William Slade Simons Lindorff

COURAGEOUS

RESCUE

Three Commended

' BALLARAT, Monday.-The courage of two men and a boy who descended an old mining shaft to rescue a man who had been injured, was warmly commen- ded to-day at an Inquest into the death

of William Slade Simon Lindorff, aged 38 years, cartage contractor, of Pitfield. The inquest was held before a Jury.

Evidence was given that on April 22 Lindorff was dismantling a pump in the old "Ninety-Six" mine, when a batten from the timbering became dislodged, and, falling about 80 feet, splintered in his body. He died shortly after reaching hospital. His son, Arthur Lindorff, aged 16 years, was first to give aid by sliding down a pipe, and, with the aid of William Roy Warhurst, of Pitfield, mnde a "bosun's chair," and was hauling it to the surface when it jammed. Frederick James Hock- ing, farmer, of Pitfield, then descended the shaft, and the rescue was completed.

Richard Broad, district mining inspec- tor, said that the shaft was in a dan- gerous state, and he commended the men, particularly Hocking and the boy, for their courage in making the perilous descent.

The jury returned a verdict of acciden- tal death, with no blame attachable to anyone. A rider was added that, where persons desired to make use of old mining shafts, permission should first be sought from the Mines Department, and the mine examined by an inspector before any de- scent was attempted.

The district coroner (Mr. A. R. Hill, P.M.) said that on behalf of the jury and himself he would like to pay tribute to the courage of the boy and the two men, particularly Hocking, who, though he had not previously been down a mine, respon- ded immediately when the call for assist- ance came.

THE ARGUS (VIC) 16/5/1939