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THE CRESWICK MINING DISASTER—SCENE AT THE HEAD OF THE SHAFT—THE BRACEMAN ANNOUNCING THE DEATH OF THE MINERS.
(From a Sketch by Our Special Artist.)
Three workmen emerged, and as one of them, John Hodge, captain of the shift, stepped to the surface, the gloomy expression of his countenance and the gravity with which he bowed his head told
too plainly that something was amiss ... and then the braceman announced that no more of the missing miners would be brought up alive . . . The statement came upon the spectators
with a terrible shock.'—The Age Report

THE CRESWICK

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GALLANT RESCUE OF SIX MINERS BY JOHN HODGE, SEN. CAPTAIN OF THE SHIFT.
(Drawn from the Information Supplied by the Survivors.)


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WAITING FOR NEWS OUTSIDE THE OFFICE ON THE EVENING OF THE ACCIDENT.
(From a Sketch by Our Special Artist.)


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A.—GENERAL VIEW OF THE MINE.
B.—SCENE IN THE SHIFTING HOUSE
AFTER THE RECOVERY OF THE BODIES.
(From Sketches by Our Special Artist.)

THE CRESWICK MINING DISASTER.

One of the most terrible mining disasters
that have ever occurred in Australia took
place on Tuesday, 12th inst., at the New Austra-
lasian Company's mine at Creswick, where 22
men lost their lives in the most melancholy
manner. It appears that on the south
side of the main shaft the drive

was 200 feet in, and was being continued
with the object of working some ground
between that point and some, old workings on
the same side. It was known that these old
workings were full of water, but from the
plans they were supposed to be 250 or 350
feet away, and as a matter of precaution bores
were constantly being put in with a view of
testing the ground. Two were put in a long
distance only a few days before the accident,
and both appeared to be in sound ground. On
the north side the drive was in some 2500 feet,
and in this about 30 men were working at the

time of the accident. This brief sketch of the
workings will explain the position of affairs in
the mine, and the dreadful occurrence may
now be described. The contractor for con-
tinuing the south drive was with his mate at
work in the face, and at half-past four in the
morning the water broke in upon them without
the slightest warning, increasing in volume
every second. He, with his mate, Wm. Mason,
immediately ran to the plat, and thence made
their way to the intermediate level by means
of the ladders. In the meantime the water
rushed from the south drive into the north
drive where about 30 miners were working
2500 feet from the shaft in the washdirt faces.
The platman seeing the rising water at once gave
the alarm to John Hodge, captain of the shift,
and he with a trucker named Henry Polglase
ran along the drive and cried out to the men,
"Water is coming. Look out!" At this
time the water was rushing from the south

drive about 5 feet high, and driving the trucks
before it, and Hodge and Polglase had great
difficulty in finding their way to No. 5 shoot
or rise from the reef, which is connected with
an air drive about 30 feet up the shaft for the
ventilation of the mine. The men working in the
face over the main drive, on the alarm being
given endeavored to breast the torrent, but the
majority were driven back, but several of the
truckers who were in the drive managed to
reach No. 5. shoot and were hauled
into the air drive by Hodge, who could
only manage to clutch them by the hair. Two

facemen, named Pisher and Minnear, also
reached the place of escape, and were saved ;
but the latter says he heard Woods and
Chegwin coming behind him, and the latter
cried out, "There is no chance ; we had better
go back to the workings ; we cannot reach
No. 5." A most gallant act is recorded of
Jabez Bellingham, who was one of the
victims, who might have escaped by the
No. 5 shoot. Knowing the dangerous posi-
tion of the men in the face, he said,
"I am not going to leave my mates without
doing my best to save them, and if I can
do so I will." He then made his way, with
the water up to his breast, back to the
wash dirt faces with the object, it is sup-
posed, of getting then into higher shoot.
The news of the catastrophe soon spread. The
greatest excitement prevailed in Cres-
wick and Ballarat, mining business being entirely paralysed. The scene at the shaft

was of the most harrowing description.
The wives and children and friends of
the unfortunate men were weeping and
wringing their hands, while stout brawny
miners were perfectly overcome by the sad
occurrence, and shed bitter tears. Indeed the
women were perhaps the strongest in bearing
their sorrow, for they, hoping against
hope appeared to believe that their loved
ones would be found alive. The directors,
manager, the president and secretary of the
Amalgamated Miners' Association, and a large
crowd of persons were at the mine during the
day, and everything possible was being done to
get the water out of the shaft. Pumping
operations were carried on without a moment's
cessation, and as the engine and pumping ap-
pliances attached to the mine were fortunately
of great power, 51,000 gallons of water an
hour were lifted. By nine o'clock on Tuesday
evening the water had been reduced 5 feet in
the shaft, but the the body of it was so immense
that it was not until Wednesday afternoon,
though the engines had been pumping full
speed all the time, that it was possible for any
one to get down to the level of the drive. At
twenty minutes past two in the afternoon the
water had receded between the air pipes, and

subsequently the news came to the top that
the water was 8 inches below the cap pieces
and had begun to look somewhat clear. At
twenty-five minutes to three the manager of
No 3 shaft went below, having been sent for by
those in the shaft, and an attempt was made
to go up the drive. At three o'clock the pit-
man (CIark) ascended, and reported that there
was then 5 feet of water on the rail, making it
16 inches below the cap. Mr. Stewart and
party had by this time succeeded in plodding
their way to 250 feet along the drive towards
No. 7 jump-up, which is distant 700 feet from
No. 9. The air pipes, however, en route were
found to be broken, which was probably caused
by the unfortunate men taking hold of them in
their attempts to save themselves. The party
cooeed, but heard no reply, and within half a
minute the foul air rushed upon them and
compelled them to retire. Mr. Stewart came
up, and fresh pipes were sent down, and the
breakages within 250 feet were repaired
in about 20 minutes. Mr. Stewart, after al-
lowing time for the bad air to be driven back,

again descended, and, before so doing, ex-
pressed his intention of not again return-
ing until something definite was known. Later in the evening of Wednesday, Mr.
Robinson, manager of Davies's Freehold Junc-
tion, and Mr. Townsend, went along the drive
to No. 9 rise, of which there were several from
the main drive, and in one of which it was
supposed the imprisoned miners were, but the
men were not to be seen, and it was then con-

jectured the were in No. 11 further along the
drive. The air was good enough for men to
live in for days. There was an obstruction
in teh drive, which had to be removed before
the party could go further up the drives, and,
Mr. Robinson entertained hopes of at least
some of the men being found alive. There are
two jump-ups still farther up the drive, and
it was expected that in these the men would be
found. For 700 feet along the drive the air
was bad—that is, there was a deficiency of
oxygen, but there were no poisonous gases in it.
Mr. Robinson's report raised drooping hopes
materially, but the closing scene of the terrible
calamity was enacted on Thursday, when it
was discovered that 22 of the unfortunate men
had lost their lives, and only five had been saved.
In the morning the report that had been cir-
culated the previous evening that no bodies
had been seen, and the probability that the
men might after all be alive, added a zest to
the labor of the pumping and searching. Not a
second's relaxation from pumping was per-
mitted, and the engines were kept work-
ing up to their full power. In the drive

below the relief party plodded on in the
teeth of great danger and difficulties. The
bad air materially retarded progress; and as the
men carried the air pipes along the
shaft they were continually compelled to turn
round and run back so as to escape the foul
gases that the pure air, as it was pumped through the pipes, forced backwards to the
mouth of the drive. But though the progress
was slow the hearts of the workers never
failed them. They toiled on, and about
seven o'clock a member of the relief party,
named Spencer, ascended the shaft with
the joyful intelligence that all the imprisoned
men were alive and well. The news could be
scarecely credited but on further particulars
being ascertained belief in the report was es-
tablished, and the news spread like wildfire
throughout the district. A ringing cheer went
up, and people galloped awaymadly on horse-
back with welcoming intelligence. Almost im-

mediately afterwards men, women and children
could be seen approaching the mine from all
quarters, their countenances beaming with de-
light, and themselves eager in their inquiries
for verification of the report. On they hurried
to the shaft with hearts lighter than for many
previous hours, and soon around the claim
were gathered hundreds of overjoyed yet
anxious people. The friends and relatives of
the missing miners could be easily picked out
from the crowd, for they betrayed themselves
by a joyous nervousness and anxiety that
could be exhibited only in cases such as theirs.
It was the unanimous belief that all the
imprisoned men were alive. The relief party
had reached their place of confinement, and
now the signal that the first survivor
was to be brought to the surface was momentarily expected. Every eye was di-
rected uopn the door of the shaft.
Friends were eagerly anticpiating the restora-
tion of those near to them whom thay had
given up for dead. The suspense undergone
before the signal to lift the cap was given was
almost unbearable, and patience was difficult
to control. At last it came—two knocks in
rapid succession, and a third denoting that a
man was ascending the shaft. All watohed

with breathless interest the winding of the
rope until the stage "topped" the shaft; then,
as a long limp form was quickly grasped by
two robust miners, and hurriedlycarried into
an adjoining shed, a simultaneous outburst of
joy went up thatdrowned the noise of the
engines, and seemed to make even the very
poppet heads shake. The form was that
of John Manly—pale and exhausted - but
alive. Down went the cage again with another
hearty shout, and then, after some moments of
impatient delay, came the signal to hoist.
Slo wly the rope glided up, the cage appeared
and the second survivor, Thomas Corbett, was
amidst renewed cheering, carried into the re-
ceiving ahed. By this time the excitement
has become almost unbearable. Two men
had just been miraculously saved from
what was all along regarded as certain
death, and at the bottom of the
shaft the remaining missing men were under-
stood to be alive. Describing the scene
the special reporter for the Age writes:-
Opposite to me stood a por woman, in whom
I recognised the wife of one numbered

amongst the list of the imprisoned. Cry-
ing and heartbroken the previous day I
noticad her wandering about the claim. Now
she appeared with joy stamped in every
feature, watching with painful expectancy
the proceedings at the shaft. Twice
the cage had ascended without bearing
the looked-for form of the husband, and now
it sank to bring to the surf ace the next. Her
nervousness had increased—and it was pitiful
to watch her. The signal to hoist came again,
and brought with it a third survivor - not her
husband ! This time it was a man named
Patrick Bowen, whose pale face, and almost
glassy eyes testified too well the privation
he had undergone. For the fourth time the
cage descended—and when, it returned to the
surface another survivor in the person of
Peter Maloney was carried in for treatment.
The next ascent of the cage bore with it a fifth
survivor, whose name was announced as
Cornelius Kirk. When the cage went down
for the sixth time—and a longer interval than
usual elapsed before the signal to hoist was
given. The delay was an anxious one, but
at last the signal was heard. Misgivings

unconsciously were experienced by the spec-
tators. The cage seemed to take a longer time
to top the shaft, and when it did no relief was
offered to the suspense of the moment;. Three
workmen emerged, and as one of them, John
Hodge, captain of the shift stepped to the sur-
face, the gloomy, exprepsion of his countenance
and the gravity with which he bowed his head
told too plainly that something was amiss. The
worst was feared. A whispered conversation
took place amongst a small group of persons,
and then the braceman announced that no
more of the missing miners would be brought
up alive. At the same time, with his fingers,
he indicated that only five out of the twenty-
seven had survived. The statement came upon
the spectators with a terrible shock. For a
moment a dead silence prevailed, and
then the poor woman to whom reference
has been made uttered a piteous shriek, as if a
knife had stabbed her to the heart. from all
parts of the claim arose the most heartrending
cries, and the whole scene was in a second
transformed from one of joy into that of the
direst grief. People seemed as if suddenly
awestricken, and women and children were
heard on all sides lamenting in a most dis-
tressing manner, until the men, suddenly re-
called to the dreadful truth of the position

vainly attempted to give consolation and com
fort. Some women fainted, others became
hysterical, and men for the most part seemed
unable to realise the sad result. Presently the
crowd dispersed from around the shaft, and soon
the news was being carried in every direction.
Flags that hardly an hour previously had been
hoisted, and were everywyhere flying in token
of general rejoicing for the supposed marvel-
lous recovery of teh unfortunate men, were
lowered to the mournful half-mast, and a deep
gloom settled upon the township. The five
survivors wes attended to by Drs. Tremeane,
Bell, Lindsey and Lyons. With the exception
of Cornelius Kirk, none were found to be in
immediate danger. It was then announced
that the dead bodies would not be raised from
the drives until those rescued had been re-
moved to their homes. Shortly afterwards
this was accomplished. Three of the survivors
Manly, Maloney and Bowen were conveyed to
their own homes, whilst the other two, Cor-
bett and Kirk, were taken to the Cres-
wick Hospital and placed under tha care
of Dr. Tremeane. The changing shed was
prepared for the reception of the dead bodies,
all of which were early in the afternoon
brought to the surface in the following order,
and identified as those of Edward Dargon,
James Carmody, Daniel Trecothick, John
Gower, Jabez Bellingham, Benjamin Belling-

ham, James Minahan, Wm. Curtis, John
Hodge, jun., William Anderson, John
Crougey, Geo. Balcaumbe, Wm. Tregloar,
John Thos. Clifton, Ed. Woods, Michael
hayes, Abraham Wyatt, James temby,
Thomas Chegwin, James Welsh, J. Fisher,
W. Serrurrier. From the statements of
the survivors it would appear that out of
the 40 men engaged in the drives at the time
the 27 who were unable to escape up No. 5
shoot into the intermediate level, fearing to
breast the heavy rush of water, turned back
and made for the rises at the end of the
facings. It was with the greatest difficulty that
they were able to keep the candles alight
until No. 11 rise was reached, into which
they clambered for shelter. As they ran
along the drive the water was breast
high, and in the space of one hour it
had reached the level of their necks in
the rise or "cockpit," as it is termed by one of
their number. The lights, of course, went
out, and everything was in complete darkness.

In this terrible position those 27men re-
mained for hours, clinging to the cap pieces
and laths. The length of a head between the
roof of the "jump-up" and the water was all
the air space afforded them, and it is no
wonder, therefore that the poor fellows at in-
tervals during the night heard their com-
panions dropping off into the water, un-
able, through suffocation by impure at-
mosphere, to cling to their positions any
longer. It is singular, perhaps that the
elder and younger men perished first, leaving
the middle-aged to fight out the battle for
existence. One survivor, judging from his
statement, would appear to have been rather
confident of rescue, and he claims to have never
for a single moment lost his senses. He knew
that all the twenty-seven could not live upon
the limited amount of atmosphere contained in
their underground prison, and he states that he
could not mind the dropping off of his com-
panions, being sensible of the fact that
every diminution of their number increased
the chances of the escape of those remaining.

All appear to have suffered acutely from
thirst, and the agonies of the position were in-
describable. All the dead, bodies were found
together in the vicinity of No. 11 jump-up.
The survivors were removed by means of th
horse shoot into the intermediate level, and s
on to the palt of the shaft, where they were
placed on the cage and lifted up to the surface.
Considerable difficultywas experienced in re-
covering the dead bodies, and ropes had to be
employed to drag them down the drive and
float them to the mouth. It seems a cruelty
to have raised the hopes of sorrowing friend
by circulating a report that all had
survived, and then to have rudely shat-
tered them in the manner already described.
Perhaps this deplorable circumstance is due to
the haste with which the answer "all are
safe," that came from some one on the sur-
vivors, was circulated at the mouth of the
shaft. This may or may not have been a mis-
take, but it was certainly a want of humane
consideration on the part of those in posses- sion of the information not to have prepared
the spectators for the dreadful news that
was afterwards so unexpectedly and sud-
denly announced. The unfortunate victim
were buried on Friday, 15th December, and as might have been expected, there was an
immense cortege, the procession being some

two miles in length, and the solemnity of the
occasion was remarked by all present. a
spontaneous, and universal sympathy with the;
relatives of the unfortunate men has been
evinced all over the colony, and already, some
thousands of pounds have been collected. It
is anticipated the fund will reach from £15 000
to £20,000, a sum sufficient to make provision
for the unhappy widows and orphans though
this is but a poor recompense for the loss they
have sustained. Our illustrations of the sad
event comprise the scene at the shaft when
the braceman announced that only five were
saved, which in its pathos stirred to the
depths eyeryone who was present. A general
view of the mine is also given as well as the
and spectacle of the bodies in the shifting
house after they were brought up the shaft.
The rescue of the six miners by Hodge, the
captain of the shift,was one of those heroic
actions that great catastrophes always call
forth, and it has a most pathetic side from the
fact that his own son was one of those lost.
Hodge had been having his morning meal,
and was preparing to proceed to work
when he heard a boy running towards him
crying out, "Swamp, swamp." He at once
ran down the drive to see what was the
matter, but before he had gone many paces
his progress was blocked by a large body of
water that, with a loud noise, came rushing
onward, sweeping everything before.it. There
was nothing for him to do but to turn round
and endeavor to save his own life. There
were about 80 trucks in the drive, and
over those that were not driven for-
ward by the force of the rushing
stream, the water bounded with terrible
velocity. Fortunately the No. 5 jump-up,

was near at hand and offered the brave fellow
a means of escape. When he first met the
water, it was no higher than his ankles, but
before he reached the ladder at the shoot he
was battling with it breast high. -After.se-
curing his hold on the ladder, he waited to
help all those who might attempt to make their
escape by the same way. He was in complete
darkness, but for all that he managed to assist
out of the reach of danger no less than six of
his fellow workmen. A man named Menmuir
was the last to receive his help. Follow-
ing Menmuir came Hodge's own son;
but the father was unfortunately powerless
to extend to the lad the aid he had afforded
to the others, and the poor boy turned back
and fled with the rest of his ill-fated com
panions to their untimely doom. Our
other sketch shows the outside of the
office on the evening of the accident; when
helpless wives and children were waiting in the
most agonising suspense for news of those
most dear to them; and when not only they,,
but the whole of Australia throbbed with a
heartfelt desire that the lives of the poor im-
mured men rnight be saved.

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