Biography

Known as Jack. The cage went out of control and fell 2000ft to the bottom of the shaft on the 22nd May 1911. Bonfanti survived but died five months later due to a fracture of the spine, paralytic debility, and septic condition. Three others were killed in the same accident and seven others injured. On 22 May 1911, an appalling accident occurred at the Sons of' Gwalia mine. One man was killed and nine others seriously injured. Whilst the 8 o'clock shift was going on, ten men got into the skip at the surface to proceed below, when they suddenly descended with great velocity, the engine having got out of the control of the driver. The skip and the unfortunate occupants dashed to the bottom, a distance of over 2000 feet. The cable parted from the drum of the winder and when the full length had run out, went to the bottom on the top of the skip and the men. The noise of the crash attracted the mine officials and no time was lost in ascertaining the fate of the unfortunate men. It was found that Frank G. Rooney, assistant surveyor, was killed outright. Phillip Adams, mine surveyor, was terribly injured and was not expected to recover. Harold Sharp was injured internally and was also in a critical condition. Vehicles were obtained to convey the injured men to the hospital and Drs. Cantor and Cameron were called to the scene of the accident. The latter proceeded to the bottom of the shaft and rendered first aid preparatory to the men being hauled to the surface. The eight sufferers were conveyed to the Leonora Hospital immediately. It was reported on 20 October 1911, that Jack Bonfanti, one of the unfortunate victims of the ship accident at the Sons of Gwalia, was still lingering in periodical agony at the Leonora Hospital. Described as a fine stalwart man on the 22nd of May, Jack was reduced to a shadow and his demise was merely a question of time. Being a single man without dependants, there was no value placed upon his life under the Workmen's Compensation Act. To that date, he had not received a farthing from the company and in the inevitability of being relieved by death, probably no liability would exist, even to the extent of burial expenses. It was reported that £50 apiece had been offered to the other four victims, two of whom had visible permanent injuries. Ragolini had one leg several inches shorter than the other, and Tognolini received spinal injuries, apparently of a permanent nature. The final act in the skip tragedy of May that year was enacted when Bonfanti, the unfortunate Italian fourth victim, died after lying for five months in the local hospital with no possible chance of recovery. Of the ten men who were in the bolting skip, four had already died, two had resumed work and the remaining four could be seen at Gwalia crippled up for the remainder of their days, unable to work, burdens to themselves and friends, with very little if any assistance from the industry they helped to develop and prosper.