SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

Thames Star, Volume XVII, Issue 5180, 24 August 1885, Page 2

SERIOUS ACCIDENT.

A Minor Falls 220 Fest.

About half-past nine o'clock this morning a very narrow escape from instantaneous death occurred at the Prince Imperial mine. It appears that the " boss "of the shift—James Brownlee—had come to the surface for tie purpose of getting some timber. Having loaded the cage, he got on top of the timber, at the same time grasping the chain, and gave the signal to lower to No. 4 lerel. This was done, the engine-driver lowering the cage sufficiently below the level to enable Brownlee to step out on to the chamber. As is wellknown, there are three compartments in the shaft, including the ladderway, which is on the southern side, and is boarded over. He proceeded down the southern—or centrecompartment of the shaft, and on alighting at No. 4 level it is surmised 'that he proceeded, as he thought, to pass over the ladderway to "ring up." Instead of doing this, however, he must bare mistaken the compartments, and stepped into the open one on the northern end, with the result that he was precipitated to No. 7 level—a distance of about 220 feet. A man named Thomas Clark, who is also employed in the mine, was at No. 5 level at the time, and heard a noise as of some> thing falling down the shaft, followed by Gries of help. He promptly gate the alarm, and in three or four minutes' he, in company with some of his mates, arrived at No. 7 level, where they found the poor fellow clinging to the guidein the shaft, by which he held himself above the water in the well hole. He was at once conveyed to the Hospital, where Dr Callan was promptly in attendance, and attended to his injuries. Had it not been that there was a depth of about ten feet of water in the well-hole, the unfortunate fellow must have been killed instantly. As it is, he is severely bruised and cut in various parts of the body, particularly at the back of the right shoulder and above the left temple, caused probably by con* tact with the sides of the shaft. He is unable to account as to how the accident occurred. Although no bones were broken, -the-.shock..to-ihß-syßtfim-wa»~vory—BcTerey the lungs were lacerated, and internal i hemorrhage has set in. The injuries sus» ! tamed are of so serious a character that it ' is feared that the sufferer's recovery is j almost hopeless.

On enquiry at the Hospital, late this afternoon, we learn that he appeared to be easier.