SHOOTING AFFRAY IN A MINE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1895, 23 May 1889, Page 4

SHOOTING AFFRAY IN A MINE.

A sensational shooting affray occurred early on Sunday, the 12th, in the underground workings of the North Johnson mine, Victoria. The manager, Mr Erank Agnew, suspected that some of the good stone was being removed surreptitiously from the mine, and on the Saturday night, after the last shift was completed at 11 o'clock, the manager, the lander, and the engine driver went below to watch. 'hey ensconced themselves in the 1180 ft level. After a time two men came along the level with lighted candles in their hands. One remarked, " It's all right; no one's here." The i lander laconically remarked, " Oh, yes, there is," and presented a revovlver at one of the interlopers. Both men then blew out their candles, and ran back along the level. The lander fired three shots after them, and the watchers followed the men. One of them, who was eventually found hidden behind a shoot, was captured, brought up in the cage, and handed over to the local police. His name is John Boyce, and he resides in the locality of the mine. The other man escaped, but at half-pa9t four he was again heard in the mine, and once more escaped. It is believed that the men found their way down one o' : the shaft:-*, of the neighboring tnim?!-i, ana proceeded by the old workings lo the North Johnson, under the impression that some of the gold-bearing stone would be broken

from the reef where it was just struck in the 1194 ft crosscut. However, none of this stone had been shot down.