A Prospector's Death.

Hastings Standard, Issue 351, 18 June 1897, Page 4

A Prospector's Death.

SMOTHERED IN HIS TENT

A telegram from Alexandra in the Melbourne Argns states : - A miner nnmed Thomas Brown msi with his death by suffocation through leaving a lighted wood fire in his tent when retiring to rest, while his mate, Ware, narrowly escaped with his life. Brown and Ware were prospecting in the neighborhood of Patten's claim, and had been camped there some months. During the cold weather it had been their habit to take into .tneir tent at night an oil - can which had been converted into a fire - stove. On Monday night they retired to rest about 9 o'clock, and, the weather being very bleak, they closed the tent, which was 10ft by 12ffc, ordinary make, as close as possible, taking the stove in with them. On Tuesday, shortly after midday, Ware awoke in a half-dazed state, and was surprised, on looking at his watch, to find that he had slept so long. His first thought was to get dinner ready, and he went out for that purpose. On returning to the tent for some cooking utensils lie was astonished to see his mate still in bad, and two cats lying dead on the floor. On attempting to wake Brown he found that he was dead. Ware at once came into Alexandra, and informed the police, who went out and brought the body into the township, arriving after midnight. An enquiry was held to-day by Mr Wheeler, who after hearing the evidence recorded that deceased had been suffocated by the fumes of charcoal. Ware probably escaped death by the habit he has formed of always sleeping with the blankets over his head. The deceased leaves a widow and 10 children. A friend of deceased named Kent had warned Brown several times that he would be suffocated some morning if he continued to take the stove into the tent at night, but the warning was unheeded.