COEONEE'S INQUEST AT THE KUMAEA.

Inangahua Times, Volume IV, Issue 13, 9 May 1877, Page 2

COEONEE'S INQUEST AT THE KUMAEA.

The inquest on the bodies of James Lint and Michael Harris was held this morning, at Connelly's Hotel, Dillman's Town, before W. H. Bevell, Esq., Coroner. The following evidence was heard :— [ Samuel Pennington deposed—l am a | miner, and shareholder in the claim on Larrikin's Terrace, in which the deceased j James Lint and Michael Harris were employed as wages men. Both men came to work on Monday morning last. I was working at the face with them. I knew Harris for some years, and knew him to be an experienced miner. I had no previous acquaintance with Lint Lint | was about removing the false set at the ' face where he was at work, and, on going I to examine the ground, I saw that it was I not safe to do so, and told him to leave it I alone, I then went into the main drive to get a wedge, and as I went along I heard Lint ask Harris to give him a hand with a prop. I then knew that he was : going to draw the false set, and hurried back te prevent him, but the crash came before I reached them and buried the two men. Lint spoke to me and asked me to give him some more air. He gave signs of life for about half an hoar. The other man never spoke at all after the accident. It was some two or three hours before the first man was taken out, Dr Featherston* hangh was present and pronounced him quite dead. lam of opinion had Lint not interfered with the false set that the accident would not have occurred. Harris was a single man, his relations reside at Liverpool. lam not aware of Lint hay* ing any relations in the colony. There was only another mau and myself in the drive at the time. Harris was not got out until 11 o'clock at night. Albert Sampson— A. miner, working at a truck in the claim with deceased men, gave similar evidence to the above. Tons of earth had fallen, and there was great difficulty in getting the men out. A large boulder was lying on the body of Harris. There was plenty of assistance from the first. Dr Fetherstonhaagh stated that he was present when the body of James

Lint was tak,en oat of the drive. He was quite dead. There were no external marks of injuries on the body. Ts of opinion that death was caused by suffbea* tion. Did not soo the bod/ of James Harris. A rerdict of " Accidental Death " was returned.— Times.