THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE LAMPLOUGH.

Kumara Times, Issue 1393, 19 March 1881, Page 2

THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE LAMPLOUGH.

The following account of the late sad accident at the Lamplough (Chesterfield), has been kindly furnished us by the County Chairman, who yesterday afternoon inspected the scene of the disastrous landslip, and returned therefrom late last night Yesterday, according to a promise made, I proceeded to Chesterfield. The track to that place is very bad, the approaches and lower ford at Kapitea Creek were very dangerous. The foot bridge is carried away, and all the claims along the creek are completely wrecked, the owners having saved nothing 3 boxes, tools, &c., having all been washed away by the bursting of the Government dam on Saturday. Having arrived at Frank Anderson’s, I proceeded along the beach for half a mile, then turned to the bush about half way between Anderson’s and the Waitnea Creek. After proceeding along a bush track for three hundred yards, I arrived on the scene. The slip is two chains square 3 average depth, six feet 3 height slipped from ferraqe, sixty feet 3 trees smashed two feet through, others again stand erect as though naught had happened, yet they are over a chain distant from their original site. The moat callous person could not but feel awe-struck on viewing the work of destruction. On the face of the slip were eleven men whose names deserve chronicling ; they have been working since last Sunday, without hope of fee or reward, and yet their own property, consisting of danls, head-races, and claims, demand their immediate attention, having been considerably injured by the floods. There had been others assisting, but they had left. Those on the spot were—David Garrick, David Angus, William Thomas, Neil IVPLeod, H. M l Donald, James Henderson, frank Johnstone, James Stewart, Michael Fitzgerald, Prank Anderson, and Fat Healey. Approaching the face of the paddock, I inquired what hope they had of extricating the body. They said, “We are glad you have come, for we were losing hearts 3 and, receiving no encouragement, we cannot afford to stay-much longer; and yet we don’t like to leave poor Ned’s body hei’e ! Why don’t Government assist in work of this kind 1 If Ned bad plenty of money, they would have a policeman over us and shepherding every move.” My only answer to this was—You, as men, are trying to recover the body of a comrade. The Government would only trouble about recovering the money. My interrogator then continued, “ We had a ‘ hobby ’ here in the beginning of the week, and two to-day ; but expect that is the last we shall see of the blue coats; for we told them that after this we were going to jib. They were certainly civil, and one asked how and what number of men it would take to thoroughly try the ground. Seeing this will have to go through the circular sailing process of red-tapeism, we dont expect an answer yet awhile 3 anyhow he could give no answer, and both cleared out. I was then furnished with the following particulars:— Thomas went to the store for provisions on Fiiday night, and on his way home called at Anderson’s. Being wet and stormy, Mr and Mrs Anderson invited him to stay 3 he, however, persisted in going home, and left at half-past nine. The deceased’s tent was erected at the foot of the terrace, in the bush. On Satin day no one in the locality was about, but on Sunday morning Mr David Garrick, finding no water running in his head-race, he proceeded along the race and found a large slip about three chains past the claim. Having gone over this slip he proceeded further along, and found the slip at Thomas’s claim, and was horrified at finding no vestige of deceased’s tent—all having been completely covered. Not a sign or indication of that part ever having been inhabited was visible. He then gave the sad news to the neighbors, who, with praiseworthy zeal commenced to search for the body. They first dug a trench on the spot where the tent stood, but found nothing except a few tools, these evidently had been pushed forward with the s'ip, they were also troubled with water and had

to keep the pump going. It was therl decided to commence operations at thd front of the slip, in the flat, and up a trendh in the line of where the tent stood. This had eVer^fcippear : ance of being successful * tf>f they had come across a piece of wood used as a candlestick, and last night had come across a piece of the fire-fly-Another two or three days would strifl the ground to where they expect to find the body. It is surmised that the slip must have Occurred very early on Saturday morning, and whilst Thomad was asleep, and that together with tent he had first been covered dp and theii shoved forward with the debris. The distance from where the fire-fly was found from where it originally stood is about one chain. I took down the names of those present, and asked them to go on with their good work, and also informed them that several gentlemen at Kumara had taken the matter in hand, and were raising subscriptions sd as to enable the search to be proceeded with ; and no doubt the miners at Kumara would also volunteer to lend a hand ; the. apparent apathy arose solely from the want of information on thd subject. This explanation was considered very satisfactory and the meri promised to see it through, and remain at their post like true diggers ; and 1 then left them toiling away at theit* noble work.