Beers
mine in July, 1888. When the Consolidated Mines took over the property
of De Beers Mining Company, nearly all the blue ground was hoisted from
the 500-foot level, through the first large working shaft constructed,
known as No. 1 west end incline. In July, 1888, another shaft,
No. 2 incline, had just been completed to the 700-foot level, and skips
in the 7-foot compartment were used in hoisting the ground broken on
this level. In addition to these working shafts a small vertical
prospecting winze, called the Friggin's shaft, had been sunk from the 500-foot
to the 700-foot level. When a tunnel connection was opened between No.
1 and No. 2 inclines on the 700-foot level, the prospecting winze was
no longer needed, and it stood abandoned except as a ladderway. There
was a small disused engine room on the 500-foot level a short distance
from the winze. With the sinking and connection of both working shafts
on the 700-foot level, the output of the mine increased until a total
of 104,089 loads was attained during the month of June, 1888.
On the 9th July
following, large skips in No. 2 incline began carrying blue ground
from the 700-foot level, and continued hauling until the morning of the
nth, when one of them jumped the rails, either because the hoisting was
being done at too rapid a pace, or from some obstruction in the shaft.
Examination showed that both skips were off the rails, and that the
shaft timbers had been considerably damaged. In bringing up one of the
small skips in the manway, this was also derailed by the debris in the
shaft. The necessary work of repair was begun at once and continued
during the day. During the changing of the shifts in the evening, the
