Thomas COLLIHOLE [1038] ¹⁹¹³

  General Notes:

The Bendigo Advertiser 22 November 1898 page 2 SHOCKING MINING ACCIDENT.
A MIXER'S HAND BLOWN OFF.
(FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.) Newstead, 21st November. A miner named Thomas Collihole, working at the Central Lady Brassey mine, Sandy Creek, was the victim of a horrible accident about 4 p.m. to-day. Collihole had just descended the shaft to the 320ft. level, and while in the slopes he changed a lighted candle to the hand which contained a charge of dynamite and fuse. The result was a terrific, explosion, and on his mates rushing to him found that his arm had been blown off half way up to the elbow, and that a piece of the unfortunate man's hand had been blown into his face, which was also other wise disfigured with the dynamite. He was at once taken to the Maldon Hospital and attended to. This terrible accident has cast quite a gloom over the district. Our Maldon correspondent adds :- The arm was amputated near the elbow. The unfortunate man has a wife and two children. He is in a dangerous condition from shock to the system.

The Maldon News Tuesday November 22 1898 Shocking Mining Accident A shocking accident has happened to a miner named Thomas Collihole, who is employed at the Central Brassey Mine Sandy Creek. He was descending the shaft, carrying a quantity of dynamite in one hand and a lighted candle in the other. By some means; the dynamite was fired, with a disastrous result. One of Collihole's hands was blown off at the wrist,a and the arm shattered to the shoulder. The sufferer was taken to the local Hospital, and it is feared the arm will have to be amputated. Collihole is a married man with two children, and the accident is believed to have caused by a candle coming in contact with the explosive.

The Argus Melbourne 23 November 1898 page 6
CASTLEMAINE. Further particulars relative to the serious accident to a miner named Thomas Collihole at the Central Lady Brassey mine, Sandy Creek, are to the effect that Collihole, having descended the shaft had put in a bore but before doing so cut the fuse for the charge When about to charge the hole he found that the fuse was too short, and he used the sharp end of his candle holder(the usual hoop iron contrivance) for the purpose of levering the cap off. While so engaged the iron penetrated the cap, and the explosion occurred. One of his hands, as previously stated, was blown off at the wrist, and the arm was so badly injured that, it is report amputation had to be resorted to at the Maldon Hospital.

The Newstead Echo - Saturday 26 November 1898
A Shocking accident happened at the Central Lady Brassey Mine on Monday afternoon. A miner named Thomas Collihole was preparing to charge a hole, and had fixed the cap used for exploding dynamite on to the end of the fuse. Finding that he had cut the fuse too short for the hole, he took the sharpened end of his candlestick to lever the cap off, when the point struck the explosive in the cap and caused it to burst with terrible results. Collihole was buried to the ground and as the explosive had been heard all over the mine and in the workings of the Lady Brassey adjoining, the men employed in both the mines rushed to the spot and found the poor fellow's right arm had been blown off half way up to the elbow, whilst a portion of his hand had been blown into his face, which was also otherwise disfigured by the explosion. He was taken to the surface, and a cyclist sent to Maldon for a doctor. A vehicle was procured and the injured man, who was semi conscious, was also driven to Maldon.

Half way there the doctor was met and stopped the flow of blood. Collihole afterwards was taken to the hospital where the injured limb was amputated below the elbow. He suffered very much from the shock to his system but he picked up wonderfully since is quite cheerful, and recovering as rapidly as can be expected.

The Echo, Saturday November 26 1898 Sandy Creek Mining Accident A public meeting will be held in the Mechanics Institute tonight for the purpose of devising ways and means for assisting Thomas Collihole and family. Everybody requested to attend. H Coquloun

The Echo, Saturday December 3 1898 The meeting called for Saturday evening last for the purpose of considering ways and means for helping Thomas Collihole and family was attended by about half a dozen persons only, therefore nothing definite was arrived at. The apathy of the fold in this district pertaining to all matters is well known, but it is greatly to be deplored that such a want of sympathy was expressed in this case, especially as the accident was not due to any carelessness on the part of the unfortunate victim.

Bendigo Advertiser 10 February 1899 page 4 NEWSTEAD. 9th Feb. A concert was given in the local Mechanics' Institute last evening by the members of the Castlemaine Leidertafel. Every item was splendidly rendered, and well appreciated by the large - audience; who occupied every inch of space in the building. The net proceeds of the entertainment will be presented to Mr. Thos. Collihole, the miner who recently had the misfortune to lose his right arm.

The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Saturday 24 September 1938 Page 13 COLLIHOLE- In loving memory of my dear father and dadda, who died on September 24, 1937- at Newstead. R.I.P.. In memory you are with us yet. Inserted by his loving daughter and son-in-law, Vera and Lewis Thompson, and grandchildren, JJean, Ess,. Ken

The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954) Saturday 23 September 1939 page 15 COLLIHOLE. - In loving memory of my. dear husband and father, who passed away September 24, 1937. R.I.P. Dearly, loved and sadly missed,. - Inserted by his loving- wife and : family, Vera .Jack, Emma, Alice and -Eileen. :

Thomas married Sarah BATT [1085] [MRIN: 315] in 1895 in , Victoria, Australia.¹⁹¹² (Sarah BATT [1085] was born on 17 Dec 1869 in , Victoria, Australia,¹⁹¹⁶ died on 19 Dec 1952 in Newstead, Vic, Australia ¹⁹¹⁷ and was buried in Dec 1952 in Newstead, Vic, Australia.)