TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 87, 12 April 1875, Page 2

TERRIBLE ACCIDENT.

TWO MEN KILLED.

Another accident, on this occision a fatal one, occurred at the excavation behind Mr Jones' house, on the Port Road, Uiis aftermoon. Three men, named James Downes, an old resident in \yashington Valley, Thomas Edward Kelly, : a,' recent arrival by the Adamaut, and — Day, were employed ia picking out the face' of the liiU, into which they had worked, for some little distance. About half -past' twdi and without the slightest warning, a larger-mass of earth and ttones, estimated variously at f om 30-to 50 tons fell, andburiel Downes -£nd Kelly-, Day escaping almost by a miracle.' One of the overseerß, we are told, saw, -the slip coming, but it waa too late, and just is he was beckoning to Dowr.es the Ut er was struck and knocks! down. Willing hapds were at once at work removing the earth,' but it was nearly half an hour before thoTjodies were .reached. Por the first two or three uiinutcs the groaus of Downes w. re p'ainly heard, /md then cam.) a terrible silence, broken only by the sonnd of the nume;oiiS Spades and shovels at work 1 ! Kelly was the first; to be found, and' with him death mu-t have been instantaneous, the hevl and thest .being fear fully crushed. Downee's. death was apparently caused by suffocation, aa lie was not so much bruised, but the face was of a livid blue. It was a sad sight that. was presented by the two poor fellows who half-an-hour previously had been alive and., in the full pride of their t tren gth ; and hi. must indeed have been a hard hem tint was not moved by the bitter cries and sob* of two or three ot poor Downey's children wbo arrved on the spot juet as the bodies were removed to tlie Gl>be Hotel 5 where they now lie., Downesjeaves a widow andiiine children, and Kelly a widow and five little ones, the' eldest of them only six >ears of age. Tnero are rumours of want of proper care in the workings where tlnse terrible accidents have'occurred. but we think it advisable not (o repeat' all that was said at the time of such ex -itement. The lull facts will be brought to light ut the Coroner's inquest, and then will be the time to mako such comments as may bt necessary.