Rosewood History

Westvale Colliery 3rd June 1938

ACCIDENTS IN LOCAL MINES

Timothy Hayes 8 /10/1885 – Walloon.
Killed. Falling down a shaft 133 feet in depth. Son of Patrick Hayes & Margaret nee Murphy.
MAN KILLED AT WALLOON. A fatal accident happened at the Walloon Coal-mine, on Thursday last, to a young man named. Timothy Hayes, a new arrival. It appears that the proprietors of the mine are sinking a shaft to the depth of 200ft., and are now down something like 133ft. Hayes was employed in receiving and emptying buckets on the top as they arrived, being drawn up by the engine.

All went well until Thursday, when Hayes gave the signal to lower the bucket which was above him, so as to give him time to run the safety trolley over the shaft, which covers the whole of the shaft mouth, and to place a smaller one on top of that to receive the bucket. Through some misjudgment of his own, instead of placing the bucket fairly, he put it too much on one side. It’s canting and his trying to rectify it, all being on one side of the safety trolley, caused this to move, and leave a gap for the unfortunate fellow to fall through. There were two miners working below at the time, and, hearing the rush of water from above, they moved to a secure place, when, to their horror, they saw the lifeless body. The engineer having blown the alarm-whistle, no time was lost in bringing the body to the surface, and wiring information to the head police station at Ipswich.

A telegram was sent from the police in Ipswich to the officer in charge at Rosewood, instructing him to obtain a magistrate’s order for burial, to have an inquiry instituted, and to communicate with the Inspector of Mines. Hayes had been employed on the works for about seven weeks, and, being a steady and industrious young man, soon made many friends.. Work was at once suspended, and will continue so until Monday, as a token of respect for the deceased, as well as to allow the miners and others to attend his funeral, which took place yesterday, at 3 p.m., and was largely attended.
[Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Saturday, 10 October 1885, page 7]

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4/2/1893 – Seven men drowned in the Eclipse Colliery disaster.
ECLIPSE COLLIERY DISASTER – One of the most lamentable occurrences in connection with the unprecedented flood is undoubtedly that which happened at the Eclipse Colliery, at Tivoli, commonly know as Mr. John Wright’s. On Saturday morning last there seemed very little likelihood of the water surrounding the pit in the morning, and the men, from what we have been able to learn, went down into the workings. The water, however, subsequently rose with such remark-able rapidity that the mine was very soon flooded; Seven miners were drowned, their names being Thomas Wright (family of three), George Wright (one in family), Patrick McQuade (four in family), John McQuade (son of the last named), Matthew Culbertson (family of eight), Armand Smart (four in family), and Charles Walker (family of seven). Five other men who were down the mine at the time fortunately escaped with their lives. 

Patrick M’Carthy, one of the survivors, said: “I was not permanently employed at the mine. On Saturday morning Mr. Wright sent a little boy to my place, and also to my brother’s, to ask us to come and assist the men already employed at the mine. Mr. Wright instructed my brother, me, and Ted to go to a tunnel and remove rails. There was not a great quantity of water in this tunnel, and we did not consider it to be dangerous. When we had been at work for about 20 minutes the slip occurred, and my brother gave the alarm, and we managed escape with some difficulty. We were completely exhausted when we reached the top. To tell the truth, I hardly know how I got up, for the tunnel, when we were scrambling out, was like an exploded gun. We had no lights, our lamps having been blown out. My brother’s hands were cut with gravel and debris which were sent up the tunnel.” The narrator, pointing to some holes in the ground, said that they had been dug by the sorrowing women whose husbands were underneath.
[Telegraph, Saturday, 11 February 1893, page 3]

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John Rea 1894 – Caledonian (Walloon)
Injured. Fractured arm. Caught by wire rope when unwinding it from the drum.

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George Towson 17/12/1898 – Walloon
Injured. Struck on elbow.
ACCIDENT AT A COAL MINE. A young man named George Towson, aged 19 years, a miner, employed at the Walloon Colliery, was admitted into the Ipswich Hospital on Saturday, suffering from a wound on the right elbow. The injury resulted from his being accidentally struck on the elbow with a pick used by a miner working next to him. The injury was attended to, and the patient is now doing well.
[Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Tuesday 20 December 1898, page 4]

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Henry Appleton 17/11/1900 – Walloon
Died 18/12/1900. Son of John Appleton and Ann nee Haswell. Back injured (fatal). Fall of stone. He had taken down top coal and commenced to work in face, when a piece of stone fell on him.
SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT WALLOON – Another mining accident occurred on Saturday morning, this time at Walloon (about four miles from Ipswich), when a man named Henry Appleton met with very serious injuries. A quantity of earth and stone became dislodged from the roof of one of the mines and fell on top of Appleton, who was working underneath. Dr. Flynn was immediately sent for, and he attended to the man’s injuries. Appleton was then conveyed by train to Ipswich and taken to the hospital in the ambulance litter. The unfortunate man was suffering from a fractured spine and other injuries from the lower part of his body upwards. Appleton is 42 years of age, and is a married man with several children. He resides at Bundamba, and had been working at the mine at Walloon for only about three weeks.
[Brisbane Courier, Monday 19 November 1900, page 6]

THE WALLOON MINING FATALITY – Today Mr. H. T. Macfarlane, Mining Warden, sat at the Ipswich Police Court to Inquire into the circumstances attending the death of Henry Appleton, a miner, who died in the Ipswich Hospital on the 18th December from injuries received by him when working at the Caledonian mine, Walloon. Messrs. J. Richards, A. Binnie, J. Morris, and W. Morris acted as assessors, and the inquiry was conducted by Mr. W. Fryar, Government Inspector. The evidence of William Stephenson, the manager of the mine, Arthur Richardson, who was working with the deceased at the time of the occurrence and George Hunter, a miner who helped to rescue Appleton, went to show that the man was working in a tunnel when he was crushed by a fall of stone from the roof, and sustained fracture of the spine, with injury to the spinal cord, causing paralysis of the lower part of tho body. His condition was hopeless, and he died at the hospital. The evidence disclosed the fact that the tunnel had been properly inspected before the men went to work, and that deceased’s mate had himself tested the roof before starting. The finding of the court was that Appleton was killed by a fall of stone from a “slip” which was accidental, and that no blame be attached to anyone.
[Brisbane Courier, Tuesday, 29 January 1901, page 6]

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William Davis 9/12/1901 – Caledonian (Walloon)
Injured. Flesh wounds. Fall of coal etc. A small band of stone which separates the bands of coal fell, striking his brow.
MINING ACCIDENT AT WALLOON. A miner named William Davis, employed at Walloon, was injured through a fall of stone yesterday. It seems that he had only been at work about half-an-hour when a big lump of the material became detached from the roof and struck him above the eye, inflicting a large and very ugly lacerated wound which let the eyebrow right down over the eye. He was brought to Ipswich and admitted to the Hospital, where he is now under treatment.
[Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Tuesday, 10 December 1901, page 4]

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Charles William Carey 19/06/1902 – Caledonian (Walloon)
Injured. Leg broken. Slipped when uncoupling trucks.
ACCIDENT AT THE WALLOON MINES – Mr. C. W. CAREY, a workman employed at the pit-head at the Caledonian coal mine, Walloon, met with a nasty accident on Thursday last. It appears that he was shifting some trucks at the pit-head, and had uncoupled the first one, when the others collided with it, crushing him so severely that his left leg was broken. He was brought to Ipswich and admitted into the Hospital late in the afternoon. He is now progressing very satisfactorily.
[Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Saturday, 21 June 1902, page 9]

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George Hodgson Towson 19/01/1904 – Caledonian (Walloon)
Killed. Fall of stone in face of room. Son of Robert Towson and Euphemia Grieve nee Rutherford
FATAL MINING ACCIDENT – A regrettable accident occurred at the Caledonian coal-mine, Walloon on Tuesday morning, resulting in the death of a married man named George Towson. From the meagre particulars we have been able to glean, it appears that a quantity of earth fell on the unfortunate man, causing a compound fracture of his skull. A telegram was sent to Ipswich for surgical aid, but, on the arrival of the doctor summoned, he found life to be extinct. The deceased leaves a widow and one child. [Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Thursday 21 January 1904, page 4]

Magisterial Inquiry 

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Wilhelm Karl Gottfried Federer  6/05/1905 – Caledonian.
Killed. When wedging down some top coal, some of the roof came away from a cutter. Son of Eberhard Federer and Albertine nee Klewe.
FATAL COLLIERY ACCIDENT AT WALLOON – A fatal accident occurred at the Caledonian Colliery, Walloon, on Saturday last, the victim being a miner named William C. E. Federer, aged 26 years. It appears that he was working in a room by himself, and at about 9 o’clock his wheeler, a youth named Michael McGrath, who had just taken away a full truck of coal, returned to call him to breakfast.

Meantime a miner, working in the next room, heard a fall and mentally remarked, ” That will save someone a lot of trouble.” On entering the room, however, Federer was found lying dead, pinned under a fall of stone weighing three or for tons. We understand that he had been previously informed that the place was dangerous. Death was instantaneous, the skull of the deceased being fractured, and Dr. Von Lossberg, Government health officer, who was summoned, gave the necessary certificate.

The deceased leaves a widow and two children. His funeral, which took place on Sunday, was very largely attended. Mr. R. Hunter, district inspector of mines, has since made an inspection of the place. A magisterial inquiry concerning the fatality will be held in due course.
[Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Tuesday 9 May 1905, page 9]

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William Harrold 18/05/1906 – Caledonian Colliery (Walloon)
Injured. Jammed his fingers when tipping a wagon.

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James Stirling  28/11/1906 – Caledonian (Walloon)
Injured. A piece of roof fell, injuring one hand.
ACCIDENTS – Yesterday, whilst working in the Caledonian Colliery at Walloon, Mr. Jas. Stirling, 40 years of ago, a married man, received an injury to the back of his right hand as the result of a fall of stone. He came to Ipswich, and preceded to the ambulance station, at North Ipswich, where the bearers in attendance rendered first aid, and advised the sufferer to consult a doctor. [Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, Thursday, 29 November 1906, page 9]

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John Lergesner 17/2/1909 – Caledonian (Walloon)
Injured. Fall of stone. Some roof stone fell from two slips and fractured some ribs.
MINING ACCIDENT – While working in the Caledonian Colliery, Walloon, about 1 p.m , a collier, John Lergesner was injured by a fall of stone from the roof of the workings. The ambulance bearers were wired for, and, in response to the message, they were soon at the scene of the accident. After rendering temporary assistance, they conveyed the patient to Ipswich Hospital, where he was detained for treatment. The injured man is a resident of Walloon, is married, and is 45 years of age.
[Queensland Times, Thursday, 18 February 1909, page 3]

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Tom Haley 7-11 July 1913 – Caledonian (Walloon)
MINING MANAGER HURT – A very serious mishap occurred at Walloon this week in the Caledonian Mine. The damage to limb was bad as it is, but how the underground manager escaped with his life at all is a nothing short of a miracle. It appears that part of the haulage is, or rather was done by an endless wire rope. The full waggons running down hill cause the empty waggons to be hauled up to the top by a wire hauser travelling round a drum placed at the head of the working. By some means or other this drum was draged from its pivot, and the wire was carried down by both empty and full waggons at great speed, and with much force, carrying away pit props, timber, and everything before it, including the unfortunate injured one, whose name is Tom Haley, a married man. He was drawn some distance, and suffered a fractured shoulder and terrible bruises, as may well be supposed. Some 30 tons of stone, etc., caved in on the exact spot where Haley was drawn from. The ” fall” would have killed him instantaneously had he not become entangled and drawn down. How he escaped as lightly as he did is an unexplained mystery. The manager did all he could to alleviate the pour sufferer’s pains, and medical aid was at once resorted to. (Rosewood Register & Marburg Mail Friday, 11 July 1913)

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Charles George Bailey  26/9/16 – Westvale.
Killed. He was cleaning up a fall, the resulting cavity being full of gas, another fall drove the gas down onto his open light. He was so severely burned by the ensuing explosion that he died in hospital. Son of George Bailey and Mary Ann nee Wilkins.

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Percy Bruce – 21/1/1919 – Caledonian
Percy Bruce met with a painful accident while at work at the Caledonian mine. Through the fall of a mass of stone he sustained severe cuts on his back and leg. He was conveyed to his home.

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William John Hardie  6/08/1920 – Caledonian (Walloon)
Residing in Walloon. Killed. A quantity of stone weighing about 15 cwt. came away from a series of slips in the roof, and falling on Hardie killed him. Son of John Stodart Hardie and Johanna Mary nee Haley.
A MINER KILLED – ACCIDENT AT WALLOON – William Hardie, aged 20 years, was killed at the Caledonian Colliery, Walloon, this morning as the result of being struck by a falling stone The deceased was sitting at the face, when a large stone, about 4ft square, 15in thick, and weighing about 15cwt., slipped from a series of faults and fell on him, death being instantaneous. Hardie’s mate, a miner named J. List, who was working about three yards away, was not injured. Prior to the fatality the faults from which the stone slipped were not discernible. The deceased’s father (Mr John Hardie) is at present opening up a colliery at Rosewood.
[Brisbane Courier, Saturday, 7 August 1920, page 7]

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Mr. G. Dowe  21/12/20 – Blackheath Colliery
Injured. G. Dowe from Rosewood sustained a fracture of the great toe through a fall of stone.

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Hermann Albert Argow  2/051922 – Caledonian (Walloon)
Died 3/05/1922. Son of Mehelm Argow and Agnes nee Meitzel.

William Pattison 2 /05/1922 – Caledonian (Walloon).
Killed. While engaged in re-timbering an old level in proximity to old workings, a quantity of gas came in contact with their open lights and ignited, severely burning both men. They died as a result of the injuries received 9/05/1922.        Inquiry   

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Frank Gunthorpe – 31/1/1923 – Westvale Colliery
Mr. Frank Gunthorpe was inspecting his mine, when a fall of stone occurred, and he had a narrow escape, the stone injuring the tissued around his knee.

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Patrick Bernard Farrell – 4/1/1924 – Normanton Colliery
Mr. P. B. Farrell (miner) met with an accident at Mr. Boughen’s Normanton colliery. Whilst hewing coal, a piece broke off and struck him in the eye. He received medical attention and was ordered to Brisbane for further attention.

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James Wilks – 5/03/1924
Mr. Jas. Wilks, of Rosewood, who is employed at the Thagoona coal mine, sustained selous injuries to his leg on Wednesday through a fall of stone. He was conveyed to his home, where he received medical attention

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H. Hawkins – 15/9/1925 – Lanefield Colliery
Mr. H. Hawkins, employed at the Lanefield Colliery was with a number of other men who were was engaged in lifting some planks when one of these fell heavily on his foot, causing severe bruises.

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William Brown – 10/08-1927 – Caledonian
Injured. At noon, the Ambulance was summoned to the Caledonian mine, Walloon, to treat a miner, William Brown, a resident of Rosewood. He was suffering from an injury to his abdomen and left hip, due to a fall of coal from the roof. The Ambulance brought him to Rosewood under the orders.of Dr. Wallace, who further treated him.

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Roy Collett – 22/06/1928  Lanefield Colliery
Injured. When engaged at his work attended Lanefield Colliery, Mr. Roy Collett, a married man was hit on the knee by a piece of steel which pierced the clothing and skin and became imbedded. After an X-ray examination, an operation was performed in Ipswich, and the steel was removed.

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Norman Boughen – 1/5/1929 – Normanton Colliery (Rosewood)
Injured. Norman Boughen, a miner, employed as a motor driver at the Normanton Colliery and a son of Mr John Boughen, was driving the engine which pulls the trolleys from the pit to the new loading stage when it capsized, pinning him underneath. He sustained serious injuries and suffered severe shock. He was attended by Dr. Wallace before the Ipswich Ambulance conveyed him to the hopspital. After X-rays his arm and collarbone were found to be fractured in 24 places, and 20 stitches were put in a scalp wound. Norman made a good recovery.

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A. Zandia 4/12/1929 – Westvale
Injured. While holing coal a piece of the stone band in the seam fell and caused a fracture of the shin bone.

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William Melville 13/11/1930 – Ardath Colliery, Lanefield
Killed. While bailing water an ignition of petrol which was floating on the top of the water) took place, causing burns to his face, arms and legs, from which he died the following day.
Burns over almost the whole of his body, both arms, face, and neck, and both thighs, were received by Wm. Melville, married, miner, residing at Walsh-street. Ipswich, this morning, at about 8.40 o’clock. It appears that Melville, in company with Mr. Geo. Lawrie, of Ipswich, was engaged in sinking a new shaft at the Ardath Colliery, near the Lanefield Colliery, Rosewood. They had gone down the shaft about 50ft., where a pit engine was placed at the bottom of the shaft, for the purpose of pumping operations. During the night some petrol had leaked out of the tank of the engine, and water having accumulated the petrol spread over the surlace of the water. It is tmderstood that both men were carrying naked lights. Melville was nearest to the water, when, without warning, an explosion occurred. Lawrie was fortunate in escaping with only his eyebrows being burned, but Melville was badly injured. [Brisbane Courier, Friday 14 November 1930, page 5]     Inquiry

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Alex. Lawrie & Alexander McGregor 13/12/1930 – Ardath Colliery, Lanefield
Two men buried under a fall of earth – Survived
Buried under a fall of earth, estimated at 40 or 50 tons, Mr. Alex. Lawrie, one of the best known colliery proprietors in the district, and an employee, Alexander McGregor. had a miraculous escape from death about 5.30 o’clock in the afternoon at the Ardath Colliery, close to Lanefield railway station.

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Herbert Walter Kuss  23/10/1931 – Westvale No 3
Injured. Knelt on a piece of coal at the face, causing an injury to his knee. He died as a result of he wound becoming septic on 3/11/1931.
The death occurred at the Ipswich General Hospital on Tuesday afternoon, of Mr. Herbert Walter Kuss, of Rosewood. The late Mr. Kuss, who was 25 years of age, was admitted to the Ipswich Hospital on October 29. suffering from septic poisoning and lung trouble, which developed into double pneumonia. 

He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Kuss, of Tallegalla, where he spent his boyhood years. After his marriage to Miss Agnes Coleman, of Rosewood, he made his home in Rosewood. He was engaged in the mining industry for several years, being an employee of Westvale Colliery. Beside his young widow, he leaves two small children. The funeral took place on Wednesday at the Ipswich Cemetery, and was attended by many residents of the Rosewood district. 

The service at the graveside was conducted by Pastor L. Larsen, of the Rosewood Church of Christ, also Rev. Pfeffer, of the Lanefield Baptist Church. Members of the Rosewood P.A.F.S.O.A. (of which the late Mr. Kuss was a member) attended the funeral, the officers present being Bros. F. Lacey (Secretary), Hughes (P.W.M.). J. F. Rea (W.M.), and Brooks. The lodge service was read by Bro. E. C. Stanley, W.D.M. 

Westvale Colliery ceased work on Wednesday, and was largely represented at the funeral. Mr. Victor Kuss, a brother of the deceased, lives at Rosewood.  [Queensland Times, Saturday, 7 November 1931, page 14]

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John Anthony Liddell  5/03/1935 – Rosewood
Injured shoulder. Caused by a fall of stone.

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John Trewick  27/08/1935 – Normanton Colliery
Killed. Caught under an overturned skip.
John Trewick was fatally injured when caught under an overturned skip at the Normanton colliery, Rosewood. He was attending skips which convey the coal from the pithead to the loading stage about a mile distant. A set of skips were being spragged when they broke loose, and rushing down the incline left the line. In an endeavour to stay them, Trewick was caught under the overturning skips. An employee who saw the accident rushed to his assistance, and levered the skip to extricate him, but Trewick was so severely injured that he died in a few minutes. Deceased, who was a native of Wales, was 68 years of age. He had lived in Rosewood for several years. His son, Mr. Syd. Trewick, is part owner and manager of the colliery. Mr. Syd. Trewick was absent in Ipswich at the time. Deceased’s wife and daughter reside at Southport. [Courier-Mail, Wednesday 28 August 1935, page 14]

John Trewick, a married man, 68 years of age, of Rosewood, was killed almost instantly on the trolley line about 200yds. from the Normanton Colliery to-day. The late Mr. Trewick was a part-ner in the Normanton Colliery, with his son Mr. Syd Trewick, and Messrs. John and Leonard Boughen. The mine is situated near Rosewood, some dis-tance from the loading stage, where the coal skips are emptied into rail-way trucks after having been hauled from the mine by horses. Mr. Trewick was regulating the skips before letting them down when it is sur-mised that they must have got out of control and in his efforts to stop them he somehow became jammed between two lots of skips, which piled up, pinning him beneath. Mr. G. Wyatte, who was working some distance away, heard the noise of the racing skips and hurrying to the spot with Mr. H. Boughen, he found Mr. Trewick pinned beneath the waggon. The alarm was given quickly, and Sergeant Scanlan, Dr. Wallace, Constable Appleby, and others were quickly on the scene. The unfortunate man was quickly released, but death appeared to have been instantaneous. The body was removed to the home of his son, where a post mortem examination was conducted by Dr. Wallace. In addition to his son, Mr. Syd. Trewick, of Rosewood, the late Mr. Trewick is survived by his wife and one daughter, Miss Mary, who live at Southport. [Queensland Times, Wednesday 28 August 1935, page 6]

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A. Zandia  29/07/1937 –  Rosewood
Injured foot caused by a fall of stone.

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ACCIDENT 40 Men Entombed for Several Hours. 3/06/1938 – Westvale Colliery

Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 – 1954), Saturday 4 June 1938, page 1
40 CUT OFF IN MINE – Runaway Skips Block Exit – ALL BROUGHT UP SAFELY
FORTY men were entombed in a Rosewood coal mine  for nearly three hours yesterday afternoon, but for the greater part of the time they did not know the main shaft had been blocked.

They continued working, and eventually made their escape in an improvised cradle up a 70ft air shaft. The accident occurred at the Westvale Colliery, three miles from Rosewood, where a runaway string of seven coal skips careered down the shaft, crashed into a supporting post, and caused the roof of the shaft to collapse. Twenty tons of earth fell in and completely blocked the shaft. The manager of the mine (Mr. C. Stewart) was one of those cut off, and his 14-year-old son, Willie, saw the accident happen. The boy waited anxiously for three hours at the top of the air shaft until his father, the last man to leave the mine, was safely on the surface.

A string of nine skips, each carrying 8cwt of coal, was almost to the top of the pit head at 1.30 p.m. when the coupling between the second and third broke, and the seven free ones ran backwards down the shaft at a terrific speed, enveloped in a dense cloud of dust. 

A trailer behind the last skip, a safety device to stop runaway trucks, dug into the ground, but pulled free, and the trucks continued for about 50 yards before they struck the post.

The miner who had taken the skips to the foot of the shaft saw the roof cave in, 70ft. below the surface, and his exit and that of the other miners inside blocked. He immediately went farther into the mine to tell the manager, who. with the miners, was working about a mile from the foot of the shaft. None of them knew that he was cut off. Mr. Stewart, realising that there might be a panic if the men thought they were in danger, did not enlighten them, but allowed them to continue their shift. He inspected the blockage, realised that it would be impossible to clear it for several hours, and telephoned his deputy (Mr. A. Pocock) on the surface to rig ropes in the ventilation shaft, to allow the men to make their escape by it. When the men finished their shift at 3 p.m., Mr. Stewart calmly informed them of the blockage, as, one by one, they came to the foot of the shaft.

He told them there was no danger, and that they would soon be on the surface again, via the air shaft. “I thought that was the best way,” he said last night. “The men took it quite calmly, and while they waited, they simply smoked and told yarns.”

When the rope and a windlass had been rigged and tested in the 4ft. by 4ft. ventilation shaft, the first man took his place on the cradle at the end of the rope. He was taken safely to the surface and then, one by one, the other men were hauled to the top. There was not a hitch. 

Manager Last
Having seen all his men safely to the surface, Mr. Stewart, last of the entombed men, stepped from the cradle to the ground about 4.15. His son was the first to greet him. 

The son is well known in Brisbane as a singer, and has won several prizes at eisteddfods. When nine years of age he won the ‘Australian Natives’ Association solo for boys under 12. He was spending the day with his father, and saw the string of skips run down the shaft “like a flash.” “Then,” he said, “there was a cloud of dust, and it was impossible to see anything for half an hour. I soon learned that father was safe, but still I was anxious until he was with me again.”

The mining warden (Mr. G. A. Cameron) and police from Rosewood visited the mine in the afternoon. The clearing of the, shaft will begin at 7 a.m. to-day, and the mine will be working at its capacity of 70 tons a day by Monday.

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Michael Crane O’Donnell  7/10/1944 – Lowfield No 2
Killed

Thomas Evans  7/10/1944 – Lowfield No 2
Injured

MAN KILLED BY FALL OF EARTH AT LOWFIELD No. 2 MINE  – Michael Crane O’Donnell, 30, married, Lanefield road, Rosewood, was killed, and Thomas Evans, Albert street, Rosewood, was slightly injured when a fall of earth occurred in an old tunnel at Lowfield No. 2 Colliery, on the Minden Range, about 10 a.m. on Saturday. The men were engaged in removing timbering from a disused tunnel and were working between 30 and 40 yards from the mouth when portion of the roof gave way. Both of the men were covered by the loamy earth, but Evans managed to free himself and frantically removed the debris from his workmate’s head.

“Can you breathe, Mick?” asked Evans, who continued to remove the earth in an attempt to free O’Donnell.

Soon after O’Donnell had assured his mate that he was alive, a second fall occurred, completely smothering him. Evans rushed for assistance, but time was lost because the nearest telephone is some distance from the mine.

News of the accident quickly spread to other mines, and it was not long before a crowd of about 100 had gathered to assist in removing the earth.

In the meantime, Sgt. N. F. Aspinall, stationed at Rosewood, got a team of experienced men together and went to the mine, but by this time the body had been recovered. Artificial respiration was applied until the arrival of the Mines Rescue Squad, under Superintendent M. Crozier, from Booval. Oxygen was administered, but with no result.

When Supt. Crozier received word about 10.30 a.m., he added to his party of six rescue workers, four miners who were in the vicinity of the station, and four soldiers who willingly agreed to his suggestion that they should accompany the squad to Rosewood, although they, being strangers, did not have the slightest idea where the mine was located.

The mine is owned by Mr. W. M. Haenke, of  Ipswich, but it was being worked on tribute by Messrs. E. Petie and Rule Bros. It produces about 80 tons of coal per day.

The body of O’Donnell, who left a widow and one child, was brought to the Ipswich Hospital Morgue on Saturday afternoon by the Mines Rescue party. A post mortem showed that death was due to asphyxia by suffocation. The late Mr. O’Donnell, who was the son of Mr. and Mrs. E. O’Donnell, Lanefield, was buried in the Ipswich Cemetery yesterday, after a service at St. Brigid’s Roman Catholic Church Rosewood. The cortege was one of the largest that has yet passed through Ipswich, and consisted at well over 200 vehicles. Many miners and mine owners were among the mourners for the victim of the first mining disaster in the Rosewood district for about 20 years.

All sections of the business community of Rosewood were represented. It was over 20 min. after the arrival of the coffin at the grave before the burial service, conducted by Father O’Rourke, of Rosewood, began, as it took that time for all the mourners to assemble at the graveside.The Rosewood Citizens’ Band, composed largely of miners, played the hymn, “I Am Praying for You,” at the graveside.
[Queensland Times, Monday, 9 October 1944, page 2]

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K. McCarthy  7 /10/ 1947 – Rosewood Colliery
K. McCarthy, miner, of Woodend, suffered abrasions and contusions to his right leg when he was struck by a skip of coal at the Rosewood Colliery where he is employed. After treatment at the Ipswich Hospital he was allowed to return home.

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Vincent James Hanson  4/12/1947 – Rosewood No 2           MINER KILLED AT ROSEWOOD

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E. Berlin 10/2/1948  Glencoe Colliery
E. Berlin, single, miner, suffered lacerated and contused wounds to his right leg when he was struck by a fall of coal at the Glencoe Colliery, Rosewood. He resided in Mill-street, Rosewood

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Patrick Johnson  28/02/1949 Mountain View Colliery
Injured. Pat Johnson was buried to above his shoulders in a five-ton fall of roof at the Mountain View (Rosewood) Colliery. He was an inmate of the Ipswich Hospital in a satisfactory condition suffering from abrasions to the back and shoulders, concussion, and shock. He lived in Albert-street, Rosewood.

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Thomas Pocock 13/6/51- Neithe Colliery
A falling 50 lb. rock critically injured a miner in Neither colliery, two miles from Rosewood .It crashed from the mine ceiling 10 minutes after a gelignite explosion. The miner, Thomas Pocock , married, of Rosewood, a deputy at the mine, received severe head injuries, a fractured jaw and face lacerations.

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Sidney Lyle Trewick 15/7/51 – Normanton Colliery No. 1 (Manager and part-owner.)
Injured. Broke right leg in a fall of coal. This was his second mine accident. The year before he broke his left leg when he fell off a staging at Normanton Colliery, resulting in him having a slight limp from that accident.         Mining Inquiry

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Herbert Embrey 31/1/52 – United No 7 (Tallegalla)
Killed Instantly. Son of Henry Emrey and Wilhelmine Reinke. Herb Embrey was wheeling a skip at the pit bottom when horses drawing five other skips bolted behind him and crashed on top of him.

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Albert William Lord 13/06/1952 – Neath Colliery
Albert William Lord (29), married, of Brisbane Street, Ipswich, was killed instantly at the Neath Colliery, Rosewood, today, when he was trapped under about a ton of stone which is thought to have been released from the roof by converging slips in the “greasy back” stone. Other miners working about 20 yards from Lord, who was alone at the time, neither saw nor heard the fall. Lord was using a pneumatic pick shortly before the accident.

INQUIRY INTO MINE FATALITY AT ROSEWOOD ROSEWOOD, July 7.—An inquiry was held in the Rosewood Court last week into an a accident at Neath Colliery on June 13, when Albert William Lord was killed. The Court comprised the Mining Warden (Mr. J. H. Fowler, S.M.) and Messrs. D. Birrell, A. Shearer, J. Sbeghen, and E. Wiegand.

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Kevin Maddox 1/9/53 – Mountain View (Rosewood)
Injured. Rope Rider. Fracture of his right foot when it was caught between a skip loaded with stone and the line.

A rope-rider employed at Mt. View Colliery,  Rosewood, suffered a probable fracture of his right foot when it was caught between a skip loaded with stone and the line. He is Kevin Maddox, single, of Briggs Road, Ipswich. The accident occurred at 2.15 p.m. and after first aid by the Rosewood ambulance, he was taken to the Ipswich General Hospital for further attention.

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Ben Hohenhaus  13/01/1954 – Amberfield. 
Injured.
PIT WORKER HURT – Ben Hohenhaus, married, an employee of Amberfield Colliery (Amberley), was admitted to hospital after an accident at the pit yesterday morning. Hohenhaus was cutting pit prop timber on a circular saw when a piece flew back and struck him on the lower part of the body. He was given first aid by ambulance bearers and taken to hospital where his condition yesterday afternoon was stated to be satisfactory.
[Queensland Times, Thursday, 14 January 1954, page 2]

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© Jane Schy, 2024

Published 07/02/2024