ACCIDENTS, FATALITIES, ETC.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2142, 27 December 1890, Page 3

ACCIDENTS, FATALITIES, ETC.

Auckland, Dec. 23.

At about half-past ten o'clock last night a terrible accident occurred at Ralph's coal-mining property at Huntley in the Waikato district. A new dip or drive collapsed, and entombed four miners who were working there. The dip is a few hundred yards from an old mine formerly worked by the Taupiri Extended Coal Company, and was being driven in the direction of a seam of eoal hitherto untouched, running under the railway ine which passes throughout the property, on which also a great part of the Huntley township stands. The men timbered the drive as they went along, and had sunk the dip 400 feet at an incline, the bottom being about. 8 feet from the surface. The party at work last night comprised seven men, namely, Caseby, Weir, Smith, Tracey, McLellan, Alexander, Harris, and a boy named Samsoa. They were about to be relieved when one of the sets of false timbers gave way, and eaused the accident. The earth fell shortly afterwards. Samson, McLellan, and Weir escaped, but Hmith and Tracey were buried close to the face ofthedri»e, and Harris and Caieby about a y*rd and a half off. A rescue party was speedily formed, and they had succeeded in almost reaching Harris and Caseby when a second fall of earth occurred, by which one of the rescuers, Samuel Hyndman, was severely injured in the spine. He was taken out and removed to the Hamilton Hospital. Before the second fall the rescue party could hear the entombed miners speaking to each other and groaning, but alter that no sound was heard. Dec. 24. The entombed miners were not extricated this morning. Caseby and Harris have been reached, and will be got out to-day. Both are dead, and when found were clatped in each other's arms, though when last seen hey were a little distance apart. racey and are believed to have been killed by the first fall of earth. Hyodham, one of the rescue party, is so seriously iujured that a fatal termination is feared. He has a wife and four children. Tracey and Smith will not be recovered for a couple of days. The accident is believed to have happened through careless timbering of the last piece. The men were close to the coal. All the miners in the district are engaged in trying to extricate the bodies. John Tracey was about 28 years of age and a native of Ireland. His case is very painful, from the fact that he was married only six months ago. He hai been about four years in the colony, and is described as one of the best miners in the district, and a man of excellent character. Caseby was a widowar, *bout 40 years old, and was for many years a platelayer on the railway. Smith, who was "about 50 years of age. «as married but had no family. His wife lives at Huntley. Harris was a lad of 16, and a son of Mr L, B. Harris, landlord of the Huntley Hotel. Haweba, Dec 22.

Hop Keo, a Chinese storekeeper, was drowned while fishing ia the Manawapou Hirer yesterday, lhe body has not ret been recovered. Wellington, .Dec. 22. Yesterday the body of a man oamed John Macnamara was found at l\>haogina, in the Palmerston district, under the limb of a tree. He had been missing since December 6th. Mastebtoh, Deo. 22. A man named James Montague fell from his horse, near Ekatabuna, and sustained a dislocation of the shoulder, He was taken to the Masterton Hospital, where he died while undergoing an operation. Gbeymottth, Dec- 24. James Bough, cook at the Union Hotel, dropped dead this morning while opening the hotel back door. CHBisTCHuacH, Dec 23. The boy, Olav Enlund, who mel with nm acoident while ridiug on a railway truck at Lyttelton, died oi Sunday. At the inquest yesterdaj the Twrdict was "accidental death,' ;ind no blame was attachable to any one. A woman named Margaret Falvey about 30 years old, was found dead ii bed in Salisbury street, this evening. Dwkkdin, Dec. 22. Julia Moore, six years old, diei suddenly yesterday, at her parents residence. The child was taken il after eating green fruit, and had beei vomiting, after which it sank rapidly. Ibtbbcaboill, Dec. 24. Henry Hurley, aged seventy-fiv« took a lotion by mistake for a mixtur in the Gore train last night. He wa unconscious till this morning but hi recovery ia probable.