Name Of Mine On Which Last Employed
Lake View Consols GM, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia

Place Of Burial
Kalgoorlie Cemetery, Western Australia - RC

Submitted by
Ian Hodkinson (volunteer)

Cause of Death
Mine Accidents

Other Information
Wife in Walhalla, Victoria. or possibly South Australia. 'MINING FATALITY.', The West Australian, 2 March, 1899. MINING FATALITY Kalgoorlie, March 1. About 3 o'clock this morning a shocking accident occurred at the Lake View Consols mine, whereby a miner named Alfred Tetu lost his life. He was engaged lowering some machinery at the 300ft. level, when he fell backwards down the shaft to the bottom level, fracturing his skull. Death was instantaneous. The deceased was 24 years of age, and leaves a wife and family in Adelaide Inquest:- 'CORONER'S INQUEST.', Kalgoorlie Miner, 9 March 1899 CORONERS INQUEST THE LAKE VIEW FATALITY. Death of Elzear Tetu HIS OWN CARELESSNESS The coroner's inquest regarding the death of Elzear Tetu, who was killed at the Lake View mine on the morning of the 1st inst. was resumed and concluded yesterday morning at the Kalgoorlie Court House. Mr W. R. Burton, J.P., acted as coroner, and the jury was composed of Messrs A. H. Alford (foreman), Michael Costello, and Joseph Miller. Sergeant McAbe conducted the inquiry. Mr R. R. Pilkington appeared on behalf of the Lake View Consols Co.

John Donnelly, the first witness, said he was working at the Lake View mine. On the morning of the 1st inst he was engaged with the deceased at the 300ft level in sending a rock boring machine down to the 400ft level. Tetu was pulling the machine over to the shaft to put the book on. One of the doors of the shaft was open. The other was closed. Deceased went to give the machine a bit of a pull, stepped back too far and fell down the shaft to the 400ft level. Tetu was the braceman. McCourt, the engine-driver, was also present. Could not say whether deceased knew the one door was open. It was Tetu's duty to see that the doors were closed. When witness got below, the body was lying face downwards. Life was extinct. Mr Pilkington The part of the shaft where the doors were was used only tor hauling from the bottom-level. Witness was 3ft or 4ft distant from the deceased at the time of the mishap. Dr. H. Irwin deposed that at about 2.30 a.m. on March 1 he went to the Lake, View mine, and saw the body of the man Tetu. Found a very extensive fracture of the skull and fracture of the neck. These injuries would have been sufficient to cause death, probably instantaneous. Sydney J. McCourt, engine-driver at the Lake View Consols, said at the time of the mishap deceased was walking backwards, dragging the machine to the shaft, and stepped back too far. It was deceased's duty that night to see that the doors were closed. It was usual to have the doors closed, but witness had seen a door open occasionally. Deceased Himself had left, the door open. Andrew W. Salmon, miner at the Lake View, said it was usual to have the doors closed at the 300ft level when work was going on above. It was Tetu's duty on the night in question to see that the doors were closed. Deceased had been working there for about two months, and was a practical miner. Witness had given instructions to have the doors closed. The verdict of the jury was that Tetu had come to his death through his own carelessness, and that no fault was attributable to the company. Page 5 – Tetu was a miner with a mine named after him. – Alzear’s father https://theaustralianalps.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/mining-appendixes.pdf