A DREADFUL END
ELDERLY MAN CUT TO PIECES BY THE KAIKORAI CAR.
A man of between 50 and 60 years, named Simon Chisholm, was killed on the first grade from Roslyn in the run of the Dunedin-Kaikorai tram at 1.10 this afternoon. The accident happened with dreadful suddenness, and the unfortunate man was almost cut to pieces. Chisholm was a tea canvasser, and lived in Ann street, Roslyn. He was married, and it is stated has children attending school.
Accounts of the accident are as yet confused, but it seems to be established that Gripman Black, who was in charge of the down car that killed Chisholm, rang his bell as soon as he took the grade and saw the man ahead of him. Chisholm was then walking down between the two tracks, and according to the statement of a passenger he stepped literally in front of the car when it was little more than a foot from him. Nothing on earth could have saved him, and the tremendous shock carried the car clean from the rails. Dr Miller was sent for, and Mr Hunter (manager of the company) rang at once for the police and the ambulance. The unfortunate man's remains were removed to the morgue, where an inquest will be held tomorrow. -Evening Star, 20/2/1914
CUT TO PIECES.
ACCIDENT ON TRAM LINE
(Per Press Association.)
DUNEDIN, last night.
A man of between 60 and 60 years I of age, named Simon Chisholm, was killed by the Dunedin-Kaikorai tram at 1.10 .this afternoon. The accident happened with dreadful suddenness, and the unfortunate man was almost cut to pieces. Chisholm was a tea canvasser, and lived m Ann street, Roslyn. He was married, and, it is stated, has children attending school. It seems that a gripman in charge of a down car rang the bell as soon as he took the grade and saw a man ahead of him. Chisholm was then walking down between the two tracks, and, according to the statement of a passenger, he stepped in front of the car when it was a little more than 4 feet from him. The shock carried the car clean from the rails. -Poverty Bay Herald, 21/2/1914.
ACCIDENT ON KAIKORAI TRAM LINE.
MAN’S PAINFUL DEATH.
Early on Friday afternoon a man named Simon Frederick Chisholm, about 66 years of age, was run over by a bill car travelling from Kaikorai to Dunedin, and killed instantly. The tram left the suburban terminus at 10 minutes past 1, and on commencing to descend the first grade at Highgate the gripman (Mr Black) noticed a man walking between the two tracks, and as he appeared to be getting a little too near the car the official rang the bell. At this time the car was about 40 yards below Highgate, and just as the bell was rung the deceased appeared to step right in front of the car and was knocked down and run over. He seemed to think the car was on the other track, and instead of avoiding it he stepped right in front of it.
The gripman applied the brakes instantly, and the ear was pulled up in a little over its own length; but it was too late, as the deceased had been very badly knocked about. Mr J. Hunter (manager of the Kaikorai Tramway Company) immediately rang up Dr Miller and communicated with the police and the ambulance. The body was removed to the Morgue, and an inquest will be commenced this morning. The deceased was a labourer by occupation, but recently he has been canvassing for a tea company. He lived in Ann street, Roslyn, and leaves a widow and several children of various ages to mourn their loss.
THE INQUEST. The inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of Simon Frederick Chisholm, who was run down by a Dunedin and Kaikorai tram car on Friday afternoon, was opened at the Morgue on Saturday morning. Mr C. C. Graham (coroner) presided. Senior Sergeant Dart represented the police, and Mr B. S. Irwin appeased for the relatives of deceased.
Donald McDonald, a coal merchant at Roslyn, and a brother-in-law of deceased, said that Mr Chisholm was 66 years of age. He kept very fair health, but was a little hard of hearing, and was also somewhat short-sighted. He was not subject to fits or fainting, but was sometimes seized with giddiness. Some four or five years ago he had met with an accident which had incapacitated him for ordinary work and he had therefore worked since then as a canvasser.
At this stage the inquest was adjourned until this morning.
The inquiry into the cause of the death of Simon Frederick Chisholm, who was killed by a Kaikorai and Dunedin tramcar on Friday afternoon, was continued on Monday morning by Mr C. C. Graham, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court. Senior Sergeant Dart represented the police, Mr B. S. Irwin the relatives, and Mr J. C. Stephens the Tramway Company.
John Black, spare man employed by the Kaikorai Tramway Company, said he sometimes acted as gripman. He was in charge of the car leaving tor town on Friday at 1.5 p.m. After over the Roslyn rise he saw a man walking between the tracks in front of mm. He was about 40 yards on when first seen, and was going in the same direction as the car — down hill. As witness got closer — about a couple of car lengths off the man — he rang the bell. Where Chisholm was then walking the car would not have hit him. It seemed to witness that the deceased, on hearing the bell, thought the sound came from the opposite side to what it did, and, instead of going to the right, he went to the left. As soon as witness saw the deceased getting in front of the car he put on both the brakes; but before the car could be brought to a standstill the deceased was under the fore part of it. The car must have stopped in its own length. The car was going about eight miles an hour. Deceased was very much knocked about, and was practically killed on the spot. It was three months since witness had started driving, and he had put in about a month under the personal supervision of two of the most experienced gripmen in the company's service. Witness could not say whether the road was a public one or not. There was no footpaths on it.
To Mr Stephens: Witness had been tested as to his driving capacity by the manager, before he was allowed to drive by himself.
Thomas Joseph Clarkson, conductor, said he was on the car when the accident occurred. He had previously, when boarding the car for town, motioned to Mr Chisholm to move aside. He did not quite witness the accident. He was taking a fare at the time. The car was pulled up promptly. It was as good a stop as he had ever seen on the track. He corroborated Black’s evidence as far as what he knew of the occurrence was concerned.
James Collier, boot salesman, said he was a passenger on the car. He was sitting on the outside of the car, on the righthand side, and his attention was first drawn to deceased by the bell ringing. Deceased was then a few yards ahead. He had apparently heard the warning, and was on the move. He first jumped ahead, then towards the left side, right in front of the car. The car was travelling at the usual rate, and was pulled up very quickly — almost with a jerk. He was sure everything that could be done was done. He agreed with Black’s evidence. If deceased was deaf, it would account for his conduct.
Mr Stephens mentioned that he had evidence as to the condition of the car if the Coroner wished to hear it. The car had been inspected by an official of the Public Works Department since the accident, and if the Coroner wished to hear the official he could be called.
The Coroner said he did not think it necessary. He thought they might take it for granted that no car was in use unless if was in perfect order. He thought it was a very clear case, and he did not think any blame could be attached to any person except the unfortunate man himself. His being a little deaf should have made him particularly careful in travelling along the track. So far as was known the place was not a public thoroughfare, and people going along it did so at their own risk. The man, when he heard the bell, and found the car close upon him, might have lost his nerve and jumped to the wrong side. He (Mr Graham) would deliver a verdict that death resulted from being knocked down by a tramcar — no blame being attachable to anyone. -Otago Witness, 25/2/1914.
GAELIC SOCIETY
The Gaelic Society held their monthly meeting in the Art Gallery Hall last evening. The chief (Mr Dugald McPherson) presided. Supporting him on the platform were Chieftains Roderick MacKenzie and William McDougall. The Chief feelingly referred to the sad accident which had befallen one of the society's members, the late Mr Simon Chisholm, who was one of the most patriotic of Highlanders, and had worked on the committee for a considerable number of years. He called on the society piper to play a lament. This was done, the audience standing. -Evening Star, 4/3/1914.
No comments:
Post a Comment