" as deceased was. jit was a regular drift that catrie down, j The evidence of Dr Hillas went to show that deceased -was bruised, but none Of his bones were broken. The cause df death was asphyxia from snffpea-. tibn. ( The'jury found a verdict of accidental 'death.. .-• „ . : ■- ; ■ l