THE VICTIMS OF THE ELDORADO DISASTER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XVI, Issue 5095, 5 August 1895, Page 2

THE VICTIMS OF THE ELDORADO DISASTER.

HOW THEY DIED, flecticcti August 3, 6 p.m. Melbourne, August 3. When the relief party reached the bodies of the victimsinthe Eldorado mine disaster, the sight which met their gaze was horrifying in the extreme. The slum had extended in a large volumo to the end of the workings, and almost reached its limits, and when the party entered the drive it stood about two feet in depth. There was an accumulation of water that had drained through the slum from tho workings, and it was a distance of 20ft from the flood-gates to the face of the workings. It was to this retreat that Barke, Dawkins, Crane and Armstrong rushed when the inhurst occurrtd, and they were forced to remain there until removed by the relief parties. It is apparent that the chamber into which they retreated was dry for some time, but they were entirely powerless to escape.

The unfortunate men could have had only one thought, viz., thattlioy were entombed beyond all hope of rescue, and had simply to await their death.

How long they remained alive, cannot by any means be ascertained, but it is conjectured from the quantity of air remaining between the slum and the end of the drive, that there was only sullicient to last them for 24 hours, The first body which came to viow was that of Edgar Crane, who was lying 011 his back peaceably at rest, with one arm beneath him, the other extended across his breast, He was clothed just as when last seen. The features were not in any way disturbed, and he had apparently laid down from exhaustion aud died calmly, Close to him lay Charles Dawkins. His face towards the ground, and he was on bis knees, and seemed as if lie had spent his last minutes in prayer, His bands were not clasped but doubtless he had fallen forward when thoend came. Like his comrade Crane, Dawkins was fully dressed.

Armstrong was next found four feet away from Crane and Dawkins, lying prostrate. Ho had stripped himself of his clothes, and there only remained a flannel band around the waist. Armstrong's clothes were thrown in various places, and the last few minutes of his life can only be imagined, but it is conjectured that ho lost his reason before he succumbed, tearing off his clothes in sheer desperation, Dawkins evidently also attempted to take oft his clothes, but could not draw his trousers over his boots,

The air gradually becoming ■exhausted and more vitiated, at each breath the sufferings of the men became keener, until at length oven the clothing wai oppressive. Armstrong doubtless survived the longest, and at last threw himself down in the intensity of his suffering and died along with his comrades, Burke was the last roan found, about 20ft away from the other three. His head was turned towards the face of the drive in the same manner as Dawkins, and he had knelt down while awaiting the end. Kneebone must have made a desperate attempt for his life, but had been overwhelmed in the mullock.! He was found lying face downwards. Tlie body was hardly recognisablo. Both legs were broken, and other marks proved that the body. was thrown with great force against some hard substance.

Uu Hawkins- billy was scratched qn the morning of the accident—- " Feeling weak, Want air. God forgive us. God reign for ever." The entombed mon whose bodies have just been found were John Kneebone, aged 6Q, married, wife and six childrw; John Edgar Crane, aged 28, single j Fred Burke, aged wife and eight children; Charles Dawkins, aged 50, wife and four children j James Thompson, age(\ 31, wife and throe children 1 ado; James Armstrong, aged 50, £tcc\vs August. 5, UA5v,% ! ■ Mbmoorsk, August IT It took nearly six hours to completely , decipher the messages scratched on tho cans in the EldV ado. All tho men \vrp.tQ fyjjef pathetic messages, '" •