We first met Grant the geologist in the early 2000’s when Christine dug-in to a mine shaft in our vegie garden. It was very deep and it was lucky we didn’t fall into it. She rang the local gold mine and they sent out a geologist. Grant laughed and advised us to tie a rope around our waist when working there. I ended-up covering it with timber and earth. We planted a shrub over it and try to avoid that spot.
Later I did computer work for Grant and we spent time talking. He told me his relative or great-grandfather (can’t remember which) was a miner at the New Pinafore at Lefroy. He said this fellow was finishing his shift by climbing to the surface using the working pump rods. Grant demostrated how he swung from one pump rod to the other to gain height. Sadly near the top of the shaft he lost his grip and fell to the bottom. His mates descended and found the injured man. He asked for a smoke, took a few puffs and died.
Recently I read Grant’s death notice and I remembered this story. I decided to find out if it was reported at the time. I searched Trove and found a number of Lefroy mining accidents, Fingers blown-off with detonators or getting caught in machinery. Eventually I found it.
The accident happened on March 14, 1891. Some details were different but others too similar to be a coincidence.
The coroners report said the shaft was 55 feet deep and didn’t mention pump rods. I think that depth is too shallow to need de-watering or pump rods. The New Pinafore eventually reached over 1100 feet using winzes. It was slightly deeper than the Volunteer mine and produced 42,000 ounces of gold from 46,000 tonnes of ore.
It’s easy for a story to change over time. I mentioned to Andrew the dead miner left 14 children but it was actually 10. Maybe Grant was a descendant of one of the girls in this family? The old miner could be buried in Lefroy cemetery.
I’ve realized the importance mining played in building modern Tasmania. I like how Ariarne Titmus won 2 golds and a silver at the Paris Olympics but I know there was a Titmus mine at Lisle and a Titmus once owned the Golconda pub. There are descndents of the old miners in PMAT today. I like that.
