Fatal Mining Accident at Stawell.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3038, 9 November 1878, Page 2

Fatal Mining Accident at Stawell.

A fatal accident occurred at the Oriental[Company's claim at about 11 o'clock this (Tuesday) morning, by which on* man was killed and two seriously injured. When hauling quarts the engine-driver remarked that the indicator which advises of trucks coming to the surface was acting faultily. While examining this he did not see that the truck was being actually hauled up to the poppet-heads at full speed. Before he could do any thing the cage struck the top of the fixture with such force that the bed-plate of the winding gear was broken and the K ear itself thrown out; the cage fell down the shaft, carrying most of the rope with it, at a frightful speed, while the revolutions of the unfixed gear strewed the engine-house with wreckage and smashed the Moor and a portion of the walls and roof. Concerning the three men who were at work in the bottom of the shaft, a depth of about 1,200ft., it was understood they weri guarded by strong bearers going across, and there was not much alarm felt. Dr. Syme was sent for, and he, in company a couple of miners, went down the shaft of a contiguous claim, with which ther* was communication. In about an hour'i time word came up that one of the three men, John Rodgers, was killed, William Rhodda had his arm and leg broken 1, and Isaao May's arm was broken. There was a large crowd assembled to see the men come up. Rodgers was crushed out of resemblance to humanity. He it an unmarried man. When the police took possession of his effects they fonnd bank deposit receipts for £I,oo2.—Australasian, Oct. 26. '