FATAL ACCIDENT.
A lamentable accident occurred at Mr J. Buckley's coal mine, Blackman’s Gully Earnscleugh, on Sunday morning last, the 18th inst, resulting in the death of James Statham, one of the step-sons of the proprietor of the mine. Some months since the main works fell in and were abandoned, and as a means of renewing coal raising operations, a fresh shaft had to he sunk, and it was in the third shaft sunk before the seam was properly reached that the sad accident happened. The shaft was a little over 30ft deep and being contiguous to the old workings, acted as a drain to them, and consequently a large body of water had to be contended against in it; this, however, after many weeks of steady baling, pumping and patient labor, was fairly beaten, and it was confidently thought that in another week or so the profitable work of coal raising would he resumed On the evening of Saturday, 17th inst., when work was knocked off, everything appeared satisfactory. The pump was working well, and looked as if it had the mastery of the water; and Mr Buckley — for the first time in the previous six weeks — proceeded to Clyde to order supplies, leaving his two sons — James (the deceased) and John — on the mine. On the Sunday morning the deceased said he would go and see how the pump was working, and whether the water was keeping down. With this view the two went to the shaft and James the deceased was lowered down by his brother; but scarcely reaching the bottom, he called to be pulled up again. This was done; but before reaching half the distance he fell from the rope to the bottom. The rope was at once lowered, and he again made the attempt, but had scarce commenced ascending when for a second time he fell. His brother John, on looking down the shaft noticed deceased stagger and presently fall on to his face. It may here be remarked that John, while able and strong enough to attend to the windlass, is unable through malformation of his legs to ascend or descend the shaft without assistance —consequently, not able to descend to the assistance of his brother, he went for help to some near neighbours. Mr Bailey and others arriving at the shaft saw at once that it was full of foul air or fire-damp, and improvised a drag to raise the body. On it being brought to the surface it was seen at once that life was extinct, deceased evidently having been choked by the damp, there being only a few scratches on the face. The body was as soon as possible conveyed into Clyde, and on Monday an inquest was held at Parks’ Hartley Arms Hotel before W. Fraser Esq., JP., into the cause of death. The jury were sworn in and the body viewed, and an order given authorising the burial; but as in terms of sec. 50 of the Coal Mines Act, 1880, it is necessary for the Inspector of Mines to be present at every inquiry into any accident in a mine. No evidence was taken, and an adjournment was made till Friday (this day.) On Tuesday afternoon the funeral took place the body being first conveyed to the Church of England where the service for the dead was read; thence it proceeded to the Clyde Cemetery, the following being a large and imposing one. Deceased having been a member of the Order of Foresters, the funeral was conducted by that body, a number of the members of the Dunstan and Alexandra Lodges following.
The world is ever repeating itself — never is there an occurrence that is in any way out of the beaten track but what it is sure to be followed by another of a similar character. The foregoing and the following being so similar we cite it as an example “A young man named William McMaster was drowned in a well at Rockhampton under peculiar circumstances. He was lowered down the well by his brother, and when he was about 20ft down, he complained of there being a bad smell. His brother then commenced to draw him up, but letting go his hold of the rope he fell into the water below and was drowned before any assistance could be rendered him.” -Dunstan Times, 23/3/1888.
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