The stope had been fired out and the men were barring down the ground in the hanging wall. The shovellers were standing back out of the way. One piece of stone about 15 ft. long and 5 ft. wide, had been sounded and found to be 'drummy.' A 'tom' was under the piece in question. It was intended to put some timber in the stope on the following day. The shovellers were there to clear the way for that purpose. The deceased was one of the shovellers. Five men were shovelling stone in the stope when, without any warning, a flake twenty feet in length. weighing about four tons, came down. The deceased was struck above the hip and his side terribly gashed by a corner of a heavy piece of stone. His cries for help brought immediate assistance, but he only lived about ten minutes after the accident.

Donini had been employed on the mine for about eight months. An enquiry was opened that day and, after identification of the body, the jury viewed the scene of the accident and adjourned the inquiry until the Tuesday. At the resumption of the enquiry, Dr. McCall, of Leonora, gave evidence to the effect that the deceased met his death through severe internal injuries received through an accident, such as a fall of earth would cause. The jury brought in the following verdict: — 'That the deceased, Agostini Donini, met his death as a result of a fall of earth at the Sons of Gwalia Mine Ltd., in the 1515 stope at the No. 18 level on the morning of November 11, 1915. and that no blame is attachable to anybody."

Denis Donovan died as a result of suicide by taking Prussic acid whilst under a severe depression and suffering from cancer of the stomach.

William and his mate, Joseph Price, were timbering. Two " toms" had to be replaced by fresh ones and Dowling started to cut the hitches while Price obtained the toms. Price was away for a few minutes and on returning, found that about seven tons of earth and rock had fallen from the hanging wall on top of Dowling. The unfortunate man was quickly extricated but was found to be dead. It appeared that Dowling in some way interfered with the legs holding up the ground they were about to secure. The deceased appeared to have been struck on the forehead. The base of the skull was fractured. An enquiry was opened and adjourned to the Monday to enable the Inspector of Mines to be present. The deceased had lived in South Australia for 10 years and New South Wales for 8 years before coming to Western Australia. He resided with his parents at Leonora. Jeremiah and Mary were married on 10 February 1871 at Willunga, South Australia. They produced a family of three boys and three girls. The others were: Sarah Jane born 1872; James Henry born 1876; Catherine born 1881; Thomas born 1884; Florence born 1886. Jeremiah died on 18 December 1924 in Perth; his wife died 29 January 1944 in Bayswater.

Also known as Bernard Joseph Doyle. Bernard and his brother Philip, together with their sister Catherine, came to Australia at Melbourne, with the men seeking their fortunes as miners. His older brother Philip died in the Mt Mulligan mine explosion in Queensland in 1921. Catherine became a cook in Melbourne before marrying John Charles Robertson. After the tragic death of their daughter Marion in 1893 through drinking kerosene, they too followed the goldrush to Coolgardie. Her husband John Charles, died of typhoid 29 January 1902.

At an inquest held on Tuesday 22 December before Acting-Coroner W. H. Barker J.P. and the following jury : George Cogan, foreman, and S. Murphy and J. Minogue, the jury, without retiring, returned a verdict to the effect that deceased, Bernard Doyle, came to his death by drowning himself whilst in a temporary state of unsound mind. When Bernard married Tilly, she was just 17 years of age and had just arrived in Coolgardie the year before. The young family travelled to Leonora not long after Eileen’s birth to take up a position with Mr. McArdle as an agent for a local brewery on commission with a small salary. On the 23rd of September 1903 in Gwalia Street, Leonora Western Australia an event would take place that would start a further string of family tragedies. The event was the death of little Eileen Margaret. She died on 23 September 1903 from tonsillitis, nephritis and asthma. She was two and a half years of age and had only been ill only for a few days when she died without having been taken to hospital. The couple was heart-broken but it was Bernard who seemed to be the most despairing. On top of this, the business he was working for was not doing well and was not paying him what they had agreed on. On the evening of the 17th December 1903, Bernard was not to be found. Earlier that evening his wife Matilda had wanted him to accompany her to a Christmas concert in the town but he declined as he said he had scratched his face and didn’t want to be seen.

Earlier that day Bernard had received several letters from his family back in Ireland who had only just found out about the death of little Eileen. Reading these had greatly upset him. He blamed himself for the child’s death saying he should have left them ‘below’, meaning in Coolgardie. Matilda searched everywhere for Bernard but it wasn't until the following day that she went to a neighbour and asked him to check the water tank on the hill, where he found the body of Bernard. Bernard was buried with his little daughter in the Roman Catholic section of the Leonora Cemetery. There is no headstone for them.

Sadly, that was not the end of the tale. Matilda was now destitute and, despite the help of kind neighbours, she decided to return to Coolgardie where, within a short time, she became ill with Phthisis and died in Coolgardie on 26th September 1904, almost exactly a year from the death of her daughter. . The full story of this tragic family can be found on a blog by Moya Sharp, of Outback Family History, entitled "Born of Grief and Despair", which was published on 10 July 2021. See: https://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/born-of-grief-and-despair/

The death of little Eileen Margaret set off a trail of tragedies for this family. Her father, Bernard, was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, in 1874. Having arrived in Australia, he married Matilda Jane Jones at Coolgardie in 1900 when she was just 17 years of age and had arrived in Coolgardie the previous year. The young family traveled to Leonora not long after Eileen’s birth to take up a position with Mr. McArdle as an agent for a local brewery on commission with a small salary. When little Eileen died, she had only been ill for a few days and hadn't even been taken to hospital. The couple was heartbroken but it was Bernard who seemed to be the most despairing. On top of this, the business he was working for was not doing well and was not paying him what they had agreed on. On the evening of the 17th December 1903, Bernard was not to be found. Earlier that evening his wife Matilda had wanted him to accompany her to a Christmas concert in the town but he declined as he said he had scratched his face and didn’t want to be seen. Earlier that day Bernard had received several letters from his family back in Ireland who had only just found out about the death of little Eileen. Reading these had greatly upset him. He blamed himself for the child’s death saying he should have left them ‘below’, meaning in Coolgardie. Matilda searched everywhere for Bernard but it wasn't until the following day that she went to a neighbour and asked him to check the water tank on the hill, where he found the body of Bernard. Bernard was buried with his little daughter in the Roman Catholic section of the Leonora Cemetery. There is no headstone for them. The verdict of the inquest was that Bernard Doyle came to his death by drowning himself whilst in a temporary state of unsound mind. Sadly, that was not the end of the tale. Matilda was now destitute and, despite the help of kind neighbors, she decided to return to Coolgardie where, within a short time, she became ill with Phthisis and died in Coolgardie on 26th September 1904, almost exactly a year from the death of her daughter. The full story of this tragic family can be found on a blog by Moya Sharp, of Outback Family History, entitled "Born of Grief and Despair", which was published on 10 July 2021. See: https://www.outbackfamilyhistoryblog.com/born-of-grief-and-despair/

John Doyle, an old prospector on the Eastern fields, perished in the bush near Mt Stirling. His body was found five miles from camp. Mr Doyle arrived in Queensland about 1884, where he remained for a couple of years, battling hard against his new conditions. His restless Celtic spirit soon attracted him to the Nor'-West, and he led a party with a large mob of cattle overland to the Kimberley, Shortly after his arrival, gold broke out in the Kimberley district and Doyle threw himself at once into prospecting. He was successful from the first and several shows which afterwards turned out rich, owe their origin to his dogged perseverance and keen eye for the yellow metal. It was here that he found the 308 oz. slug which created such a sensation at the time. Leaving the Kimberley, he moved southward through the Murchison district and thence on to Diorite King. Forming a group, it was only after some little time at Diorite before Doyle made his discovery of the famous Little Wonder mine which was, for the amount of ore raised, the richest show in the State, the party recovering £45,000 worth of gold. There being no battery nearer than Southern Cross, the party proceeded to cut a direct track to that centre. This track, which is as straight as the crow flies, is still to be seen on the mining maps of the district. Pack horses were the means of transit and the hardships of the trips to and from the Cross can easily be imagined by those inured to outback life. In these days of' good roads, Government wells, settled districts, and easy means of transit, it is difficult perhaps to fully appreciate the hardships endured by our early pioneers, but the services of men like "Jack" Doyle should never be forgotten. The prospectors of the Leonora district were quick to formulate the idea of erecting a memorial to the late John Doyle, who perished from thirst near Mt Stirling The idea of perpetuating his memory is highly creditable to his fellow prospectors, and was expected to be heartily supported.

Rosalina was the third of six children born in Auckland, New Zealand, to Francis and Bridget Dyers.  

The couple's other five children were Ellen Elizabeth DYERS born 1868; Annie DYERS born 1869; Francis DYERS born 1873; Manuel Joseph DIAZ born 1876; Louisa DIAZ born 1877.

Francisco DIAZ died at sea on 7 September 1876 at the south end of Little Barrier Island, New Zealand.  Bridget died in 1877 in Auckland.

Rosalina is buried in Plot Number 248 of the Roman Catholic portion of the Leonora Cemetery.

Cordelia Caroline Lester was born 1888 in Surrey Hills, New South Wales. In 1909 she married William English in Kalgoorlie. He was born 1884 in Kalgoorlie. Their other known children were William born 1910; Richard born 1913; Irene born 1918.

The little boy is buried in Plot number 183 of the Roman Catholic Portion of the Leonora Cemetery.

The deceased was killed accidentally by coming in contact with a motor shed on the Sons of Gwalia GM which had become charged with electric current (550volts). Heavy rain had caused a leakage of current through an insulator, and on to the galvanised iron building housing the electric motor.

He is buried in the Roman Catholic portion of the Leonora Cemetery, plot number 177.

This little boy had two siblings: Dominico, who married Florre Benardi in Wiluna in 1946; and Maria.  

His mother, Marianna, died in Wagin in 1980. She was aged 80 years.

Little Joseph was buried in Plot number 233 of the Roman Catholic portion of the Leonora Cemetery.

Andrea Fasanini was asphyxiated by accumulated fumes from the previous night's firing while attempting to save his mate and fellow countryman, Pietro BENDOTTI.

The accident happened when Pietro Bendotti and Fasanini, two machine miners, descended a winze to begin the morning shift. Bendotti was overcome by fumes which had collected in the shaft and Fasanini hastened to secure assistance. With Nicoletti and Ernest Camp he returned to the winze and the three of them tried to drag Bendotti 120 feet up the steep incline to safety. When Fasanini showed signs of being affected by the gases, Camp went for help. Nicoletti, supporting both men, tried to drag their combined weight up by a rope, but he too became affected by the gases and was forced to let them go. Nicoletti lost consciousness just as he saw assistance coming. Nicoletti recovered from the effects of the poisonous fumes, but both Bendotti and Fasanini were dead when brought to the surface. At the inquest held in Leonora on Friday 13 July, the Jury added the following to its verdict of accidental death:

"From the evidence given we ask that the names of Nicoletti, Camp and Fasanini be forwarded to the proper authorities for recognition of their bravery in a most trying and critical moment, and also that the court's deep appreciation of the conduct of all others concerned in the rescue be recorded."

West Australian Dec 1935, page 19: MINERS' BRAVERY - Recognition by King of Italy. It was announced yesterday by the Vice-Consul for Italy (Signor N. Costantino) that the King of Italy bad awarded the silver medal for bravery to Mr. Giovanni Nicoletti, of Gwalia, and posthumously to the late Mr. Andrea Fasanini, in recognition of their heroism in attempting to rescue a countryman who had been overcome by fumes in a winze at the Sons of Gwalia mine, Gwalia, on June 26. 1934.

Percival Phillip (known as Percy) Feld and Elsie Martha Carpenter were married in Albany on 18 December 1929.  Their son, John Acton, was born in 1931 in Perth while they were living in Queen's Park.  Sadly, the little chap died in Yalgoo on 14 June 1931 (Death Registration 6900002/1931, Yalgoo) at the age of 11 weeks.  Their second son was David Lincoln, born 1937 in Leonora.  He had been ill for a week before he succumbed.

Phillip Feld was born in Claremont  in 1901 and died in 1972 in Albany.  His wife was born 1 December 1902 at Albany and died there in 1993.