Mrs. Chapman, wife of a mining manager, was having supper with a miner named Alexander McDonald in a kitchen excavated out of a hillside, the roof being rotten mulga, when the excavation fell in and tons of earth fell on the couple. The deceased's husband, Mr. Chapman, had finished his supper and left the kitchen a few moments before. Many helpers worked speedily but failed to extricate the victims until life became extinct. No inquest was held owing to the absence of the magistrate.

Alexander McDonald was having dinner with the Mine Manager, Mr Chapman, and his wife Mrs. Chapman, in a kitchen excavated out of a hillside, the roof being rotten mulga, when the excavation fell in and tons of earth fell on the couple. Mr. Chapman, had finished his supper and left the kitchen a few moments before. Many helpers worked speedily but failed to extricate the victims until life became extinct. No inquest was held owing to the absence of the magistrate.