They were underhand stoping a piece of ground 18 foot wide directly over a deep gunniss formed many years ago. At the time of the accident they were drilling a vertical shot-hole on the bottom bench or "point" of the stope, said to be 9 feet thick at the end, when the ground on which they were standing fell away, precipitating them 60 fathoms into the gunniss below. The shot-hole was about 2 feet 6 inches from the hanging wall. The hanging wall was slippery, and between it and the lode there was a leader 5 inches thick. The lode was jointy and full of slips. In addition, the circumstances were such that the thickness of the "point" could not be ascertained. Apparently the "point" was so weak that the jarring due to drilling the shot-hole broke it down. Life lines were supplied to the men but they did not use them. The use of these lines under such circumstances is obviously essential