SERIES OF FATAL ACCIDENTS.

A MAN KILLED BY A FALL OF EARTH.

A single man named William Peterson met with a painful death yesterday afternoon at the Box Hill Brick Works. He was employed with a number of other men in the clay hole, and was in the act of picking the side of the hole when a large quantity of earth suddenly gave way, and fell upon him. The unfortunate man was completely buried in the debris. His companions at once rushed to his assistance and removed the earth, when it was seen that he was seriously injured, as he was unable to speak. He was carried on a stretcher to the railway station, a distance of half a mile, but he expired on the way there. It is believed that death resulted from internal injuries and damage to the spine, all the earth falling on his back. An inquest will be held as soon as the police have collected the evidence.

The deceased was a very quiet and steady man, and much respected by his fellow workmen and employers. At present it is not known what could hate induced the earth to give way, but it is surmised that the late rains must have softened the clay, thus causing it to fall in a large mass as soon as it was struck with the pick.