Mining Deaths – Lawlers Snapshot

In mining areas it was very common to have deaths occur from accidents and miners lung conditions, and Lawlers is no exception. In the Lawlers Cemetery there are 19 mining related deaths out of a total of 164 burials.

It is sad that none of them have a headstone. Their details are all recorded on the Western Australian Virtual Miners memorial so perhaps one day some family members will find them.

ABERG  Hilding 24 March 1904, Vivien GM, Lawlers,   Age 30 years, Occ:- Miner, Cause:- Explosion of gelignite in the Vivien GM, Order of the Coroner,  Mine Accident  www.wavmm.com (AKA  Joseph BERRY) Born Sweden , Single.

ANDREOLI  Pietro d 3 April 1907, Waroonga GM, Lawlers,  Aged 34 years, Cause:- fell down mine shaft from cage, Father:- Stefano ANDREOLI (Carpenter) Born Leglio Italy  Mine Accident www.wavmm.com

East Murchison United GM Lawlers

East Murchison United GM Lawlers

CATTANEO  Vizenso (Vincent)  d 3 April 1907, Waroonga GM, Lawlers,  Aged 24 years,
Occ Miner, killed by falling down shaft from cage, Father:- Belista CATTANEO, Mother:- Rosa BUSCA,  Born Mazzo di Valtellina ITALY Mine Accident:- www.wavmm.com

COMETTI  Baptiste Pietro d 2 February 1908  Aged 22 years, Vivien GM, Lawlers, Cause:- Suffocation by a fall of sand, Father:- Giacomo COMETTI (Farmer) Mother:- Maria Angela SALADANNA,  Born Grosotto, Lombardy, Italy, Single,   Mine accident- www.wavmm.com

DELLAQUA  Agostino d 5 February 1909, Lawlers hospital,   Aged 40 years Father:- Modesto DELLAQUA (Labourer) Mother:- Ossola TRINCHA, Born Gosotti, Lombardy, Italy, In WA 13yrs, Mine Accident – www.wavmm.com

DINEEN  John d 12 March 1918, May Bee GM near Lawlers, Age 50,Occ:- Miner, Cause:- As a result of the collapse of a stope in the May Bee GM near Lawlers on the 12.3.1914. Single. Mine Accident – www.wavmm.com

DUNN  James d 11 April 1908  Aged 42 years Kathleen GM near Lawlers, Occ:- Millman, Cause:- Fracture of the skull in accident at the Kathleen GM, Inquest held 22 Apr 1908, Father:- James DUNN (Farmer) Mother:- Elizabeth LEMON Born Co Tyrone ,Ireland  Mine Accident- www.wavmm.com

FERGUSON James d 3 Sep 1896 Park St Lawlers Occ:- Miner 49yrs Cause:- Miners Consumption born Scotland buried Lawlers Cemetery Reg:- E Murch 7/1896 See www.wavmm.com

Artwork at the Lawlers Cemetery

FREESTONE James Watson d 11 Mar 1899 Great Eastern Mine Lawlers Occ:- Engine Driver 46yrs Cause:- Killed in an accident drawn into one of the pulleys in connection to the Battery Verdict of the Coroner Father:- John FREESTONE (Miner) Mother:- Ann WATSON born Saddleworth S Aust Married to Jane MECK in Horsham VIC at age 37yrs buried Lawlers Cemetery Reg E Murch 2/1899  Mine Accident – www.wavmm.com

HICKSON  Henry d 5 September 1901  Aged 27 years  Occ:- Miner, Accidentally fell down shaft at East Murchison United GM Born Victoria – Mining Accident – www.wavmm.com

KELLY James Joseph d2 1 Jun 1902, Lawlers Hospital, Occ:- Miner, 28yrs, Cause:- by falling down a winze at the Bellvue Mine, through being overcome by dynamite fumes, by Verdict of the Coroner, Father:- Thomas KELLY (Farmer) Mother:- Ann COTTER, born Haddon VIC, In VIC 22yrs, in WA 6 yrs, Single Mining Accident:- www.wavmm.com

Plaque on the artwork on the plaque at the Lawlers Cemetery

Plaque on the artwork on the plaque at the Lawlers Cemetery

LEWIS William Samuel d 26 Jun 1902, Wooronga South Mine, near Lawlers, Occ:- Miner, 31yrs, Cause:- Injuries caused by a fall of earth in the Wooronga South Gold Mine, by verdict of the Coroner, Father:- William LEWIS (Miner), Mother:- Mary HAYES, born Woods Point VIC, in Vic 28 ½ yrs in WA 2 ½ yrs, Single Mining Accident:- www.wavmm.com

MAHONY James d 3 Aug 1899 Great Eastern Hotel Lawlers Occ:- Miner 38yrs Cause:- Pulmonary Phthisis Father:- John MAHONEY (Farmer) born Stalwall VIC buried Lawlers Cemetery Reg:- E Murch 5/1899 See: www.wavmm.com

MASSEY  Charles Richard d 16 November 1903  Aged 29 years Cause:- Injuries received by being caught in machinery at the Vivien GM, Lawlers,  Born Chester England, in WA 4mths, Mine Accident – www.wavmm.com

Daily News 10 December 1903

Daily News 10 December 1903 Charles MASSEY

McCARTHY  Felix d 21 January 1912, Surface, Northern Mines Limited Lawlers, Occ:- Contractor, Cause:- Crushed by 150 tons of slime at the Northern GM,   Aged 32 years Born Ireland  Father:- James McCARTHY (Farmer) Mother:- Julia O’NEIL, born Co Cork, Ireland, 10yrs in WA, Single

McMAHON  Frank d 14 July 1907  Aged 35 years Occ:- Miner, Cause:- Asphyxiated caused by a fall of sluices in the mine. Parents unknown, Born Stawell Victoria, In VIC 22yrs in WA 12yrs. Mine Accident:- www.wavmm.com

REID  Frederick Charles Jackson d 24 Feb 1908, Lawlers Hospital,  Aged 39 years, Occ:- Plasterer and Miner,  Cause:- Fracture of the base of skull by being pulled into machinery at the Bellvue GM near Lawlers, Father:- Frederick REID (Plasterer and Contractor) Mother maiden name FULLER, Born Westminster, London England, left England at 3yrs, 12yrs in NZ, 15yrs in VIC, 9yrs in WA, Married to Annie MARSDON in Richmond VIC at age 22yrs, Children:- Charles Augustus 17yrs, Walter 15yrs. Mine Accident:- www.wavmm.com
Full story:-

RYAN  Martin d 10 April 1909, Vivien GM, Lawlers,  Aged 38 years, Occ:- Miner, Father:- Thomas RYAN (Bootmaker) Mother:- Bridget KEAYLON,  Born Colac Victoria, In VIC 26yrs, In WA 12yrs, Single.  Mine Accident:- www.wavmm.com

WALKER  Adam  d 13 October 1902  Wooronga South GM, Lawlers, Occ:- Miner Aged 35 years Cause:- Accidental ruptured heart from a fall of earth, Verdict of the Coroner Reg:- East Murchison 14/1902, Mine Accident- www.wavmm.com
WARREN Alfred George, d 3 Mar 1944 At Agnew Hospital, Occ:- Prospector, 67yrs, Cause:- Silicosis and TB, Father:- Alfred WARREN (Miner) Mother:- Elizabeth GODDARD, born St Arnauds VIC, In VIC 22yrs, in WA 45yrs, Single Reg: E Murchison 11/44  see – www.wavmm.com  (Last burial in the Lawlers Cemetery)

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My name is Moya Sharp, I live in Kalgoorlie Western Australia and have worked most of my adult life in the history/museum industry. I have been passionate about history for as long as I can remember and in particular the history of my adopted home the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Through my website I am committed to providing as many records and photographs free to any one who is interested in the family and local history of the region.

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