The Mining Disaster at Newcastle.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 329, 25 July 1889, Page 4

The Mining Disaster at Newcastle.

The following is some of the principal evidence given at the inquest on the bodies of some of those who we e killed by the recent disaster in the Glebe mine: — John M’Kenzie, examiner of Coalfields, residing in Sydney, deposed that he knew the A.A. Co’s Glebe B mine. He had examined this mine, but not lately. It was the duty of the inspector of colleries in the district to report on the condition of the colleries about every eight weeks. Witness had not been down the Glebe B mine for about a year, and only visited a mine when his attention was

drawn to anything occurring there by the inspector of colleries. There •earned to be a wrong impression abroad with respect to the exact duties of the Examiner of Coalfields. They consist principally of attention to departmental matters and the supervision of officers, reporting on the discoveries of coal and the examination of new mines opening out, the fulfilment of labor conditions in mineral leases, authorities to mine under reserves, &c., reporting on the advisability of granting them, and ascertaining the royalties due for coal obtained on Crown Lands. Ono reason for witness’s removal to Sydney was that he would be at the head office to give advice and consult with the Undersecretary or Minister on matters appertaining to the office he held as head of the coalfields branch of the Department of Mines. By the Jury : It had never been reported to witness that there was danger at that part of the workings in the mine. Inspector Dixon lived close to the Glebe B mine, and if the miners knew of any danger they should have told him of it, David Inglis, miner, deposed that he •aw Pettit in the pit on the morning of the accident. Witness was workjng in Murphy’s heading in the right pf the crosscut when he saw Pettit, He met Acton at 5 minutes to 7. Acton told witness that the roof had been Working most awfully and it would be down in half-an-hour’s time. Witness and hie mate went towards the face. While passing the points of Murphy's flat the noise of thundering sounded terribly overhead. They then returned to the flat and stopped there. they met Dan ths wheeler. Witness said the skjpf) WU at te got out. and asked all tabs as ac,'- ve th 1 could. At, this time tne pillars were booing terribly, W> ne , 8 called to .9 wnr g ehovels to clear a y? • tp, B fc.p g outi Eight were ?° ■ The last time the wheeler J®. five away to the top end of Murphy’s point. Just then James Sharp, George Bowman, James Hodson, John Meadows and Sandy Grant came by, but made no remark. Shortly after a wheeler named Byan came down from the crosscut and told witness that the roof was working very hard up there. Witness said, “ I’ll be out of this very quick.” Meantime Sharp, Hodson and others repassed towards the crosscut. Witness got his tools, He met George Bowman coming back for something. Witness asked him, “ What do you think of this place?” Bowman ssid, "It is’only the pillar ends that are at work.” Witness shook his head and said “ She sounds as if she would rend to-day.” He left Bowman, and with his mate Succeeded up Murphy's heading, van, the wheeler, came back too. Witness asked if all was safe. Witness warned Began that the roof would be down directly and told him to make haste back. While going towards Murphy’s heading witness met John Stevenson, who was going in to work in Johnson’s heading. Witness cautioned him that if be went in he would not come out alive. Stevenson then put down his tools and went no further. Witness reminded Stevenson of a similar ot eurrence in a pit near Newcastle-on-Tyne, in which a creep was preceded by far less noises than in the Glebe B mine. This was at 25 munutes past 8, while the men were sitting in crosscut flat having breakfast.* Witness and his mate went towards the shaft, got some picks and went in the direction of the old pit, but had to turn back. About 100 yards from the shaft they met a tremendous gust of wind, mixed with stone-dust. Witness said to his mate, "What is that?”’ His mate replied . "Only the wind; it is always windy there.” Witness said, “Yes, but never so windy as that.” They then proceeded towards the shaft, and both ascended. Witness had previously noticed pressure, because he saw the Sillars bursting, but did not anticipate anger till Saturday morning. By Mr. Sparke: The roof of the Glebe B mine was a very fair one and. i the floor very strong. He considered the late occurrence as a sharp creep, Dot a craah. Witness had first noticed the pressure on the Thursday before about 100yds. from the crosscut, but did not report it. Eve-rebody who i passed by these could see it. He did ; not hear the pillars booming till ■ Saturday, He heard them booming at a quarter-past 7 from Johnson’s heading towards Murphy’s heading.

Melbourne, July B.—A daring attempt was made to break into the jewellery establishment T, B. Way, Bourke-street, this nw.-ving. Two let-ter-sorters coming to work saw some men at Way’s 'window and gave an alarm to the police, who on arrival found a large plateglass window had been smashed, presumably with a Crowbar, and the iron rails which guard the window bent by the sama agency,' The burglars had evidently been disturbed before they could remove the jewellery front the window, only'a silver watch and chain having been stolen. In Apoida a stout lady wearing an “[improver” of immense proportions was stalking along the pavement, when a little child, two years of age, fell flown upon her from the window of which it had been leaning too far forward. Gearing the, lady’s back, its fall was arrested by the improver, and a gentleman who was a couple of paces ip the rear sprang forward and caught the little girl, to that she did not touch the ground. The much-abused, excrescence is now extolled to the skies by the good citizens of Apoida, pnd its continued existenoe assured forbears to come,