Flashback: Fire at the Cosmopolitan Company's Claim, Ballarat, 30th March 1865

Cosmopolitan Gold Mining Compy [sic.]. Golden Point Lead, Ballarat. ca. 1864

First published in "The Australian News for Home Readers" April 19, 1865.

An accident of an unusually serious nature, and which it was feared would have been the cause of the death of several human beings, occurred on 30th ult. (March 1865), at the Cosmopolitan Gold Mining Company's claim. 

It appears that about seven o'clock p.m., Barker descended and waited at the bottom of the shaft for some timber which he was informed would come down with the next trucks lowered. While so waiting, some of the men from above perceived that the main shaft was on fire, and immediately communicated the fact to Barker, who, in the most praiseworthy manner, hastened off to warn the men forming the shift of the danger with which they were threatened. 

This shift, which consisted of fourteen men, with one Heard as captain, was distant between 1300 and 1400 foot from the shaft, working in the gutter. The smoke was, of course, rapidly increasing each second, but Barker, with great perseverance, at last succeeded in reaching his fellow-workmen. He had groped his way along without light, and by the time he had accomplished his arduous journey, was nearly insensible from the effects of the dense smoke which had surrounded him on all sides. 

Happily, the whole of the party were in close proximity with one another, and they lost no time in returning with Barker along the main drive, although at times it appeared that the attempt to save themselves would prove fruitless, the quantity of vapor being so much increased. However, they at last succeeded in getting to a distance of within about 700 feet of the shaft, where they knocked in a door to the air drive running parallel with the main drive, and which also allowed of a current into an old drive known as, "Port Curtis," from the fact of its having been formed during that celebrated rush.

Winding Engine 20 H.P. Cosmopolitan Gold Mining Company, Golden Point Lead Ballarat.  ca. 1862.

The wise action, the result of excellent judgment on the part of the men was the means of their preservation. The smoke was diverted into this drive, and the men, retiring into the main drive, were for the time tolerably secure.

Meanwhile, the alarm had been given above, and a report having been forwarded to the tower of the Ballaarat West Fire Brigade, a doleful alarm was rung forth. The uncertainty as to the locale of the fire existing in the minds of large numbers, and the distance of the claim, tended to prevent any large attendance at the scene of the disaster, but as soon as its nature became bruited about, the numbers rapidly swelled. Both of the brigades turned out with their engines and reels in good force, and with that promptitude for which they are so justly famous. For a time, however, their services were of little use, owing to the scarcity of water. For some time all that could be got was passed from hand to hand in a few buckets, and thrown down the main shaft. When a supply was once obtained the engines began to play, and rapidly did some execution in the way of reducing the flames, which at this time were rapidly advancing up the slabs of the shaft. 

About this time three men named Joseph Bird, Joseph Emerson, and Alexander Howet, expressed a desire to be allowed to proceed down the main shaft and ascertain the state of affairs. For some moments the request was not acceded to, it being considered that by such an attempt the plucky fellows would probably endanger their own lives. As they persisted, and in fact demanded that they should be allowed to do as they pleased, the men at length were allowed to get into the cage, every precaution being made forgiving the alarm should it be necessary. 

Breathless silence followed their disappearance below the surface, and this quiet was enjoined upon all, in order that all orders should be heard from the bottom, a depth of some 400 feet. At length it was ascertained that they had reached the bottom in safety, and the first cry sent up was "horses all dead." These horses were seven animals belonging to the company, used in the various drives, and stabled at a distance from the shaft. At once the general opinion of those above was, that the horses having fallen victims, there remained but little hope of the safety of the workmen, and ominous glances passed around until the welcome from below, of "men coming up," dispelled all fears. 

Gradually the chain passed upwards, and great anxiety was manifested lest the party coming up should only be the three just gone down, and perhaps the bearers of doleful news. This was not so, for immediately upon tho cage being landed, out stepped three or four of those who had formed the shift. Their arrival was hailed with loud and continued cheers, and their story, as related above was listened to with much interest by the many who crowded around. In two lots the remainder of the shift was brought up, and at last the three who had volunteered to descend were safely returned to the surface, and heartily thanked for their good services. 

It appeared that having reached the bottom, they lost no time in giving the cheery "cooey," which was promptly replied to by the party whose fate formed the subject of so much anxiety to the hundreds of persons then gathered together on the claim. The horses, as before stated, were all dead, and the sight of the seven poor animals, lying in different positions, was described as being very pitiful. One poor brute had, in his struggles to get free, got head and shoulders into his manger, and thus expired, suffocated by the smoke, which had filled every corner of their chamber. 

Cosmopolitan Gold Mining Company, Golden Point Lead Ballarat. ca. 1862.

The cause of the fire was stated to be the catching of the lower portion of the slabs in the shaft, through overheating of the furnace, kept burning at the foot of the shaft to direct the course of the current of air through the workings. After all the men had been safely landed at the mouth of the shaft, the fire brigade directed an ample supply of water below, and the flames were thus very rapidly extinguished. 

General thankfulness must be felt that no human life was sacrificed, and the small damage sustained by the company, which will probably only occupy a few days in repairing, must be considered but as nought compared to the serious results which might have followed.

Sources: 

1. Fire at the Cosmopolitan Company's Claim, Ballaarat. (1865, April 19). The Australian News for Home Readers (Vic. : 1864 - 1867), p. 4. 
2. Cosmopolitan Gold Mining Compy [sic.]. Golden Point Lead, Ballarat [picture] / Herman Deutsch. ca. 1864. State Library of Victoria 
3. Cosmopolitan Gold Mining Company, Golden Point Lead Ballarat [picture] / Herman Deutsch. ca. 1862. State Library of Victoria