| MINE FATALITIES ON THE BROKEN HILL LINE OF LODE There have been fatalities on every mine on the line of lode except at the Victoria Cross Mine, later taken over by the North Mine. These mines were: South Mine - South Blocks - Central - Block 10 - Consuls - East Consuls - Junction - Junction North - British - The Zinc Corporation Limited - The Zinc Corporation Limited - New Broken Hill Consolidated - North Broken Hill Limited - North Broken Hill Limited - Minerals, Mining and Metallurgy De Bavays Treatment Works. District Mines where fatalities occurred were: Silverton - Pinnacles - Round Hill - Ruby Mine - Mary Bell Mine Great Extended Mine - Underlay Blocks Mine - White Leads Proprietary Mine White Leads Silver Mine - Alpha Silver Mine - Silver King or Silver Ring Mine Opal mines at White Cliffs Edgebeck (Egebeck) Felspar Quarry - Tarrawingee Flux Co. Quarry, about forty miles north of Broken Hill, had a number of deaths. There have been fatalities at the Central Power Station and one at the Blue Metal Company. The cause or causes of a fatality were finally decided at an inquest or court hearing. In earlier years, some mining companies classified all fatal accidents under one of the following headings: Ac. Accidental Neg. Neglect by deceased Neg. M. Neglect by miners. Many people believed that the contract system, under which the men worked harder and took greater risks, was the major cause of accidents. During the years 1888 and 1889, the high death rate in the NSW Coal and Metalliferous Mines was very strongly criticised by the press and Parliament. After 1890, the Mines Inspectors reported all fatalities by a different method. All surface deaths were recorded as “NOT A “TRUE MINING ACCIDENT”. This classification was continued until recent years. In 1903, the local Mines Inspector made the following statement concerning the high fatality rate at Broken Hill. “That as less men were now employed on the mines, the less skilful miners had been discharged and only the better class retained. Attention is also drawn to the wonderful perfection reached in the manufacturing of explosives, only two accidents involving four men, with one killed in 1902”. However, the fatality rate was to remain very high for many years, reaching 29 in 1913. The story of compensation payments has been fully covered in other publications. Briefly, prior to 1900 collections from workmates were made to dependants, and Also, some small payment from Friendly Societies, if the deceased had been a member. In 1901, the Miners Accident Relief Act was introduced for all but the small mines of New South Wales. 12/- for a funeral 8/- weekly to the widow 2/6 weekly to children under 14 years The method of mining in Broken Hill usually meant a party of 2 or 4 men worked a stope; thus, many accident only involved 1 or 2 men. There were however some exceptions. On 18th July 1895, at the South Mine, ground which had been extensively mined gave signs of falling. The men were ordered to leave the area, go down to the next level (400 foot level) and proceed to the shaft. The men walking along the tunnel thought they were safe. The ground fell and the compressed air from the fall hurled the men against the sides of the tunnel, killing 9 men. On 24th May 1901, on the South Mine, 600 level, a fall of ground killed 6 men. One of the men, Harry Down, left 9 young children. Immediately , seriously allegations of neglect were hurled against the management. A miner had been sacked a few days previously for refusing to work in the area, which he said was unsafe. Lengthy court proceedings followed. (A poem was written which can be seen on Tales of Places and people on this website). On 16th June 1939, 4 men were killed on the South Mine, 900 level, by a fall of ground. Rescuers worked very hard, in great danger for 11.9 hours, to recover the bodies. Unlike coal mines, there are no inflammable gases in the local mines, so there has not been any explosions from gas. Fire has always been a serious problem, and a number of fire fighters have lost their lives from the smoke and fumes of underground fires. There has also been fatalities caused by gas explosions to men who have returned too quickly to the site of an explosion. CONTINUE |
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