FATAL ACCIDENT.
The accident which occurred to Peter McDonald on board the Rotokino yesterday terminated fatally, as it was feared would be the case, the unfortunate mm dying about an hour after he reached the Dunedin Hospital. An inquest was held this afternoon before Mr Coroner Carew and a jury of six, of whom John Asher was foreman. The following is a summary of the evidence: -
James Baird, ship carpenter, identified the body as that of Peter McDonald, He was a Highlandman, a married man, residing at Selwyn. Witness was working with him yesterday on board the Rotokino at Port Chalmers. McDonald was a ship carpenter. They were fitting up some horse-stalls on deck in the morning. After turning-to at one o'clock witness was going on to the wharf, when he heard a cry that the carpenter had fallen down the hold. Witness went down, and saw deceased lying on top of some coals under the main hatch. He was quite unconscious. Witness and two or three others, who had gone down before, put deceased on two broad boards, and he was hoisted to the deck. Dr Drysdale arrived in a minute or two, and ordered McDonald's removal to the hospital. McDonald was a perfectly sober man, and had had no drink that morning. He was rather a timid, cautious man.
To Sergeant Neil: During the morning McDonald and witness had shored two pieces of 5x3 bluegum across the open hatch, and they left them there, as they were going to use them in the afternoon. Witness had walked across these planks after one o'clock.
William John Wilson, in the employ of the Union Company, said that he was standing on the wharf abreast of the Rotokino, when he saw a man stumble. He seemed to have come round at the back of the winch, and when near the hatch he stumbled. Witness could not see what caused him to stumble. The man fell backwards on to the coamings and disappeared down the hatch. He was four or five feet from the nearest person, one of the workmen. Those on board did not seem to see him fall. Witness sang out what had happened. It seemed to be purely an accident. There is a steam pipe leading round the hatch to the winch, and covered with an iron plate. The man might have slipped by stepping on to that plate. He fell 22ft.
Alfred Carlson said that he was standing by No. 2 winch looking down the main hold when the man fell. There were two pieces of scantling across the corner of the hatchway. Witness heard the scantling move, but could not say whether deceased was on it or not, and did not know what caused him to fall.
George Holford, third officer of the Rotokino, said that he was standing on the 'tween decks when he saw deceased falling from the deck feet downwards. Could not see what caused him to fall. Nothing followed him. As he descended his arms struck a skid that was projecting from the 'tween decks.
Constable Chisholm gave evidence as to accompanying the injured man from the vessel to the hospital.
Dr Copland said that deceased was in a state of collapse when brought to the hospital. There was a compound comminuted depressed fracture in the back part of the skull, and also a comminuted fracture of the left arm just above the elbow. There were two large scalp wounds over the seat of the fracture, from which a considerable amount of bleeding had taken place, and he was also bleeding from the left ear. He had been previously attended to, but the bandages about his head and the pillows were soaked with blood. He was unconscious.
Dr Gordon Macdonald and witness attended to the patient, who died about ten minutes to six. The cause of death was shock, the result of the in jury, and hemorrhage.
Asked if he had anything further to say, Dr Copland added: I should like to say that whatever chance of recovery the man might have had was very greatly lessened by the length of time which elapsed from the time of the accident to the time he was brought to the hospital, over three and a-half hours.
His Worship: Were there no other trains from the Port?
Sergeant Neil: No, your Worship. The one o'clock train had gone, and the next one was at 3.57.
His Worship: Is there anything more you wish to say as to his being attended there?
Witness: No; I think that all the temporary treatment that was proper was given to him.
His Worship: Yes. The bleeding you speak of may have come on again in the train.
Witness: Yes.
The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death." -Evening Star, 26/8/1891.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
THE Friends of the late Peter McDonald (accidentally killed on board the s.s, Rotokino) are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave his late residence, Selwyn, North-east Valley, TO-MORROW (Friday), August 28, at 3 p.m., for the Northern Cemetery.
COLE AND SPRINGER, Undertakers, 152 George street. -Evening Star, 27/8/1891.
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