Albert was posthumously awarded the Clarke Gold Medal for bravery from the Royal Humane Society. Be good to our little darling. Dear Agnes. AMSJ connects the mining industry to the latest mining safety news, events, mine safety legal information, mine safety history, hazard control technical reports, mines rescue and emergency and mining safety product and services information. My mate, Len Burke, is done, and poor old V. and Driver too. By World War One, the company has absorbed its competitors to become the dominant mining and smelting company on the field. 2. Good-bye, with love to all. He had a wife named Louisa and a six-week-old daughter named Violet. View of Queenstown - reading news of the disaster. Mackay. Better known as "Snowy". The mine had been taken over from the North Mount Lyell Company in 1903. [9], The royal commission that was held at the time of the retrieval of bodies after the fire, and despite various theories as to the cause of the fire, an open verdict remained.[10][11]. A safety record of this kind would immediately close a mine site today, however in the early part of the 20th Century conditions such as these were, sadly, all too common. On the 700-foot (210 m) level, a rescue party came across a group of deceased miners. 34 relations. It claimed the lives of 42 men and very nearly took a much higher toll.Unlike most mine disasters it was not an underground cave-in nor an explosion of inflammable gases. 7. To them a letter pinned to the wall by a "spider", was addressed. The Mount Lyell disaster was a smouldering fire in the timber Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Wife and two children living at North Lyell township. Had relatives living in Truro, Cornwall, England. Be good to our little darling. 170 men were in the mine at the time, and on the first day only 73 managed to reach safety. A truly horrifying situation for today’s safety professional to contemplate. Mr. Gays rose to the height of absolute heroism. Mr Schulze claims his research proves that most of the evidence provided to the Commission by the mining company was false and misleading. North Mount Lyell company. Mining camps may soon benefit from UVC sanitisation, Sampling tube leaking | Police Conveyor belt concludes, Mexico pledges to recover miners from 2006 disaster, Pike River evidence handling a disaster in itself, 5 Signs you’re becoming a horrible Mine Boss (and How to Change), Transitioning from a mine worker to a mine boss, Sudden Change – Are our front line leaders ready, Liebherr-Mining introduces new mining machines transport route, Sandvik introduces Toro LH410 underground loader, Remote operated truck jack set to transform mining tyre safety. Locality. in a certain Mine known as the North Lyell Mine situate at or near Gormanston in Our State of Tasmania the property of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company Limited which accident resulted in loss of life to many persons employed in the said Mine at the time of the said accident—And Locality Edit The North Lyell locality (at which some of the workers killed in the disaster had addresses) was eventually overtaken by the Mount Lyell mine workings. tattooed on his left forearm. The North Mount Lyell disaster (also known as the Mount Lyell disaster and North Mount Lyell fire)[1] refers to a fire that broke out on 12 October 1912 at the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company operations on the West Coast of Tasmania, killing 42 miners. One of these miners, a man named Joe McCarthy, had left a note pinned to a timber: Seven hundred level. Late in the afternoon, rescuers heard a rap of the line. Send food and candles at once. One of the deceased, Joe McCarthy, left a note pinned to a timber with a “spider” (a tool used by miners to hold their candles). Lyell on Tasmania's west coast. Mackay. : 1890 - 1922), Thu 17 Oct 1912, Page 2 - FIRE DISASTER AT NORTH LYELL MINE. I am pleased to have made a little provision for you and poor little Lorna. No time to lose. In 1903 the North Mount Lyell company was taken over, and in 1912 the most severe calamity to visit the Mount Lyell company was the 1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster, also known at the time as the North Lyell fire. North Lyell - A fireman getting ready to rescue miners. It is raining heavily and the water is approaching the SoOft level. The 12 October 2012 marks the centenary of the North Mount Lyell disaster. These, with others, were on the plat on Saturday, and it was learned early this morning that they could have got out, but that they saw a number of men staggering in the smoke almost overcome, and instead of saving themselves they calmly returned to succor as best they might those who were in a bad plight. He calmly stepped out of the cage into the blinding smoke and sent it up the shaft. The 1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster is also found in Blainey's work, but for decades later there were divergent and popular accounts from the official reports that followed. Mount Lyell, western Tasmania, a 100 year old copper mining operation in which large quantities of sulphide rich ore rock have been both exposed to weathering and discharged as tailings into the Queen and King Rivers, is the subject of a research program evaluating environmental impacts of resulting acid mine drainage (AMD) and remediation options. North Lyell mine, 12-10-12. The rescue effort for the Mt Lyell mine disaster was one of the biggest undertaken for the time. The 1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster is also found in Blainey's work, but for decades later there were divergent and popular accounts from the official reports that followed. The Mount Lyell disaster was a smouldering fire in the timber Mt Lyell Haulage conveying the people to the scene of the disaster. Fire crews and equipment were rushed by train in record time from Hobart and also shipped from Bendigo in Victoria, across Bass Strait. Zeehan and Dundas Herald (Tas. Mr. Bolton was up to No. The Mount Lyell mine disaster of 1912 was a great personal tragedy, however, the aftermath also proved a great travesty of justice, writes T.R. [Estimated cost of printing (325)—£5 14s. The 1912 North Mount Lyell disaster (also known at the time as the Mount Lyell disaster and North Mount Lyell fire) refers to a fire that broke out on 12 October 1912 at the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company operations on the West Coast of Tasmania. Smith, but better known by the nickname of "Speewa". No time to lose. It was notable in the logistics of assembling the rescue operation, and in its changing the attitudes of management and safety. DISASTER ON THE WILD, WEST COAST. The 1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster (also known as the Mount Lyell Disaster and North Mount Lyell Fire) refers to a fire that broke out on 12 October 1912 at the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company operations on the West Coast of Tasmania.The mine had been taken over from the North Mount Lyell Company in 1903. 5, arriving at Queenstown, Tasmania [picture] photograph by A. R. Lyell; The peaks of Lyell … They said that the stopes were practically unsafe to work in. Wife and eight children living at Gormanston, Tasmania. Gave up his place in the last rescue cage to a married man. A brief history of the North Mount Lyell Copper Company 1897-1903 / Hans Julen; People standing in the street reading news of the North Mount Lyell mine disaster, Queenstown, Tasmania,... Mt Lyell ABT No. 6. Native of Campbell Town, Tasmania. This page was last edited on 2 January 2021, at 18:57. In 1964, control of the company passed to the British controlled Consolidated Gold Fields Ltd. The mine had been taken over from the North Mount Lyell Company in … The mine had been taken over from the North Mount Lyell … False information was also given to the Commission on the existence of more than one exit to the mine shaft. Formerly from Beaconsfield. Died 20 February 1913. The Attorney-General has won an appeal seeking to include additional evidence into the Coronial Inquest of three deaths within six weeks at the Mount Lyell copper mine. Also the train travelling times between Burnie and Queenstown were never bettered.[6]. The North Mount Lyell mine disaster is very tragic and sad. On the morning of October 12 1912, fire broke out in a pump house on the 700ft level of the Mount Lyell copper mine in Queenstown, on Tasmania’s remote west coast. THE FOLLOWING EXTRACT WAS PUBLISHED IN THE ADVERTISER (SA) ON WEDNESDAY 16 OCTOBER 1912. Two companies convicted and fined $750,000 for death of worker. Brother rescued from the 1,000 ft level. [ PKESS ASSOCIATION COITRIGIIT. ] He had 7 children, his wife pregnant with their eighth when he died. [5] Such was their rush to get the rescue gear to the mine, the SS Loongana, the ship which crossed Bass Strait carrying the equipment, made the crossing in 13 hours, 35 minutes – a record which stood for many years. Father residing at Manly, N.S.W.. Once the rescue equipment arrived, rescuers were able to enter the mine. Sure I will not see you again any more. I am pleased to have made a little provision for you and poor little Lorna. ‘One stope at the North Lyell mine, it was said, had nearly 50ft. Image: A group of men in front of a locomotive at the Mount Lyell Mine in Tasmania, University of Melbourne Archives (UMA), Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Co, Ltd. Collection, 1975.0083, PA/241.1. The memorial commemorates the forty two victims of the North Lyell Mine disaster of 1912. The more notable are the cases of Messrs. S. Brav, R. Treverton, R. Lonsdale, Wm. Mount Lyell (Tasmania) - WikiMili, The Free Encyclopedia - WikiMili, The Free Encyclopedia Lyell on Tasmania's west coast. Had three children, two daughters and a son, residing in Hobart. The Hooding of the mine is proceeding. Resided in Linda Valley, Tasmania. J. Ryan, Following this discovery, rescue efforts intensified, and firemen were able to descend to the 1,000-foot (300 m) level and rescue all the men trapped below. the North Lyell mine in October, 1912 in a tragedy that will be forever remembered as the "Mt Lyell Disaster." He was posthumously awarded the Clarke Gold Medal from the Royal Humane Society in Melbourne. North Lyell Mine - Scene of Disaster. In 1964, control of the company passed to the British controlled Consolidated Gold Fields Ltd. In its early years, the mine suffered enough accidents and fatalities to immediately close the mine. John Bolton (shift boss) and Thos. “Even by the poor standards of the day, the Mt Lyell mine did not have a reputation for high safety standards.”. The cause of the Mount Lyell mining disaster is being questioned on the eve of its centenary. Out of 170 workers, only 73 men escaped on the first day. Formerly known as W.J. Although Blainey covers the details of the disaster in The Peaks of Lyell, writing 40 years after the event, there were still variations upon the "official" versions of the event, amongst "old timers" in Queenstown. The tragedy unfolded around 11.15am on 12 October 1912 when a fire was reported in the pump house of the 700 foot level. [4], The rescue plan involved the transportation of breathing equipment from one of the Victorian mining towns to Queenstown, via a speedy shipping across the Bass Strait and the alleged fastest times by engines on the Emu Bay Railway, the Government Strahan–Zeehan Railway line between Zeehan and Regatta Point, and from there by the abt line to Queenstown. His brother Gilbert was rescued from the1000ft level. The company was short-lived, however the mine, orebody and workings lasted long after the company was absorbed into the workings of the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company following the failure of the smelters at Crotty.. The 1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster (also known at the time as the Mount Lyell Disaster ) refers to a fire that broke out on 12 October 1912 at the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company operations on the West Coast of Tasmania. Rescue efforts continued for four days with the last of the survivors brought to the surface more than 100 hours after their eight hour shift began. [4] Rescue efforts lasted for four days with the last of the survivors brought to the surface more than 100 hours after the fire began. An inquest into the death of a mine worker at the Mount Lyell mine in Tasmania will resume almost six years after the tragic mining accident. This list of victim details is compiled from the following sources: Mr. Gays rose to the height of absolute heroism. Of the 170 miners working in the mine, 73 managed to escape that first day. Just three weeks before the disaster, two miners were killed and several others were injured when one of the walls of a stope partially collapsed. Native of Melbourne, Victoria. [1] - I will say good-bye. Left a note for the landlady at the Boarding House, letting her know where to send warning if anything should befall him. Identified by his brother John. The Mount Lyell company operations centred mainly on the shoulder between Mount Owen and Mount Lyell, and to the western side of the mountain. "The Mount Lyell Fire", page 244 of, "40 men in 40 stope. (Received 12, 9.25 a.m. Hobart, Nov. 12. [8] Gadd, whose wife was delivered of a son two months later, can be regarded as the 43rd victim of the mining tragedy. Some of these are aired and detailed in Bradshaw's verbatim record of the newspaper reports and the royal commission, as well as being incorporated into Crawford's recent novel. Resided at Linda Valley, Tasmania. Lyell mine in 2012 our tour was delayed because of a broken down bogger so we went up and explored the remnants of this town and other areas nearby. Initially, the first two bodies to be recovered were buried in the Linda Cemetery, however when the final victim (John Bourke) was recovered, the pair were buried at Queenstown at the same time as Bourke. Can my boss direct me to get the COVID-19 vaccine? On the eastern side of the shoulder were the old North Mount Lyell workings, where the 1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster occurred.. Sister living in Queenstown, Tasmania. The cage was ready to come up when he saw a married man on the plat. [12] Deeds of heroism and superb courage are many in connection with the disaster. [21] The tour wrapped up with a performance at the Paragon Theatre, Queenstown in June 2013, on the 100th anniversary of the last funeral of the disaster's victims. As the mine lacked an emergency warning system, those aware of the fire were forced to run along its levels and drives warning others. E a 0 m a rt i a : JOHN VAIL, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, HOBART 19 … There was a small operation in the early days of the mining operation that … The mine had been taken over from the North Mount Lyell Company in 1903. The S.S. Loongana, the ship which crossed the Strait carrying the equipment, made the crossing in 13 hours, 35 minutes – a record which stood for many years. INCENDIARISM SUSPECTED. He concedes that following the accident the Company followed best practice in mine management and labour relations.[14]. According to Schulze, some ‘expert’ witnesses informed the Commission that electricity ‘could not cause fires’ and gave misleading information on how some mining equipment operated. The Mt. Wife and two children residing at Queenstown, Tasmania. The 1912 North Mount Lyell disaster (also known at the time as the Mount Lyell disaster and North Mount Lyell fire) refers to a fire that broke out on 12 October 1912 at the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company operations on the West Coast of Tasmania. Silver medals were awarded to 30 rescuers, among them engineer Russell Mervyn Murray, later the mine's general manager. The fire started on a Saturday morning, between 11:15 and 11:30 am, when the pump house on the 700 ft level of the mine was reported as being on fire. On the 12th of October 1912, just two weeks after a partial collapse killed two miners and injured several others, a fire broke out in the pump house on the 700-foot level. Rumours stated that he was the brother of Francis John Rolfe. Never saw his youngest child as it was born after he left for North Lyell, Identified by brother-in-law, Thomas McHenry. Copper Mines of Tasmania’s (CMT) Mt Lyell mine is on track to restart after a $9.5 million investment from the state government. Many of the victims were trapped by the fire as they worked in remote stopes. Mount Lyell is a mountain in the West Coast Range of Western Tasmania, Australia. Schulze, who had access to more documents than Blainey and the twin advantages of an electrical engineering background and mining experience, concludes that the Royal Commission process was manipulated to give a result that best suited the company, for whom an adverse finding could have been financially ruinous. The Mount Lyell mine disaster of 1912 was a great personal tragedy, however, the aftermath also proved a great travesty of justice, writes T.R. The : workiugs are still sealed and the fire is still burning. Those that had not already died, remained trapped. Wife and three children residing in Queenstown, Tasmania. Outside the mine, uncertainty surrounded the status of the fire and the number of miners remaining inside. The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Wed 16 Oct 1912, Page 15 - THE MOUNT LYELL DISASTER. [1] Inside the tin was a penciled note:[4], 40 men in 40 stope. – I will say good-bye. The fire started on a Saturday morning, between 11:15 and 11:30 am, when the pump house on the 700 ft level of the mine was reported as being on fire. It was especially at fault for naming the suspected arsonist, against whom there was no evidence apart from his prominence as a Union leader. died 1 September 1919, aged 49 leaving a wife and 7 children, Wife and one child living at Bendigo, Victoria, Identified by his gold crowned front tooth, Wife and four children living at Linda Valley, Tasmania. Login. The 1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster (also known at the time as the Mount Lyell Disaster) refers to a fire that broke out on 12 October 1912 at the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company, Tasmania.. Speaking to the ABC in 2012, former MP Peter Schulze, author of a book on the subject, An Engineer Speaks of Lyell, refutes the findings of the Commission and the claims of the mine owners, and offers his own explanation. His body was the last recovered. 5. Already got a Trove account. The North Mount Lyell disaster (also known as the Mount Lyell disaster and North Mount Lyell fire) refers to a fire that broke out on 12 October 1912 at the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company operations on the West Coast of Tasmania, killing 42 miners. Mining activity. He calmly stepped out of the cage into the blinding smoke and sent it up the shaft. At the Centenary of the event at the Queenstown Heritage and Arts Festival Peter Schulze's book An Engineer Speaks of Lyell[12] elaborates an argument that the most likely cause of the fire was an electrical fault[13] as a result of faulty installation of the pump motor at the 700 ft level. The famous Australian historian Geoffrey Blainey authored a book (Peaks of Lyell?). The Mt. The stages of building the infrastructure of the mines, the smelters, and port at Kelly Basin were … Engaged to a girl from Linda Valley, Tasmania. This event was followed by a three day strike during which the workers demanded better safety standards and more thorough safety inspections. With absolutely no emergency warning system in place, most workers did not know about the fire until it was too late. Mount Lyell is an underground mine and mill operation operated by Vedanta's Copper Mines of Tasmania (CMT) division, located in western Tasmania, Australia. On 14 October, rescuers lowered 1,100 feet (340 m) of rope with a signal gong attached to the end down the main shaft of the mine. Mother lived at Daylesford, Victoria. Wife and child residing at Linda Valley, Tasmania. 1912 disaster. 3. However, thanks to former journalist Luke … [7], As a result of the fire, initially 42 lives were lost; the bodies were buried in unmarked graves in the Queenstown General cemetery. A number of themes arise from reading Blainey, and others on the subject: the rise of trade unionism on the west coast at the time, and the lack of preparedness for such disasters by the mining companies. North Lyell mine, 12-10-12. When the rope was pulled up, a handkerchief wrapped around a tobacco tin was found attached to it. I was heartbroken as I always am to see such sad little towns abandoned and still feel terrible about the state of Zhean. SC195/82 Inquest number 13222. You have corrected this article This article has been corrected by You and other Voluntroves This article has been corrected by Voluntroves Send food and candles at once. Neither parent living. That was the last cage that left.[15]. His sister lived in the area, whilst other relative residing in Hobart, Tasmania. Dear Agnes. MEN WHO COULD HAVE ESCAPED WENT BACK TO HELP THEIR MATES IN THE Mount LYELL MINE DISASTER. My mate, Len Burke, is done, and poor old V. and Driver too. Good-bye, with love to all. Mount Lyell Mines, Queenstown district, West Coast municipality, Tasmania, Australia : A large group of operating and abandoned, open cut and underground copper-silver-gold mines, near Queenstown. Recently arrived from England with father Daniel Tregonning, and younger sister, Eva Frances Tregonning. Two children residing at Linda Valley, Tasmania. In 1912 a mining disaster at Mount Lyell killed 42 men. One chapter covers the c1912 Mt Lyell mine disaster. When the Franklin Dam … MT. Today, it looks as if the old town retains some of that mood. The mine suspended operations in January 2014 and currently remains on care and maintenance. Sadly, along with Gormanston, Linda is mostly remembered for the North Mount Lyell disaster of 1912, when 42 miners perished in cold, dark tunnels beneath the mountain. Over the last twenty years maintaining and improving mine safety has become a non-negotiable characteristic of responsible and ethical mining companies throughout Australia and the broader Asia Pacific region. The 1912 North Mount Lyell Disaster (also known as the Mount Lyell Disaster and North Mount Lyell Fire) refers to a fire that broke out on 12 October 1912 at the Mount Lyell Mining and Railway Company operations on the West Coast of Tasmania.The mine had been taken over from the North Mount Lyell Company in 1903. Smelting ceased in 1969 and nature began clawing its way back. Submit your details to receive the media kit. That was the last cage that left. Surprisingly, considering how many lives were taken, the Mount Lyell disaster did not involve an explosion, gas leak, earthquake or cave-in. Further, it was alleged that there was at present a creep in the same mine, and the fear was expressed that there would be an immense collapse. Body identified by oldest son William. [3] Initial rescue attempts proved difficult, and repeated attempts to enter the mine failed. The fire itself was not particularly dangerous, however the smoke it produced and the oxygen it consumed stole the breath from the trapped miners’ lungs and ultimately took their lives. Identified by his father-in-law, Charles Morley. [16][17][18][19][20] The West Coast Singers toured Tasmania with this concert in the following months, including performances at the Cygnet and Tamar Valley Folk Festivals in January 2013. (in some parts Bradshaw has direct transcription from the Zeehan and Dundas Herald for similar dates), Later references now conflate the North Mount Lyell and Mount Lyell locality names to the, Rimon, Wendy. His mother was residing with Mrs O'Connor, Princess St, Port Melbourne. The Queenstown Heritage and Arts Festival of 2012 celebrated the centenary of this event. The mine had also registered accidents with multiple fatalities in 1902, 1903 and 1908. The mine had been taken over from the North Mount Lyell Company in 1903. Gays. His married sister lived in Queenstown, Tasmania, and his mother lived in Victoria. Out of 170 workers, only 73 men escaped on the first day. One of the miners, Albert Gadd, who escaped death and then re-entered the mine to assist in the rescue efforts, was hospitalised in Launceston and died on 20 February 1913 from carbon monoxide poisoning. The cage was ready to come up, when be saw a married man on the plat. Lyell Mining and Railway Company was formed in 1892 to exploit rich silver and copper lodes ar Mt. Our first point of call – and the town’s only palpable remains – was the Royal Hotel, which closed in the 1950s. 1912 disaster. Lived with his sister and brother, Thomas, at Queenstown, Tasmania. The cause of the disaster, is still to this day, under debate. Even by the poor standards of the day, the Mt Lyell mine did not have a reputation for high safety standards. 4. THE NOETH MOUNT LYELL MINING DISASTER RBPOBT OF THE COMMISSIONER Presented, to both Houses of Parliament by His Excellency's Command. The North Lyell locality (at which some of the workers killed in the disaster had addresses) was eventually overtaken by the Mount Lyell mine workings. [2], Sometime between 11:15 and 11:30 am on 12 October the pump house on the 700-foot (210 m) level of the mine was reported on fire. The North Lyell locality (at which some of the workers killed in the disaster had addresses) was eventually overtaken by the Mount Lyell mine workings. LETTER FROM THE GRAVE – Mount LYELL MINE DISASTER, One of the first rescue parties to reach the 700 foot level found a group of deceased men. On my visit to Mt. Shift boss. Had a wife named Wilhemina and a daughter named May. Native of Westbury, Tasmania. However many, including those who had been working in remote stopes, were trapped. Identified by the initials "J.S." Your loving husband, Joe McCarthy.”. Locality. The tragedy unfolded around 11.15am on 12 October 1912 when a fire was reported in the pump house of the 700 foot level. If anyone should find this note convey to my wife. 2 drive twice but returned to look for his mates. The memorial commemorates the forty two victims of the North Lyell Mine disaster of 1912. Happened almost 100 years ago, yet no non-fiction book has ever been written about it am! 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