MINING ACCIDENT.

Kumara Times, Issue 1475, 20 June 1881, Page 2

MINING ACCIDENT.

An accident happened this morning at Riley and party's claim which is worked from a tunnel on the Teremakau River side of the Dillman's Town road, some little distance west of the mouth of the sludge-channel. The tunnel is in length about 1000 ft. There are three men in the party—Patrick Riley, Thomas Moffat, and Edward Johnson. Shortly after eight o'clock this morn' ing, Johnson, on returning to the face of the tunnel with an empty truck, was shocked to find both his mates pinned to the ground by laths, boulders, and earth. Riley was knocked down and fastened by laths and boulders across his legs to the ground. Moffat was jammed in a standing position, by the props, a crowbar, and debris. Johnson was proceeding to do his best to get them out, but was advised to run for assistance, as he could do nothing alone. Numbers of willing hands immediately ran to the rescue, and shortly after twelve o'clock Moffat was extricated from his perilous position. Riley, who was about 10 feet more to the left, lay in a most dangerous position. Besides being fixed to the ground as he was, one or two large stones threatened every moment to come down on his face and bury him. The work of extrication in his case was attended with still greater risk than Moffat's. Moffat was brought down to the Hospital at half-past twelve o'clock on a stretcher by relays of miners. We are pleased to be able to state that, with the exception of a cut on the ear, a slight cut at the back of the head, and bruises on the body and legs, no other serious injury has befallen him. Riley was extricated about three o'clock, and also brought down to the Hospital. His right leg is broken above the ankle ; otherwise he is uninjured. The accident is thus accounted for by Moffat :—Riley and Moffat were engaged in putting in false sets. Moffat had completed his, acd went to assist Riley ; and as he was doing so, he perceived the main set going, but neither of them had time to escape.