Biography

The deceased died from the shock from a fall of rock at the 25th level of the Sons of Gwalia Gold Mine.

At the inquest held at Leonora following the death of Daniele Arrigoni, Dr. H. E. Clarke stated that Arrigoni was conveyed to the Leonora Hospital at about 8pm on 4th January, suffering severely from shock and internal injuries and he died at about 3 o'clock the following morning. A post-mortem examination that day revealed that several ribs were broken and driven into the lung which had collapsed and was full of blood. The doctor concluded that Arrigoni died from shock and injuries to the lung and kidneys and loss of blood.

Harry Greyman, relieving shift boss on the Gwalia Mine, gave evidence and said that Arrigoni started work in the stope about 4.30 that day. It sometimes took ten minutes to bar down ground, and sometimes two hours.  Arrigoni had started boring. In the witness' opinion, he did not take sufficient trouble in barring down, and he thought that was the reason of the stone falling; the vibration of the machine would also help.

Further witnesses were called and evidence produced until eventually, the jury presented their verdict: That Daniele Arrigoni came to his death about 3 am on 5th January, 1932, at the Leonora District Hospital, from shock, following injuries received in No. 1000 stope on No. 25 level in the Sons of Gwalia Mine, through a fall of rock, and that no blame is attachable to anyone; the jury is of opinion that the shift boss should devote the whole of his time to the inspection of slopes, and not to the filling of trucks."