Biography

At the inquest held subsequent to the death of the deceased, evidence was heard that the deceased was lowered down the shaft for the purpose of repairing the pump. After being lowered some distance down, he fell off the sling that was adjusted to the winding rope, having been overcome by the foul air in the shaft. It is thought that he fell a distance of 70 feet. T Metzke then volunteered to go down the shaft, but after being lowered a distance of 20 feet he began to feel the effects of the foul air which was rising in the shaft and had to be drawn to the surface. When the shaft was cleared of the foul air, two men made the descent and the body was brought to the surface. It is generally considered that death was instantaneous. The jury found that the deceased "... came to his death through foul air encountered in a shaft, while he was being lowered to repair a pump — no blame being attachable to anyone." Death was certified by his brother, Aubrey Warren.