FATAL MINING ACCIDENT IN VICTORIA.

Kumara Times, Issue 2665, 23 March 1885, Page 3

FATAL MINING ACCIDENT IN VICTORIA.

A correspondent of the Melbourne Argus, telgrapbing from Eaglehawk, Victoria, on Wednesday, 25th ult., States :—" A fearful accident, resulting in the death of two men, occurred this afternoon in a claim in old Pegleg Lead, immediately south of the Prince of "Wales lease, and about n mile and a half west of the township. Some time ago Fred. Clark, a quartz crusher, obtained a lease of ground, which was subsequently taken on tribute by two men. One was John Holborn, about 60 years of age, residing with his wife and family of seven children near the claim ; aDd the other, Henry Heine, a single man, living near the Phoenix mine, at the Head of Eaglehawk. The two men went to work this morning as usual to continue a diive going south at a depth of 100 ft. under the old workings. A few sets of timber having been completed at 10 minutes past 2 o'clock, Holborn ascended, went home, and got a gimblet, and again descended the claim at 3 o'clock. According to custom, one of Holborn's family went to the shaft and shook the rope, intimating that it was time to leave off work. The men did not come up, however, and suspicions were aroused that something was wrong, and information was given to James Butcher, and H. Grootnbridge, men working in the next claim south. They immediately descended and found that the drive had partially fallen in. There were no signs of either Holborn or Heine, and the alarm being given, a large number of miners proceeded to the claim to clear away the debris, but it was not till after 7 o'clock that the body of Holborn was recovered, quite dead. Up to a late hour last night the men were working assiduously to extricate Heine, who it is considered must be dead, there being no means of escape for him." In connection with the above we extract the following from the Melbourne " World," of the 4th March : " The Secretary of Mines has received the following report relative to the late fatal accident near Sandhurst:—' Sir— In connection with the recent lamentable accident at the Prince of Wales claim, in which two miners lost their lives by being buried by a fall of ground and timber, and whose bodies were not extricated for a considerable time, I feel it my duty to bring under your notice the praiseworthy conduct of the men who so nobly assisted in recovering the bodies. At considerable risk to their own lives they volunteered and unremittingly persevered both night and day until they succeeded in their search. Such courageous and unselfish conduct is not only commendable but is deserving of the praise and esteem of the entire community. I have, &c, (signed) Wm. H. Grainger, Inspector of Mines.' At the request of the Minister, Mr Langtree has replied to the above communication by asking for the name of the men who displayed such excellent conduct with a view to making them some suitable acknowledgement." There are many such deserving cases on record in Kumara.