1st Witness John McCulloch

Having been duly sworn states on Friday morning the 15th, [Illegible?] about 6 o’clock, I was at my place where I work in the shaft on NewCastle Island. I had been at work only about four or five minutes when I heard an explosion & felt a shock immediate by [illegible?] towards the place whence the [illegtible?] and I heard a man calling for assistance. I believe that man’s name is Andrew Miller and was the first to come out of the shaft where the explosion had taken place. I assisted Miller home to his house and returned to the scene of the accident & went down into the Mine as far as I could get & saw a man lying badly injured, but could not assist him as I had to leave [illegible?] in consequence of the foulness of the air. I came to the Pit mouth and some fresh men went down. I was not aware that there was any Gas in the Mine & had not been notified that such wa the case. I never saw any gas in my place to do any harm.