The Barrambi Fatality

The inquiry into the circumstances connected with the death of Frank Gardiner, who was killed by falling down a shaft at Barrambi, was held on July 9, before the Acting Coroner, Mr. Neil Odder, and a jury consisting of Messrs. S. Stevens, C. Lupton, and A. J. Corin. Christopher Hanlon, general manager of the Barrambie Gold Mine, said that the deceased was in the employ of the company. On July 7 he descended the shaft to effect some repairs to the pump. In about ten minutes he signaled to be raised to the surface, and when about 40ft. from the surface he fell from the boatswain's chair, in which he was seated.
A man named Krug immediately descended the shaft and shortly afterward informed witnesses he had found Gardiner's apparently lifeless body at the bottom. Subsequently, the body was brought to the surface. The deceased had been instructed by the witness not to leave the chair, or remove the safety rope from under his arms. Witness did not think the temperature in the shaft was too hot. He had never been to the bottom of the shaft. Deceased had worked in the shaft on the previous day, and was satisfied with the conditions, Air was conveyed to the place where he was working by means of a blower, which was kept working continuously when men were below. Gardiner was strapped to the chair to prevent his falling out. When the chair was brought to the surface after the accident the strap was unbuckled,

The deceased must have fallen a distance of 80ft. Witness did not know whether the deceased had had the experience of working in shafts, but he appeared to know his work. So far as the witness knew the deceased was a sober man, The exhaust going into the water would slightly increase the temperature, but he did not think it was hot enough.

Conrad Krug gave evidence of finding the body at the bottom of the shaft, He said he had worked in the shaft on the previous day, and considered it was safe to do so for 15 or 20 minutes when the blower was working. It is too warm to stay down longer than 20 minutes at a time The exhaust goes into the well, which is sunk in lime country, and in the witness's opinion, this would cause heat. The water in the well was slightly hot. The strap was unbuckled when the chair reached the surface.
Eugene O'Connell said he saw the deceased leave the surface firmly strapped in the chair. He was working the blower, pumping down. The manager was driving the winch when the accident occurred. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased met his death by falling out of a boatswain's chair whilst being raised to the surface; also that they were of the opinion that had the manager's instructions regarding the body strap been complied with the accident might not have occurred. The jury added a rider that the were of the opinion that the shaft where the accident occurred is too hot to work in. The jury also expressed their opinion that the action of Conrad Krug. in rescuing the body of the deceased from the shaft after the accident, is worthy of the highest appreciation.