ST. BATHANS.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 95, 9 December 1870, Page 3

ST. BATHANS.

Dec. 4, 1870. There is some likelihood of a volun- • teer company being organised here.. A few have already joined. A messenger from-. Cromwell'amved here on Wednesday,, with the sad intelligence that John: Gillies, a muchrespected miner belonging to this place,' got killed at the Bendigo Reef the day before. While sitting" in a tunnel, a large block of stone fell from its place in the roof on,his head, causing instant death. He was a shareholder in a claim here,-and left only about three weeks as:o. intending to be back at Christmas. His mates, and several of tbe townspeople,, set out at ,once for Bendigo Gully,on hearing of the poor fellow's death. Possessed of considerable na'tural wit and power of repartee the deceased possessed also the rare qualification of bein.4 able to use these gifts A • Vour ex P eila,e Without inflicting a "wound. Perhaps the highest tribute that could be paid to his memory is the following, expressed in my hearing by a miner Jiving here—"X have known John Gillies now for better than, six years in St. Bathans ; during all that time I' have never heard a*man speak of him hut in terms of praise, and I swear that 1 have never; beard Gillies. speak an unkind word of another." It is no wonder that the loss of such a man is deeply regretted by every person in St. Bathans. ■ /,-■.' A gentle rain set in here on Thursday night, and continued to fall lightly but incessantly until yesterday (Saturday) morning. * Last night, snow and, sleet i'ell in large quantities, and showers of the same have been frequent since daylight this morning down to the present moment,. 9p.m. The ranges-are covered with snow. Three experienced miners left here on Monday, the 28th November, on a prospecting tour; destination unknown; but do not. be surprised, if you should' hear of new El-Dorado soon.A.B.C. '