A Coronial Enquiry was held at Youanmi on 12 and 13 August before Mr J. Bryant, J.P., Acting Coroner, and a jury consisting of Messrs Flynn, McGlee and Dwyer. Daniel Buckley, sworn, said he was working with deceased on 9 August at the No. 2 level in the No. 6 stope north. He had worked five shifts with the deceased and considered him to be a good miner. They each bored a hole and fired them. Returning after the smoke had cleared, the deceased started to work his ground down. He had filled one truck and had another one about half full when Buckley heard a lump of stone fall and strike a tom. Cussens called out to him to get the lump off him. Cussens was then lying on his side, doubled up, and the lump of stone had him covered up. Buckley tried to get the lump off Cussens but he could not. He got a bar and eased it off him, then called to the trucker to give him a hand. When he did so, they were no time in releasing the deceased. He was brought to the surface and the doctor was called. Cussens was quite dazed. Dr. J. T. O'Brien said that when he saw the deceased at the mine after the accident, he had a severe spinal injury, from which he died on the Sunday. He advised that the fall of stone would cause the injury. After inspecting the mine, the jury returned the following verdict:—That James Cussens met his death at Youanmi on August 9 as a result of injuries received by a fall of earth in the Youanmi G.M., no blame being attachable to anyone.

Peter Daly and William Buxton were engaged in sinking the winze to No 3 level. They had descended the winze, charged a number of holes and lit the fuse. While climbing to the level above, Daly lost his hold and fell. Buxton pluckily went back to cut the fuses, but finding they had gone too far, helped his mate to a chain ladder and started with him for the level. When he nearly reached the level, he heard Daly fall back just as the first charge went off. Buxton got clear but Daly was blown to pieces. When the smoke cleared away and he went below, the only portion of the deceased that was recognisable was the top of his head. His remains were collected and brought to the surface. Peter Daly was an old resident of the Murchison and had been married about six months. Buxton, who is a single man, received a severe shaking. The verdict of the jury at the inquest, was that: "The deceased met his death at the Youanmi G.M. by an accident through failing to retreat from an explosion of dynamite, no blame being attachable to anyone" The deceased was well known and greatly respected in the district. At the opening of the Royal Agricultural Show in October 1914, the Governor presented William Buxton with the Royal Humane Society's award for his heroic conduct in trying to rescue his mate, Peter Daly, at Youanmi on the 29th of July, 1913. Maria was a widow when she married Peter Daly. In New South Wales in 1890, she married James William Thomson, who died at Black Range in 1908 (Death Registration 14/1908, Black Range). They had a son, Gordon William Thomson, born 1890. Four years later, she married Daly, who died less than 6 months after the wedding. In 1915 at Black Range, Maria married William Algernon Sidney Hill (Marriage Registration 1/1915, Black Range). There were no further children. Maria's son, Gordon William Thomson, died in Perth 2 September 1946. She died 16 January 1955 at Gosnells and her husband, William Algernon Sidney Hill, died 15 September 1955, also at Gosnells.

Hazel Hanlon married Albert Dalziell in the Murchison district in 1936 (Marriage Registration 9/1936, Murchison). Hazel was born about 1915 in Geraldton. It is believed there were two daughters born to the couple. Albert died 21 July 1965 at Mt Hawthorn.

Also known as Peter Bond or Peter Matthews. Peter Debondi was caught between a cage and set at the Youanmi Gold Mine and suffered internal injuries after being thrown partly out of the cage and crushed against the wall of the shaft. He was taken to Youanmi Hospital with several crushed ribs but died shortly after admittance. He had previously lived in the Northam area and was a popular player in the town's football team. An inquest into his death was held on 2 September before Colonel W.O. Mansbridge, District Coroner, and a jury. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned the following verdict: "That Peter DeBondi, Alias Matthews ... whilst travelling in a cage in the main shaft ... received such injuries as to cause death. Death was accidental, no blame attachable to anyone." The chief mourners at his funeral were his father, sister and brother-in-law. Peter was the third of ten children born in this family of 4 girls and 6 boys. His siblings were: Theresa born 1913; Kathleen born 1914; Leslie about 17 - all born in Collie; Joseph born 1918; Rose born 1924; Freddie born 1926; Anthony Robert born 1929; George Thomas born 1934; and another daughter. Their parents were married on 19 March 1912 in Walhalla, Victoria. Maria Domenica was born 11 November 1892 in Bianzone, Italy. Her husband was born 15 March 1882 in Tirano, Lombardia, Italy. He had emigrated to Australia in 1889 and died 23 October 1959 in Perth. He was pre-deceased by his wife some two years before on 18 July 1957 in Northam.

Edward William Doherty was born 30 December 1892 in Victoria, one of ten children. His wife was born 4 August 1899 in Hampton Road, South Fremantle. Dal was the firstborn of their three children. He is buried in the Church of England portion of the Youanmi Cemetery and his funeral was largely attended by residents and schoolchildren alike.

Alfred Drew was killed in a double mine fatality when a fall of earth occurred in the stope at the north level of the Red, White and Blue lease, Curran's Find. The other man was John Moskavita, aged 25. They were both buried by the earth that fell. Rescue operations were immediately started and the body of Drew was recovered but Moskavita's body was not recovered until some hours later. A verdict that they were killed by a fall of earth was returned by the jury at the inquest. Drew came from New South Wales, where his wife lived.

The child's parents were married in Geraldton in 1916 (Marriage Registration 2900030/1916, Geraldton).  They had a son, Bernard George Edmonds, who was born in Geraldton in 1919 (Birth Registration 86/1919, Geraldton).

Two other children, Joyce Eva (Joy) and Betty, were both born and died and are buried at Youanmi.  Their stories feature in this website.

The child's parents were married in Geraldton in 1916 (Marriage Registration 2900030/1916, Geraldton).

Two of Betty's siblings, Arthur John and Joy (Joyce Eva) are also buried at Youanmi.  Their stories appear in this website.

Known as Joy.

The child's father, Bernard Charles Joseph Fitzgerald, was born 1890, Bathurst, NSW, died 10 April 1948 at Murchison, Western Australia. He married Sybil Hilda Edmonds, born 1896, at Brighton, Victoria, at Geraldton in 1916 (Marriage Registration 30/1916, Geraldton).

Little Joyce Eva's siblings were: Bernard George Edmonds born 3 April 1919, Geraldton; Sybil; Phyllis, Jimmy. Sybil Hilda died in Perth on 26 November 1986, aged 90 years. Young Joyce Eva suffered from acute laryngitis for some 26 hours before she succumbed to the infection. She is buried in Plot Number 55 at the Youanmi Cemetery.  

Two other little siblings who died at Youanmi were Arthur John and Betty.  Their stories are in this website.

George Burton was the fifth of six children known to have been born to William and Annie Graham in Fryerstown, Victoria. The others were: Richardson Taylor born 1872; Jane born 1874; Thomas born 1877; Mark born 1879; Gordon born 1886. His estate, valued at £148 was left to his youngest brother, Gordon Graham. The deceased was buried in Plot 12 of the Anglican Portion of the Youanmi Cemetery.

Harkin was killed on the Number 5 Level of the Youanmi Gold Mine as a result of a premature explosion. Arthur Head, shift boss in charge of operations at the mine, visited the site where the two men were working. The deceased was employed on the mine as a machine miner and Donald Sherritt, a bogger. They were working in the No. 5 stope sub-level. Head noticed dynamite in four butts of the north face and instructed the two men to clean away the broken ore from the foot of this face and to blow out the butts so that they could be re-fired at knock off time (3.12 pm). He again visited the men at about 2 pm and on an inspection of the north face found it ready for re-charging, the four butts having been cleaned out. When checking over the plod cards at about 4.30 pm, he noticed that Harkin's and Sherritt's were missing, so he interviewed the platman, Francis Eifller, who told him that the two men would be late in firing out. After waiting a further 20 minutes, he again interviewed Eiffler who said that the two men were not on the plat. He then decided to go in search of them, and climbed the ladderway to the No. 6 level. He called out, received no answer but heard what he thought to be a man groaning and immediately went into the stope and found Sherritt, who appeared to be badly injured, lying on his back alongside an ore pass. After taking the necessary precautions to prevent him from falling down the pass, he went in search of Harkin and found him lying on his stomach, apparently dead near a pass at the bottom of a rise leading to the sub-level. He immediately gave the alarm and the men were conveyed to the surface.

At the inquest into the circumstances of the death of Mr Harkin at Mt. Magnet, Dr. F. H. Ebell gave formal medical evidence stating that Harkins received compound fractures of both legs, evisceration of the large intestine, multiple lacerations and shock and death was instantaneous. Sherritt received several fractured ribs and multiple lacerations and bruises and was for some days in a serious condition. Fully recovered and able to give evidence, Sherritt stated that he was employed on the mine as a bogger and had only been on the job for six weeks and had not had previous mining experience. During the day, he was employed bogging in the No. 6 stope sub-level with Harkins, who was a machine miner and who was boring for most of the day. At about 2.30 pm, Harkins began charging the face and did all the plugging and ramming. He, Sherritt, was standing away from him and was watching him prepare for firing and saw him light his burner and the next thing he remembered was the explosion.

After a short retirement, the jury brought in a verdict "that John Harkins came to his death on the 2nd day of February, 1939, at the No. 5 sub-level, No. 6 stope in Youanmi Gold Mine from injuries received in an accidental explosion of dynamite." They concluded that there was not "...sufficient evidence to show how the accident occurred or what caused such explosion." and added that no blame was attachable to any person.

Little Oswald's parents were married in Boulder in 1903 (Marriage Registration 61/1903, Boulder). Another child known to have been born to this couple was Oscar William, who was born in Claremont in 1905 (Birth Registration 1395/1905, Claremont) and who died in Perth in 1968, aged 62 years. The children's father died in 1955 (Death Registration 176/1955, East Coolgardie), aged 70 years. His wife died in 1966 (Death Registration 3441/1966, Perth) aged 86 years.

Known as Jimmy. Jimmy was shot in the back at the local rubbish tip by another Aboriginal, named Toola, better known as "Jacky". At Toola's trial, it was stated that "When arrested, 'Jacky' had made a. statement to the constable, admitting the crime, and it was to this effect:— 'Jimmy, he's all time growl. .He swear at me and three times say he will kill me. I went into a tent. I got a rifle and put one cartridge in it. I went outside and fired at Jimmy and shot him in the back. Jimmy fall down. I run away in the bush frightened.'" Toola had been arraigned on a charge of having wilfully murdered Jimina and was on trial for that charge. Toola and Jimina had grown up together but now Rita was involved and there were frequent arguments as to whether Rita was Jimmy's woman, or Jacky's. Stealing another man's 'gin' was not an uncommon cause of grievance in the Aboriginal community. The jury, after a brief retirement, returned a verdict of guilty of wilful murder, but asked his Honor to take into consideration the accused's race. His Honor, after reading the section of the Code providing for sentence of death, said that the accused, as an Aboriginal, had probably never heard of it, and even if he had, did not understand it. His duty was to carry out the law and he, therefore, passed sentence of death. But it seamed to him, that he would be erring in his duty if he did not say he would recommend that the sentence should not be carried out in this case. He would therefore recommend the Governor to treat the accused as he thought every native had been treated before in respect of such offences.

Known as Jack. The deceased went down in a cage to the 300ft level to carry out some duties and as he did not return within about 20 minutes, a search was made for him. A hat was found at the 400ft level and then his body was found. He had evidently fallen from one level to the other. Death must have been instantaneous as the skull and both legs were fractured. A verdict of accidental death, with no blame attachable to anyone, was recorded in the case of John Johnson, who was killed by falling down the main shaft at the Youanmi Gold Mine.