James “Harry” Henry ANGWIN
Age at Death32
Date Of Death27 May 1911 : Reg Boulder 88/1911
Place Of BirthWallaroo, South Australia
OccupationShift Boss
Name Of Mine On Which Last Employed
Eclipse Mine (Eclipse-Croesus Mine) , Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia
Diagnosis or cause of accident
Preparing to fire loose rock off the hanging wall of a stope when the ground came away and killed Harry ANGWIN and Benjamin WILLIAMS.
Place Of Burial
Methodist Portion, Kalgoorlie Cemetery, Western Australia
Submitted by
Ian Hodkinson - Volunteer
MSW
Single
District
Kalgoorlie-Boulder
Cause of Death
Mine Accidents
Father
Henry ANGWIN - Married 1861 Penzance Cornwall, England
Mother
Ann (Anna) GRENFELL
Other Information
1911 'THE ECLIPSE MINING DISASTER', Kalgoorlie Western Argus, 30 May, p. 5
THE ECLIPSE MINING DISASTER.
The coroner (Mr. W. A. G. Walter) and a jury consisting of Messrs. J. Cawley (foreman), T. Conway and George Oliphant, held an inquiry on Friday into the cause of the death of Harry J. Angwin and Ben Williams, who were killed by a fall of earth in the Eclipse mine on Saturday last. Sergeant Goodridge conducted the inquiry. Mr. Randall appeared for the company, Mr. H. Glance for the Miners' Union, and Inspector Deeble for the Mines department. Dr. Irwin described the injuries sustained by the unfortunate men. In each case they were sufficient to cause death. Angwin was probably killed instantaneously.
Stanley George Henderson deposed that on Saturday last he was working the night shift on the 600 ft. level in the Eclipse mine. Deceased were in a leading stope preparing to bring down some bad ground. Angwin was in charge. He told witness to get him some clay. After witness got the clay Angwin started to charge a crack in the wall. Immediately after witness heard the ground cracking and he called "lookout!?' The two deceased ran and witness ran also. He heard the fall of ground and then Williams screamed. Witness and two shovellers went back to where Williams was under the stone. They tried to lift the stone but they could not. They had to get assistance. It took about 15 minutes to get him out. Angwin was lying under the hanging wall. There was no stone on him. Richard Ramsden, shoveller, deposed that when he went down he saw, deceased Williams on the rill. Williams told him not to come any further as the ground was loose. He further said He did not think they would be able to do any work there that night as it would take a long time to get it down. Williams told him to go and tell the boss. Witness went back and saw Angwin.
Angwin came in and had a look, and he then said, "I can bring this down." Williams said, "I can bring it down." He was ramming a charge in at the back when 50 tons of the hanging wall came away. It only gave one crack before coming away.
To Mr. Glance: The shift boss was coming in as I met him: He did not tell me it had already been reported. Janies Faulkner gave similar evidence.
Richard Curtie deposed that he tired three shots in the hanging wall on Friday evening, and this made about 40 ft. of it very bad. When Williams came down he pointed it. out to him. Williams said he would bar it down, and asked him to tell Angwin. He went up and told Angwin the ground was not fit to send truckers under. Angwin said he would go down at once.
.Joseph L. Polmear shift boss, deposed that he was on afternoon shift on, Friday, 19th inst. He visited the scene of the accident about 7.30, and it was then safe. About 11.30 Angwin came on, and he told him that firing was going on in the hanging-wall, and that he had better look at the place. About 12 Williams came for his candles, and Angwin told him to be very careful. Williams said he would keep an eye on the place. Both deceased were practical, careful men.
The jury returned a verdict of accidental death, no blame being attributable to anyone.
1911 'A DOUBLE FATALITY', Kalgoorlie Miner, 22 May, p. 4.
A DOUBLE FATALITY IN THE ECLIPSE MINE
Two victims were added on Saturday morning to the long list of
miners who have met with violent
deaths in the district — Shift boss
Harry Angwin, and a miner, Benja
min Williams, being killed in the
Eclipse mine.
When the Eclipse and the Croesus
Proprietary were amalgamated, it
was decided to make the connection
between the two shafts at 600 ft.
level, right through — there being a
difference of several feet between
the two drives. This was being done
by underhand mining, and served to
make the level from 16 ft. to 18 ft.
high, and about 12 ft. wide. The
afternoon shift fired before knock
ing off on Friday at midnight, and
when the shift boss, Mr. J. Polmear,
examined the place he saw that
there was a dangerous-looking crack
on the hanging-wall. He reported
this to Angwin, who was taking
charge of the relieving shift, and
advised that before anything was
done the ground should be made
safe. Angwin, accompanied by Wil-
liams and a trucker named Hender-
son, at once repaired to the place,
and he decided that the first thing
to be done was to bring down the
ground round the crack. He was
preparing a plug of dyna
mite to put in the crack,
when he, apparently, noticed the
ground coming away. He shouted,
'Look out! She's coming!' and
he tried to jump into a safe place,
but failed. A piece of rock struck
him on the shoulder and head and
apparently killed him on the spot,
for though thrown clear of the fall
he never moved again. Williams
apparently heard his boss' warning
shout, and he also tried to jump
into safety, but unfortunately failed
by a couple of feet. A heavy rock
which followed the piece which
struck Angwin fell across the lower
part of his body and pinned him
down. Those who have seen the
place since are unable to understand
how a man named Henderson man-
aged to escape. Though he did not
sustain even a scratch his shirt was
pulled out. He was standing beside
Angwin preparing the clay for the
shot, and his escape is looked upon
as providential.
The moment the ground fell the
men who were close by ran to the
assistance of their stricken mates.
When they picked Angwin up they
found he was beyond aid, so they
devoted all their attention to Wil-
liams. Though he realised that he
was very badly and, probably, mor-
tally injured, he displayed great for-
titude and explained what had oc-
curred. The stone which was pin-
ning him down was a heavy and
awkward one to lift, and it took,
probably, 20 minutes to -release him.
He was then carried to the plat,
where he collapsed. Several Boul-
der doctors had been rung up, and
Dr. Irwin. who was the first to ar
rive, made an examination. He
could not hold out any hope as he
thought Williams had been so seri-
ously injured internally that he
could not long survive. While be
ing hurried to Nurse Egan's Hos
pital he died.
Angwin was a single man and
lived with his mother near Golden
Gate. He was a native of Wal-
laroo, where he started mining, and
his experience since has extended
over the principal mining fields of
Australia. Williams was a Bendigo
native, a married man. with five
young children. For several years
past the world has not been treat-
ing him indulgently. He was badly
injured in one of the local mines
and was unable to follow his occu-
pation for over two years. He de-
veloped miners' complaint, and in
order to avert going below again he
tried his fortune at various modes of
livelihood, but his earnings were
scanty and precarious, and to pro-
vide for a helpless growing family
he was at length compelled to re-
turn to a mode of livelihood which,
at the very best, as he well knew,
would, if persisted in, shorten his
days. He paid up his union dues a
few days before his tragic death.
The coroner (Mr. W. A. G. Wal-
ter) and a jury opened an inquest on
Saturday. After the scene of the
accident had been inspected, the
coroner adjourned the inquiry till
Friday next at 11.30
The remains of the two men were
committed to the grave yesterday afternoon. The funerals were timed
to start at the one hour, but not
to the same cemetery. The mine
officials and men subscribed
for wreaths, and sent one
to each family. The staff ar
ranged that the manager, Mr. Waite,
and Mr. George Tynan- shift boss,
should represent the company at
Angwin's funeral, while the under
ground manager, Mr. A. Heine, and
Mr. Joseph Polmear, shift boss,
should perform a like duty at the
funeral of the other late employee.
Both funerals were largely attend-
ed. Angwin was connected with
the L.O.L., and a large muster of
the brethren assembled to pay a last
tribute to the memory of a departed
friend. The deceased was laid to rest
in the Kalgoorlie cemetery. The
Rev. A. W. Bray read the burial
service. A large muster of members
of the Miners' Union marched be-
fore the hearse which conveyed Wil-
liams remains to the Boulder ceme
tery. Senator Needham marched
with the executive. The pall-bear-
ers were, selected from the committee
of the Boulder branch of the union.
The Rev. A. J. Moyle read the
burial service. Both funerals were
conducted by Messrs. Goss and Co.
1911 'Advertising', The Evening Star, 20 May, p. 2.
FUNERAL NOTICES
The Friends of Mrs. ANNA ANGWIN are respectfully informed that the
remains of her late beloved youngest
Son (James Henry Angwin) who lost
his life in the Eclipse G.M., will be re-
moved from her residence (near Golden
Gate Railway Station), at 3 p.m. TOMORROW (SUNDAY, MAY 21, 1911),
for interment in the Methodist portion
of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery. I.W.
Goss and Co., undertakers, Piesse st.,
Boulder, 'Phone100
The Friends of Mr. and Mrs. THOS.
ANGWIN are respectfully informed that the
remains of their late beloved Brother
(James Henry) will be re-
moved from his late residence near Golden
Gate Station, at 3 p.m. TO-
MORROW (SUNDAY, MAY 21, 1911),
for interment in the Methodist portion
of the Kalgoorlie Cemetery.
The Friends of RICHARD, JOHN
and EDWARD ANGWIN are respect-
fully notified that the remains of their
late beloved Brother (James Henry)
will be removed from his late residence,
near Golden Gate Station, at 3 p.m.
TOMORROW (SUNDAY)for inter-
ment in the Methodist portion of the
Kalgoorlie Cemetery.
The Friends of Mr. and Mrs. W. H.
SCADDON are invited to follow the re-
mains of their late beloved Brother
(James Henry Angwin), which is ap-
pointed to be removed from his late
residence, near Golden Gate Railway
Station, at 3 p.m. TO-MORROW
(SUNDAY) for the Kalgoorlie Cemetery.
Members of the Orange Institution
are requested to attend the funeral of
their late brother (James Henry Ang-
win), which will leave his late resi-
dence, near Golden Gate Railway Sta-
tion, at 3 p.m. TOMORROW (SUN-
DAY) for the Kalgoorlie Cemetery.
By order, W.M.
1911 'THE BOULDER ABATTOIRS', Coolgardie Miner, 22 May, p. 2.
THE BOULDER ABATTOIRS ANOTHER KILLING
WHO IS TO BLAME
WHO PAYS THE COST
KALGOORLlE, Sunday.
At an early hour on Saturday morn-
ing, a fall of earth took place at the
Eclipse mine, Kalaroo, resulting in the
death of two miners, Harry Angwin
(shift boss), and Benjamin Wiliams.
The men were preparing to
bring away a quantity of loose earth
from the hanging wall in the No. 6
level, when a mass of earth estimated
at about 40 tons came away unexpectedly.
Angwin was completely
buried, and some hours elapsed before
his body could be recovered. Williams
was pinned to the ground by a huge
rock, and when rescued was still alive,
but the unfortunate man expired while
being conveyed to the hospital.
An inquest was opened yesterday
morning before the Coroner (Mr. W.
A. G. Walters, R.M.) and a jury. After
formal evidence had been given,
the enquiry was adjourned until the
26th inst.
1911 'DECEASED PERSONS' ESTATES', Kalgoorlie Miner, 9 June, p. 5.
DECEASED PERSONS’ ESTATE
James Henry Angwin (otherwise James Angwin), late of Kallaroo, near Boulder, miner, to Edward Angwin £1287.