ACCIDENT AT THE QUEEN OF BEAUTY MINE.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 1869, 5 October 1874, Page 3

ACCIDENT AT THE QUEEN OF BEAUTY MINE.

At about 6 o'clock on Saturday, morning a very dangerous accident occurred in the Queen of Beauty mine to Mr George Woodward, a miner, who lias been resident on this goldfield from a very early period. Mr Woodward with his .mate, ilieharcl Feeney, was working in the stopes of the No. 2 reef, above the intermediate , level, and a man named Nelson was work in gin the stope further ahead. Shots were fired in both stopes simultaneously, and before the smoke had quite cleared away, they all went'back into the stopes. .Nelson went first, and passed safely through to the farthest face; Woodward followed him towards the face on .which his blast had gone off, but just | before he reached the face a small piece of rock fell on his shoulders out of the roof. lie looked to ascertain where it had come from, when just at the moment a mass of about two tons of massive r {?Pp-,K ave way, falling heavily on liira, a&d.'of course, throwing him down. The greatest pressuro came against his right side, aud his head was fortunately not struck by the heavy rock, although it is severely cut, but had the weight of the rock come on his head he would have been instantly killed. It appears that the exploding shots had knocked away some of the timbers, thus allowing the stone to come away from the roof. The: alarm was given, and Woodward was with a good deal of difficulty extricated from the mass of stone. He was brought to the surface at once, laken to the Hospital, it being apparent that he had sustained great damage. Upon examination at the hospital, it was ascertained that his left leg was broken below the knee, but this being a simple fracture is not by any means the most dangerous injury. Several ribs at bis right side are broken, but how many has not yet been ascertained. There is a long deep scalp wound on the top of his head, which had to be stitched up, _ and there are several cuts of minor importance about his face. He is, of course, considerably bruised and shaken, but it is hoped that he has not sustained any dangerous internal injuries. Everything possible, under the circumstances, was done - at tho Hospital to'alleviate liis : sufferings, and yesterday he felt much' more comfortable and in less pain than I on the previous day. A great deal 'of sympathy has been expressed for Mr Woodward on account of this unfortunate occurrence. It unfortuately happens that he had been out of wqrk for some time, and was ouly three shifts work in the Queen of Beauty, so that his family—a wife and_ three children-are. not in the best of circumstances. We believe, however, that Mr Woodward has been a subscriber to the accident relief fund, and he will no, doubt reap the advantage of it now that he requires its aid.