Westvale Colliery 3rd June 1938

Rosewood History

ACCIDENTS IN LOCAL COAL MINES

© Jane Schy 2024
Published 07/02/2024

Saint Barbara is the patron saint of miners. By St Barbara’s Day (4th December), 186 men and boys will have lost their lives in accidents the Ipswich Rosewood mining industry since official recording began in 1882. Hundreds more sustained injuries. Some were serious and debilitating and others were minor. Underground mining is renowned as one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.

Timothy Hayes 8 /10/1885 – Walloon Colliery
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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John Rea 1894 – Caledonian Colliery (Walloon)
Injured. Fractured arm. Caught by wire rope when unwinding it from the drum.

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George Hodgson Towson 17/12/1898 – Walloon Colliery
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 – Caledonian Colliery (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 Colliery (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 Colliery (Walloon)
Injured. Leg broken. Slipped when uncoupling trucks.
ACCIDENT AT THE WALLOON MINES – Mr. C. W. CAREY, a workman employed at the pithead 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 Colliery (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 Colliery
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 8/7/1913 – Caledonian (Walloon)
Injured. 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  Died 8/10/1916 – Westvale Colliery
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.

About 10 o’clock this morning a serious accident occurred at Westvale Colliery, as a result of which three men were burnt, one badly (our Ipswich correspondent advised last night). The mine is at present being worked by a party of miners and Messrs C. J. Bailey (manager), W. A. Waite, and P. West were engaged repairing the level, when a fall occured, causing a burst of inflammable gas, which ignited and burnt all three men. Willing hands quickly went to their assistance, and the Ambulance Brigade, after rendering first aid, conveyed Bailey and West to the General Hospital. Bailey, who is a married man, was severely burnt about the face, back, arms, and chest, and is also suffering from shock. West was burnt about the neck, back, and both arms to the elbows. Waite, who is a married man, appears to have inhaled the fumes of the afterdamp, and was advised to seek medical attention. It is under stood that two others had narrow escapes. Work has been suspended at the mine pending an official inspection. [Brisbane Courier (Qld), Wednesday 27 September 1916, page 6]

RECENT COLLIERY EXPLOSION – MINE MANAGER’S DEATH. MAGISTERIAL INQUIRY.
An inquiry into the cause of the death of Charles George Bailey, late manager of Westvale colliery, at Loamside, was held today before Mr. J. E. Landy (Acting-Warden) and Messrs. John Cumming, Jas. Newborough, Jas. Brown, and James Pryde (assessors). Mr. W. E. Lawrie (Inspector of Mines) examined the witnesses. Mr. C. Kilpatrick watched the proceedings on behalf of the Miners’ Union.

Dr. P. Thornton (acting-medical superintendent of the Ipswich General Hospital) deposed that he saw deceased when the latter was brought to the hospital on 26th September last. Deceased was then suffering from very severe recent burns. The entire back was severely burned from the back to the buttocks. The right arm was also severely burned. The left arm was burned, but not so severely as the right. The face was scorched very much, and the front of the body was also scorched. He died about five minutes after midnight on the 8th instant. Witness gave a certificate of tlte cause of death, showing that Bailey died from extensive burns, shock to the nervous system, and heart failure. Deceased became very delirious during Ihe last two nights before he died, more so than witness had seen before. A man in an explosion in a mine would be subject to monoxide before being brought out. 

Percy Robert West, a miner employed at Westvale Colliery, deposed that just prior, to the explosion he was standing in the dip near the pump. A puff of wind blew witness’s lamp out, and he could then see the flames coming. He dropped, and the flames passed over him, slightly scorching him. Bailey was about 10 yards away from witness. He had been cleaning up a fall, about seven yards from the dip. Witness had heard other men saying that there was gas in the cavity caused by the fall. 

William Alfred Waite, miner, employed at Westvale Colliery, deposed that he, too, was near the scene of the explosion. He thought he heard a fall, and turned to see a mass of flame com-ing at him. He promptly dropped. He next heard Bailey groaning. Witness went up to the dip, where he (witness) seemed to be suffocating. Bailey was the only one who knew the extent of the fall, as he had examined it with a safety lamp. He seemed to have had experience with gas, and was careful in his work. There was about 3000ft of cubic gas accumulated in the cavity. The heat after the flame was worse than the flame. 

Similar evidence was given by Herbert Edward Morgan, miner, who was working in the Westvale Colliery at the time.

Peter Handlin, sergeant of police, stationed at Ipswich, deposed that he visited Bailey in the hospital, and got the following statement :- “I was cleaning up a fall when a second fall occurred, which created a gas, and when this struck the lighted lamp with which I was working it caused an explosion. Nobody was to blame in the matter. It was purely an accident. These accidents are likely to happen at any time in the working of coal mines.” 

The Court found: (1) That the death of Charles George Bailey was the result of severe burning, caused by an explosion of gas; (2) That death was the result of an accident, and there was no negligence on the part of anyone; (3) That the second fall of stone caused the gas to come in contact with the naked light, and caused the explosion; (4) That in future great care should be taken to see that regulation 3, division 3, of the schedule of the Mines Regulation Act, regarding a locked safety lamp being only used where inflammable gas is known to  exist, is carried out. 
[Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Thursday, 19 October 1916, page 7]

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Percy Bruce – 21/1/1919 – Caledonian Colliery
Injured. 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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Archibald Woodward Ingram 10/04/1919 – Lanefield Colliery
Injured. Mr. A. W. Ingram, a miner employed at Messrs Wright’s Colliery, Lanefield, met with a painful accident last week. While engaged at his work, he susustained a severe lacerated wounld on the elbow. Dr. Wallace. attended and inserted several stitches.

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Herman August Freivaldt – 15/08/1919 – Lanefield Colliery
Injured. A painful accident happened to August Freivaldt. A trolley broke away, and through endeavouring to hold on to it, Mr. Freivaldt was severely injured, being crushed about the shoulders and neck. Dr. Wallace attended to him, and the Ipswich Ambulance bearers conveyed him to his home in Ipswich.

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John Martin 18/10/1919 – Lanefield Colliery
Injured. A miner named John Martin, employed in Wright’s colliery at Lanefield received severe spinal injuries as the result of a fall of stone. Dr. Wallace attended the injured man, who was afterwards conveyed to the General Hospital by the Ambulance Brigade, It was subsequently learned that the patient was paralysed below the waist.

Lanefield Colliery Accident                Lanefield Colliery Accident cont.

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William John Hardie  6/08/1920 – Caledonian Colliery (Walloon)
Killed. A quantity of stone weighing about 15 cwt. came away from a series of slips in the roof falling on William Hardie. He was the 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 Colliery (Walloon)
Died 3/05/1922. Son of Mehelm Argow and Agnes nee Meitzel.

William Pattison 2 /05/1922 – Caledonian Colliery (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
Injured. 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
Injured. 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  Clarefield Colliery
Injured. Mr. Jas. Wilks, of Rosewood, who is employed at the Thagoona coal mine, sustained serious 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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Henry Hawkins – 15/9/1925 – Lanefield Colliery
Injured. 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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Joseph Bodman – 6/10/1926 – Mountain Ash Colliery
Injured. Mr. J. Bodman, an employee of the Mountain Ash coal mine had his hand caught in the wheel of a skip. He was convoyed to the Ipswich Hospital by the ambulance.

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William Brown – 10/08-1927 – Caledonian Colliery
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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Harold Pocock 19/07/1929 – Westvale Colliery
Injured. A large boulder which fell at the Westvale Colliery about 1 p.m.  struck Harold Pocock (29) on the left leg, inflicting a painful punctured wound on the inside of the knee. He was treated at the Ipswich General Hospital.

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A. Zande 4/12/1929 – Westvale Colliery
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]    Mine Explosion    Inquiry

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Alexander 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.
There was no warning whatever of the fall. Developmental work only was  being carried out at the mine, the coal being several feet further down. Both men were working on the face of the mine, filling a skip, which had slanting sides. They each had a shovel full of earth to throw into the skip when all at once part of the roof over them fell, knocking the shovels out of their hands, and forcing them under the skip. They were completely covered, and the roof at the back of them to the extent of about 14 yards had also fallen in. McGregor was able to get into a sitting position at the side of the skip, while Lawrie was underneath him. Their hands were pinned to their sides by the fall of earth, which had also stopped the pump from working. The water was commencing to rise, when Mr. Lawrie’s son (Alexander), who was on top, noticed a severe tug on the skip rope. Thinking the circumstance unusual, he hurried down the tunnel, and was met with the great pile of earth. Calling out, he was able to hear his father cry, “Keep the pumps going, and run for help.” The water at this stage had almost reached Mr. Lawrie’s mouth, but fortunately the pump was undamaged, and was soon set in motion.
A rescue party, under Mr. E. W. Richardson, manager of the Lanefield colliery, and comprising men from the Lanefield and Rosewood collieries, were quickly on the scene. They lost no time in entering the mine, displaying great courage, as the props supporting the roof had broken down, and the danger of further falls was imminent. Crawling on to the top of the pile of earth, Mr. Richardson called out to Mr. Lawrie, who was en-tombed beneath, and was encouraged to hear him say, “I’m all right, but keep the pump going!” All danger was forgotten in the efforts to get the men out, and the splendid work of the rescuers was rewarded when, after removing several feet of earth, M’Gregor’s head was seen, and he was soon brought to the surface. He was able to tell the rescuers where Lawrie was, and one of the party (W. Bickle), putting his foot down the hole from which M’Gregor had been taken, felt it caught by Lawrie. Both men were soon brought to the surface, after having been in their unenviable position for about 30 minutes. Lawrie had been lying in water, almost face downwards during the whole of that time, unable to move, with the water at one stage up to his mouth.
Mr. Lawrie estimates that the mine was making about 2000 gallons of water per hour before the pump was set going. Both men were attended to by Dr.R. Wallace, of Rosewood, and the Ipswich Ambulance, which despatched two cars to the scene. McGregor was practically uninjured, and was soon able to proceed to his home at North Ipswich. Mr. Lawrie sustained abrasions and bruises, besides suffering from shock. He was conveyed to his home at Queen street, Newtown, Ipswich. Mr. Lawrie stated that the rescue party displayed courage and skill in dealing with the situation. He could not account for the accident, as the tunnel was securely timbered, but thought that the water may have undermined the props, which collapsed, and a fall of the roof followed. [Brisbane Courier, Monday 15 December 1930, page 11]

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Herbert Walter Kuss  23/10/1931 – Westvale No 3 Colliery
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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Joseph Albert Liddell  5/03/1935 – Rosewood Colliery
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 partner 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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Joseph Wright – 5/05/1936 – Lanefield Colliery
Injured. Mr. J. Wright, of John Street, Rosewood, was pushing some empty skips underground at the Lanefield Collieries when one of the skips rushed back and pushed him against a prop. In falling, he broke his thigh. The Ipswich ambulance was quickly on the scene and conveyed him to the Ipswich General Hospital.

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William Yarrow November 1936 – Lanefield Colliery
Injured. Hit in the back of the head by a prop while riding a a rake of 14 trucks. Son of William Yarrow and Susannah née Wheeler.
Pathetic Plight Of Young Miner
PITIABLE and pathetic is the case of William Yarrow, 24 year old Rosewood miner, who is blind and may never work again. His blindness and his other disabilities, he believes, are due to an accident which befel him 19 months ago, in the Lanefield Colliery, Rosewood.
He claimed workers’ compensation from the State Government Insurance Office, but his claim was rejected by the Commissioner (Mr. John A. Watson) on two grounds — (1) that Yarrow’s application was not lodged within six months of the day of the accident, as stipulated by the Act; and (2) that he is unable to conclude from the medical evidence that the in capacity is the result of injury by accident. Yarrow is one of life’s unfortunates, for in the very flower of manhood his sight has been taken from him, and he may never again regain the full health that is the right and heritage of youth.
On the available evidence the In surance Commissioner appears to be well within his legal rights in rejecting “Kick” Yarrow’s claim on the second ground he has stated. “Truth” understands that the recovery of Yarrow’s eyesight is a necessary preliminary to any further operation by the doctors, and that such an operation is the only thing that will definitely establish whether his disabilities were caused by the accident.
In other words, this unfortunate young man will never be in the position to establish his claim to compensation unless he recovers his health sufficiently to make an operation safe. If he never recovers, he must, apparently, remain an economic burden on his family.
As to the Commissioner’s first ground of defence, “Truth” thinks it morally, if not legally, unsound, and one that should be abandoned in the event of young Yarrow establishing facts that remove the second defence.
Totally blind, and with the back of his head marked by a criss-cross of operation scars, “Kick” Yarrow is otherwise the embodiment of youthful health. His inability to get about alone necessitates the use of a stick, and constant attendance, when he moves around, by his mother, Mrs. Susan Yarrow, or other relatives or friends.
In November, 1936, Yarow and an other man Colin Nation, were riding a rake of 14 trucks at Lanefield Colliery. Nation was on the front, and Yarrow on the last truck, sitting with his back to the direction in which they were travelling.
Along the line a prop had been knocked or had fallen away from the slab that sustained the roof of the mine, and as the rake passed, Yarrow, not seeing it, sustained a clout on the back of the head. The rake travels at a speed estimated at seven miles an hour.
Yarrow suffered no other immediate effects than a lump on the back of his head, and continued at work.
However, he began to suffer some time later from headaches and eye trouble, and his condition gradually became worse, until his eyesight began suddenly to fail. 
In July, 1937, he was operated on at the Brisbane General Hospital, a piece of bone being removed from the back of his head. Yarrow was in hospital for over three months, and during that period, of course, was not in a condition to apply for worker’s compensation.
Not until January, 1938, was an application lodged on his behalf. By that time the statutory period of six months had elapsed. This was intimated to him in a letter from the Insurance Commissioner, who added, “This provision may be waived by the Insurance Commissioner if he is satisfied that failure to make application was due to mistake, absence from Queensland, or other reasonable cause.”
In addition, the Commissioner stated; “I am unable to conclude from the medical evidence that your incapa city is the result of Injury by acci dent, and “it is regretted that I have no alternative but hereby to reject your claim.”
It is understood that the medical officer of the State Insurance Office has certified that he is unable to connect Yarrow’s condition, as disclosed at the operation, with the accident that befel him at the mine, and has definitely diagnosed it as due to a tumor which could not have been caused by a blow.
From different sources, however, “Truth” learns that other doctors have not reached any definite conclusions as to the cause of Yarrow’s disabilities. They incline to the probability that it is due to a tumor, but it is understood that the operation could not be carried far enough to establish this as a final fact.
The decision not to complete the operation was based on Yarrow’s condition, and “Truth” is told that fur ther action of that nature is dependent on the state of his eyesight. Yarrow himself says that he feels it is getting better, and that he is recovering his sight. If this happy event occurs, the doctors, no doubt, will persuade him to undergo a further operation.
Yarrow, now 24 years of age, was born five months after his father was killed, and has been the sole support of his mother since, at the age of 14, he went to work in the Lanefield Colliery.
Now, his sight lost to him and un able to establish that he is entitled to compensation, he is one of Fate’s many unfortunate victims – a young man facing an uncertain future, destined perhaps never to work again. All that can be hoped by his friends is that Fate will finally relent and give him back all that life owes him.  [Truth (Brisbane), Sunday, 10 July 1938, page 30]

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Mervyn Vincent Domrow  7/12/1936 – Roughrigg Colliery
Injured. Mervyn Domrow, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Domrow, Mt. Marrow, received a knock from one of the coal wagons he was manipulating along the track, and one of his ribs was fractured. He is employed at Cochrane’s Roughrigg Colliery, near Tallegalla.

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A. Zande  29/07/1937 –  Rosewood Colliery
Injured: Antonio Zande of Albert Street, Rosewood sustained and injured foot caused by a fall of stone.

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William Murphy 21/04/1938 – Westfalen Colliery
Injured: When he caught his right hand between a coal waggon and prop at the Westfalen Colliery, Thagoona, William Murphy. a resident of Ellenborough-street, injured the middle finger, which necessitated treatment at the hospital. He returned home after treatment.

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ACCIDENT 40 Men Entombed for Several Hours. 3/06/1938 – Westvale Colliery
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.  [Courier-Mail (Brisbane), Saturday 4 June 1938, page 1]

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Phillip Powell  8/11/1939 – Westvale Colliery
Injured. Philip Powell, a married man, of Liverpool-street, North Ipswich, was working in the Westvale Colliery, Rosewood when his left arm became jammed between a skip and the roof, fracturing his wrist. Ipswich Ambulance bearers were summoned, and after further treatment at the Ipswich General Hospital, Powell was able to return home.

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Cecil Dutney 12/02/1940 Westvale Colliery
Injured. Cecil Dutney (37), a married man living at Rosewood. was severely inJured at Westvale Colliery. He was engaged in running the rope at the colliery, and had just sent a rake of eight full coal skips on their way to the top. After travelling for some distance up the tunnel seven of the skips broke away and rapidly travelling back down the incline, crashed into him. The Manager (Mr. C. Stewart)  immediately rushed down the tunnel, and found the injured man lying amongst the skips. He was immediately brought to the pithead, the Ipswich Ambulance was summoned, and he was taken to the Ipswich General Hospital to receive treatment for severe injuries to his back and sides. His condition was reported at night to be satisfactory.

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Michael Crane O’Donnell  7/10/1944 – Lowfield No 2 Colliery
Killed
Thomas George Evans  7/10/1944 – Lowfield No 2 Colliery
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
Injured. 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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Arthur James Baills 15/10/1947 – United No. 8 Colliery
Injured. When he was caught between two waggons at the United No. 8 Colliery, Arthur Baills, married, fractured his left forearm.

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Vincent James Hanson  4/12/1947 – Rosewood No 2 Colliery
MINER KILLED AT ROSEWOOD    COURT IN HOSPITAL WARD

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Edward Berlin 10/2/1948  Glencoe Colliery
Injured. 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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Frederick Henry Beckman – 9/03/1948 Westvale Colliery
Injured. F. H. Beckman, married, of Amberley, suffered a probable fracture of the left knee. He treated by Ambulance bearers and was taken to the Ipswich General Hospital.

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Ronald Jackman 22/09/1948 – Westvale Colliery
Injured. Ronald Jackman, a miner employed at the Westvale Colliery, was dragged for several yards by a runaway skip and then was struck by a falling prop. Jackman, who resides at Amberley, was given first aid by Ambulance bearers for an injury to the left hip. shoulder, and great toe, and admitted to the General Hospital.

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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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Percival Kenneth Domrow 17/11/1950 – United No 7 Colliery
Injured. Percival Kenneth Domrow (19), of Marburg-road, Rosewood, received a fractured lumbar column and injuries to the pelvis when he was trapped by a fall of stone.
FINDING ON ACCIDENT AT ROSEWOOD COLLIERY

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George Embrey 3/05/1951- Normanton No 2 Colliery
Injured. Manager of the Normanton No. 2 mine, George Embrey, was seriously injured. He received a compound fracture of the left arm, with severe lacerations, and suffered from shock. He was unable to say what had happened, but the ambuance officer in Rosewood (Mr. L. Coleman) said it appeared that Embrey, who was alone, had been struck by one of the blades of the fan, which he had been starting before the men began the day’s work. The Rosewood Ambulance transported him to the Ipswich General Hospital for further treatment. Later in the day Embrey was taken to Brisbane for specialist treatment.

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Frederick Manz  3/05/1951- Rosewood Colliery
Injured. Frederick Manz, a married man from Thagoona, was injured in a fall of coal. He received two large lacerated wounds on the back of the right leg. The Rosewood Ambulance took him to the Ipswich General Hospital for further treatment.

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Jack Yarrow 6/06/1951 – Rosemount Colliery
Injured. Jack Yarrow, of Rosewood, a miner employed at Rosemount Colliery, suffered lacerations and abrasions to the back of the head, neck and back, when he was injured by a fall of coal at 8 o’clock in the morning. The Rosewood Ambulance rendered first-aid, and transported him to the Ipswich General Hospital. After further treatment, he was allowed to return home.

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Thomas Pocock 13/6/51- Neath Colliery
Injured. A falling 50 lb. rock critically injured a miner in Neath 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 Colliery (Tallegalla)
Killed Instantly. Son of Herbert Embrey and Wilhelmine nee Reinke of Kingston Street, Rosewood.
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. Herb was born at Tallegalla, attended Tallegalla school and was laid to rest in Tallegalla Cemetery. In his younger days he was a keen follower of sport, particularly cricket. He was a member and steward of the Rosewood A. and H. Association and had been employed in the mining Industry around Rosewood for approximately 26 years, working at Roughrigg Colliery for 21 years and at Normanton and United Colliery No. 7.
MINER KNOCKED DOWN BY HORSE

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Albert William Lord 13/06/1952 – Neath Colliery
Killed. Albert William Lord (29), married, of Brisbane Street, Ipswich, was killed instantly at the Neath Colliery, Rosewood 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.
Witnesses who gave evidence were the Manager (John S. Mason), Deputy (Thomas William Pocock), and Warren Harding Landes (miner), August William Beitzel, and Constable Nicholson. The evidence disclosed that Lord was killed by a fall of stone in the bord where he was working shortly before 11 a.m. The inquiry was closed. [Queensland Times , Tuesday 8 July 1952, page 7]

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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 Colliery  
Injured. 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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