Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 – 1946), Saturday 6 April 1907, page 39
MINING FATALITY.
A shocking mining accident, resulting in the death of three men— Owen Owens, Peter Andreoli, and Vincent Cattaneo occurred at the Northern Company’s Waroonga mine, Lawlers, on April 3. Just as the cage, containing the three men. was being raised above the No. 2 level it tilted, jammed them against the timber, and threw them out. Andreoli’s body was recovered, but the other two men fell to the bottom of the shaft, where, owing to the recent floods, there is a good depth of water.
It is supposed that the accident Is due to Andreoli’s shoulder striking against the cap piece of No. 1 plat, just as the cage was above that level.
Memorial Sculpture at the Lawlers Cemetery to remember the three men who were killed on the 3rd April 1907
Close up of plaque.
The Victims:-
ANDREOLI Pietro d 3 April 1907, Waroonga GM, Lawlers, Aged 34 years, Cause:- fell down mine shaft from cage, Father:- Stefano ANDREOLI (Carpenter) Born Leglio Italy Mine Accident www.wavmm.com
CATTANEO Vizenso (Vincent) d 3 April 1907, Waroonga GM, Lawlers, Aged 24 years,
Occ Miner, killed by falling down shaft from cage, Father:- Belista CATTANEO, Mother:- Rosa BUSCA, Born Mazzo di Valtellina ITALY Mine Accident:- www.wavmm.com
This memorial is on a family headstone in Mazzo Italy.
OWENS Owen Age 47 Miner 3/04/1907 Waroonga GM Agnew Buried – Lawlers
Kalgoorlie Miner (WA : 1895 – 1950), Friday 5 April 1907, page 4
LAWLERS MINING FATALITY.
THREE MENS LIVES LOST
On Wednesday morning at 8 o’clock the most serious accident, ever recorded in the Lawlers district occurred at the Waroonga mine, 5 miles from Lawlers, and resulted in the death of three miners— Owen Owens, a Welshman, Peter Andreoli and Vince Catteano.
The men were working on night shift. Owens and Cattaneo were at the bottom level, and Andreoli at the No. 1 level. At the change of shifts the cage was lowered, and Owens and Cattaneo were hoisted to tho No. 1 level, where the cage stopped for Andreoli. Andreoli. gave the signal to hoist to the surface. When tho cage started he had his shoulder leaning out, and it apparently struck a cap piece. His back was broken by the force of the blow, and he was hurled into the cage, striking and knocking out of the cage Owens and Cattaneo, who fell to the bottom of the shaft a distance of 400 ft. or 500 ft. into water of a depth of 100 ft.
The engine driver (W. Simmons) on finding something wrong stopped the cage, and Comensoli, the fourth man, called out that an accident had happened, and told him to haul to the surface. When the cage reached the surface Andreoli was found dead on the floor. Comensoli had a miraculous escape. Owens and Cattaneo, in falling out of the cage, were hurled from side to side of the shaft and literally smashed to pieces.
Immediately on receipt of the news Warden Clifton proceeded to tho scene and gave instructions for an enquiry. The following jury were impanelled : — Messrs. J. A. Deepness (foreman), William McHugh and H. Branson. Superintendent Allen represented the Northern Mines, Ltd., and Mr. Dawson the Lawlers Miners Union of Workers. The jury viewed the body and tho scene of the accident, and adjourned till the other bodies are found. The foreman of the mine, Mr, Campbell, has stopped work with the exception of baling with the view to rescuing the bodies.
About midday, a portion of a leg (from the knee down) was brought to the surface. It was thought to have belonged to, Cattaneo, and at about 11 p.m. his body was recovered. The leg missing was found sticking in the timber of the shaft at 550 ft level. Owens was a married man, his wife and family living at Ballarat East; he was employed on the mine for seven or eight weeks. Cattaneo was a single man, and had been on the mine for three months. Andreoli was also single, and had resided in the district for five or six years.
The water in the shaft was reduced to 50 ft. this morning with tho pumps in good order, but it will take two days to bale the water out as there is a great deal of crosscutting below the level of the water.
