The Advertiser, Thursday 2 May 1872
(Bendigo, Victoria)

A frightful accident occurred on Tuesday night in the mine of the Grand Trunk Tribute Company, Sparrowhawk. A miner named Samuel Bolitho was working in a small drive, and was in a stooping position under the hanging wall, when a large mass of mullock fell down, and he was crushed beneath it.
 
He was dreadfully smashed, and it was with great difficulty that he was removed by the other men. At seven o'clock yesterday morning he was admitted into the hospital, where on examination, it was found that the injuries which he had sustained were most severe.
 
The shock to his system was described by the doctors as something very great. His left leg was broken and the pelvis fractured, and the interior injury was more than nature could stand. Strange to say, he retained his consciousness for five hours; after this he gradually sank, and at midday expired. An inquest will be held to-day.

The Advertiser, Friday 3 May 1872
(Bendigo, Victoria)

The Friends of Mr Samuel Bolitho are respectfully invited to follow his remains from St. Just Point Long Gully, to the White Hills Cemetery, on Saturday, the 4th inst. Funeral to move at three o'clock. Wm. Farmer, Undertaker, McCrae Street.

The Advertiser,Monday 6 May 1872
(Bendigo, Victoria)

Inquests - The district coroner held an inquest on Friday at the hospital on the body of Samuel Bolitho a miner aged 48 years.
 
The evidence showed that deceased was working in the Grand Trunk Company claim Sparrowhawk, on Thursday picking under a hanging wall, when about a ton weight of the wall came suddenly away and fell on him, He was extricated without delay and removed to the hospital, but he died a few hours after admission.
 
Dr MacGillivray deposed that death had resulted from rupture of the bladder and shock to the system, and the jury gave a verdict that death was caused from injuries received while deceased was incautiously picking under a hanging wall.

Contributed by Bob Bolitho