THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE ONEHUNGA MINE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 164, 18 April 1872, Page 3

THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE ONEHUNGA MINE.

CORONER’S INQUEST. Ax inquest was held yesterday at the Salutation Hotel, Mary-street, before Dr Kilgour and a jury of twelve, in view of the body of James. Feeugy, accidentally killed yesterday at a claim ou the Karaka CrecK. The jury having viewed the body, the following evidence was adduced : Wiliiam Swindells deposed that be was a miner, and had been working together with deceased for about eight days past in an open cutting on a claim formerly known as the Onehunga. About five minutes past four yesterday' evening nearly twenty tons of stuff fell from the side of the cutting. Deceased and witness were taking out a leader from the bottom of the cutting. When witness beard the rock crack he looked up, saw it overbalancing, and called out, “Feeney, the rock’s coming ! run !” They both ran—witness first. Witness was knocked down by the falling stuff, but received little injury. On getting up and looking for Feeney, be found him about two yards behind jammed between the barrow and the embankment. A little loose rubble was lying on him, which witness threw off, freeing him from any further danger. ILis first words were “ Oil, Bill, I’m cooked !” Ilis last woids were “ You'd better get Johnny to help von.” That was a man living about 100 yards offj Witness called the man, and between them they lilted him from bis position, finding him very seriously injured in the lower part of the body. Half-a-dozen men came up, and he was carried to the Ilospitol. Deceased was in the Hospital an hour after the accident happened' • To a juror: The rock that fell has not been disturbed for three years. John Garland, a miner, knew deceased, and bad helped to extricate him as described by last witness. Charles F. Lethbridge, a duly qualified medical practitioner, deposed as to the nature of the injuries received by Feeney, who was dead when brought to the hospital. Captain Goldsmith, Mining Inspector, who was in attendance, described the nature of the place in which deceased bad been working, and in connection with which lie could not see any special danger. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.