Biography

The deceased was buried by John W Auld in the Kathleen Valley Cemetery. Witnesses present at the burial were Edward Freer and T Matheson.

Mr Curran was accidently killed by a fall of stone.  He and his mate, Alfred Barnes, had fired three shots and had gone back and were evidently pulling down the ground loosened by the shots.  Two men working near the scene of the accident heard Barnes call out and when they reached him found that he had been pinned by a fall of earth weighing about 15 tons.  The men immediately started to remove the earth and found Curran underneath.  Barnes and the other men thought that Curran had gone to another level. 

Barnes was severely injured and was taken into the Lawlers Hospital.

An enquiry into the death of Phillip Curran was held at Kathleen Valley on Wednesday 30 September before Mr A. G. Clifton and a jury consisting of O'Neill, Ryan and Freer.

After evidence was heard from those present at the tine of the accident, the Inspector of Mines, in his evidence, said he considered all reasonable precautions had been taken to make the ground safe.