No particulars of the fatality at Skippers are yet obtainable. Our Queenstown correspondent wired this afternoon, in answer to inquiries, that the names of the deceased were John Mitchell, the father, and his son James. Mr Mitchell had two other sons working with him. His family live at Parkside, Caversham. -Evening Star, 15/5/1885.
News is just to hand of a most distressing nature from the Phoenix mine. A man named John Mitchell, native of Cornwall, and his youngest son James, aged 15 years, having been killed whilst engaged on a contract in the above claim. No particulars as to the cause of the calamity have reached here at the present moment. The affair has caused quite a gloomy sensation, deceased being widely known and highly respected for his upright and manly conduct, and of a most industrious and persevering disposition. He leaves a wife and daughter and also two sons to mourn the loss of a kind husband and indulgent father, whilst the community at large lose a genial companion and genial friend. The above accident brings into prominence the the need that exists, in an isolated district of this description, for a locally appointed J.P. to meet cases of this kind, and to act in other cases affecting the welfare of the place. Surely if the facts were pointed out to the Government, they could find someone up here who possessed the confidence of the people and who would be qualified to act. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 15/5/1885.
THE FATAL ACCIDENT AT SKIPPERS.
[From our Own Correspondent]
SKIPPERS, May 16. An inquest was held here yesterday on the bodies of John and James Mitchell, father and son, who were killed by a fall of stone on Wednesday afternoon whilst stoping in the Phoenix Mine and putting in at the time the main set. The son was only fifteen years old, but the evidence showed that the father was a thoroughly experienced miner and well acquainted with the mine. Abundance of timber was always available for working the mine, and deceased was told particularly to timber well and closely. No blame is attached to any one, and the only explanation of the accident is that a small and unobserved opening or crevice was in the ground above. A verdict of “Accidental death” was returned. John Mitchell was an old settler here, and leaves a wife, daughter, and two sons. -Evening Star, 16/5/1885.
DEATH.
Mitchell — On Wednesday, the 13th instant, at Skippers Reefs, by a mine accident, John Mitchell, native of Cornwall, England, aged 48 years; and his son James, aged 15 years, deeply lamented. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 22/5/1885.
The deceased, John Mitchell, arrived at Skippers nearly 20 years ago, but about three years since his wife, daughter and youngest son James, now dead, resided at Caversham. The lad had only left school about a month, and by the accident, Skippers has lost its oldest and youngest miner. The family were much respected, and the recent bereavement has caused quite a gloom over the community. Out of respect for the departed all work was stopped in the Phoenix mine till Monday last. Deceased were Wesleyans. Their remains were followed to the grave on Sunday by a large cortege, the funeral service of the Church of England being read by Mr Fred Evans. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 22/5/1885.
Bunny is also having his revenge, on his would-be exterminators, for, on the Skippers tracks — notably between Bell's accommodation house and the Zigizag — there is a number of large holes, some nearly in the middle of the track, rendering it dangerous to travel along them in the day-time, and suicidal to do so at night. The only way to permanently stop these holes is to put large stones in the openings. Mrs Mitchell, wife of the late John Mitchell, had a serious fall last Christmas, through her horse being caught by one of these traps near the Zigzag, and she had a narrow escape from a similar accident in the same locality on Friday, when going to Skippers Point to attend her late husband's funeral. There is one dayman on this piece of track, but others will be needed to keep the road open right through, at the present rate. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 22/5/1885.
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