TERRIBLE FATALITY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2010, 20 February 1890, Page 3

TERRIBLE FATALITY.

A terrible fate befell Mr J. Richards, - mine manager for the Great Southern i Gold Mining Company, at Sandhurst. The Great Southern Company possesses a leasehold of over half a mile in length at the southern end of the Garden Gully line of reef, and a large number of shafts have been sunk on various nortions of the claim. On Friday night one shaft, N 0.6, which is 400 ft deep, and has been unworked for many years, was found to be on fire. The fire is supposed to have been caused by boys, and it burnt some of the shaft timbering, and also the whim above ground Ihe brigades went out ou Friday night, but re--1 turned, as the road was rough and there was no available supply of water. On Saturday the mine manager and others covered over Ihe mouth of the shaft, so as to extinguish the flames. Later on Mr Richards and another man went to renew this covering. They stood on a plank placed across the shaft, when one corner of the shaft suddenly gave way, a large quantity of timber and earth carrying with it. Mr Richards fell down the shaft, the other man saving himself by a well-timed jump, ihe shaft being 400 ft deep, and containing about 100 ft of water, it was known that the manager must have been killed instantaneously, Owing to the the fire and smoke in the shaft it was impossible for anyone to go down to recover the body. Bailing operations were started,but it was four days afterwards before the body was discovered. When a considerable body of water had been hailed out of the shaft operations were stopped, owing to some timber having got across the shaft. Some men were sent down to clear the way, and as soon as they moved the timber, which was the same as that which Mr Richards was placing across the shaft at the time of the accident, his body rose to the surface of the water. It was placed in the bucket and raised to the surface. The head was fearfully smashed in, and one leg and arm were broken. A Magisterial enquiry was immediately held, and a verdict of accidental death returned. Mr Richards was only about thirty years, and he leaves a large wife and family.