Murchison Times and Day Dawn Gazette, Wednesday 18 March 1896, page 2
TERRIBLE MINING ACCIDENT
THREE MEN DROWNED. NEW CHUM FLOODED.
MINE MOUNT MAGNET INUNDATED
A great shock was given to our community last night when it became known that the New Chum mine was flooded and that several miners had lost their lives. Drizzling rain commenced to fall early on Sunday night and Monday morning broke with a fairly clear atmosphere, The mail coach arrived a little late owing to heavy rain between Chain Pump and Yoweragabbie, but there were no indications of a further downpour. Just about four o’clock, however, heavy clouds that had drifted up from the west of Mount Magnet broke over the town and a perfect deluge ensued. The country for miles was quickly inundated.
New Chum GM Mt Magnet, Murchison
Every depression became a lake and the town became impassable. A perfect river was formed between the main street and Ferryman’s hotel. Stores, hotels and private houses were unapproachable. The phenomenal rainfall had the sad effect of causing the death of three men. The New Chum Mine, known as one of our best and most consistent gold producers on the Murchison, was flooded by a sudden inrush of water. The water poured down a gully in a torrent and quickly filled the lower workings. Six men at work hastily scrambled up the ladder, but three of them were washed back, while a fourth reached the top more dead than alive. The water poured into the shaft from the northwest, and spread all over the lease like a turbulent sea, rising 100ft. in the shaft. The boiler fires were extinguished and rescue work was practically out of the question. The three victims were—
WIlliam CAMPBELL (single) Age 23 from Mittagong NSW
Roger COOK (married) aged 34 from Durham, Northumberland ENGLAND
Arthur Henry DANIELS (single,) from Linton, Ballarat Victoria
George Henderson (from Mittagong NSW), one of the other miners at work, had a narrow escape. He was almost overcome by the terrific rush of water and had the utmost difficulty in retaining a foothold. He got on the surface eventually and was welcomed back as one from the dead. Henderson was working in the lowest level, he climbed up to the No. 2 level and was extremely exhausted, but his mate, Campbell, failed in the attempt and fell into the rapidly rising water. Daniels and Cook rushed into the shaft from a drive, imagining the cage was there, and, falling to the No. 3 level, were drowned. It is alleged that there were no ladders between the No. 2 and No. 3 levels. Mr Williams, the manager, is very reticent, and will not volunteer any statement.
None of the bodies have yet been recovered. The official telegram which Warden Lowley has courteously placed at our disposal is as follows—”At 8:80 last evening phenomenal rainfall occurred here, surface water flooding shaft. All men were rescued but three, whom we have no hopes of. Everything is done to clear the mine of water! At present 100ft. of shaft is full. Battery fires extinguished. Tailings dam carried away. —”
Chums Consols Mt Magnet
The details of the three men drowned are William Campbell, of Mittagong, N.S.W., Arthur Daniels, of Linton, Ballarat, Victoria; and Roger Cook, of Newcastle, N.S.W. The last mentioned leaves a wife and child. George Henderson, of Mittagong, N.S.W., was rescued and is recovering rapidly.
Note:- From the above article and others, it would appear that all three men are buried in the Mt Magnet Cemetery, although I have no record of them in that register. It would mean confirmation from the death certificates of all three. For now, I have added them to the Mt Magnet Cemetery for now but I will try to make sure.
