Josiah Evans, 1867-24/10/1893.

THE HOURS OF MILLERS.

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir — I see in today's issue a letter from Josiah Evans, head miller Crown Roller Mills, Dunedin, criticising some remarks made by your correspondent, "Once a Miller" re the long hours millers have to work, and calling the remarks misstatements. Will you permit me to inform the head miller Crown Roller Mills that "Once a Miller's" statements are perfectly correct. I have been working in four mills four times the number of years Mr Evans has and have worked 17 hours on a stretch many times, and I know a good many millers in this colony who nave done likewise from 6 am. on Saturday until 11 p.m. Mr Evans' statement that the master millers sympathise with their men in the long hours they have to work, and that they would gladly see them shortened, is simply "bunkum" — they do nothing of the sort.

About two years ago, when the operative millers, "through their union," petitioned the master millers to get their hours of labour shortened, I was present at some of the meetings, held to consider their request, and with the exception of one or two they were all against it, some of them (like our M.H.R.'s in Parliament) voted for the request when they saw it was not likely to be carried, and the whole thing ended in a fizzle. My opinion is that until flour mills are included in the Factory Act millers' hours of labour will never be shortened, and the sooner this is done the better. Perhaps some of our M.H.R's. will see to this next session. — I am &c.  Jno. C Gow, Palmerston, November 5.   -Otago Daily Times, 8/11/1892.

BIRTH.

Evans — On the 19th October, at Laurel Villa, Upper Walker street, the wife of Mr Josiah Evans, of a daughter.  -Otago Daily Times, 21/10/1893.

SAD ACCIDENT.

An accident, which has unfortunately had a fatal termination, occurred about past ten this morning to Josiah Evans, the foreman miller in Messrs R. Anderson and Co's flour mill in Manor place. He was working, with two apprentices named Arthur and Barton, at the purifying machine, to which some repairs were being made, and while proceeding from one side of it to adjust a rod at the other end his leg caught in a belt which was lying loose on a shaft running at a great speed, the belt was set in motion by catching on a pin attached to the side of the pulley, and he was lifted on the belt a distance of about 10ft from the floor, and revolved on the shaft at a furious rate several times until the strain on the belt, which was a comparatively light one, broke it, and Evans was thrown to the floor in an insensible condition. On being lifted in the belt for the first time his head struck against the top of a doorway, and the blow he then received was quite sufficient to stun him; in fact, so great was the velocity with which he was lifted that Arthur, who went to his assistance as soon as the belt caught him, was struck by Evans's body in its ascent and knocked backwards about six yards against some bags of flour. The machinery was stopped immediately on the word being given by Arthur and Barton, but the unfortunate affair occurred so quickly that by the time the engine was at a standstill Evans had been thrown clear off the shaft. First aid was given by Mr Mearns, of the Railway Service. Dr Hocken was quickly in attendance, and Evans was afterwards removed to the hospital in the ambulance waggon. He has been in the mill for a number of years, and has a wife and child (five days old) residing in Upper Walker street. Arthur received a nasty cut on the arm and a bruise on the face.

On being admitted to the hospital Evans was examined by Dr Gordon Macdonald, who found that the poor fellow had sustained fractures of both fore-arms and of the right leg, in addition to four or five very severe scalp wounds. He was then in a state of complete collapse, and at half-past one within two hours after his admission to the institution, he died.

We understand that the deceased had his life insured with the New Zealand Accident Insurance Company for £300. An inquest on the body will be held before Mr Coroner Carew at the hospital at a quarter-past nine to-morrow morning.  -Evening Star, 24/10/1893.

THE FLOUR MILL FATALITY.

The inquest on the body of Josiah Evans was hold at the hospital this morning before Mr Carew, coroner. Mr G. Border, jun., was elected foreman. Sergeant Mulville represented the police. 

James Collins, engineer, identified the body as that of his son-in-law, Josiah Evans, who was born in Manchester, had been in the colony about six years, and was twenty-six years of age. 

George Arthur, miller’s apprentice, employed by R. Anderson and Co., said that Barton, witness, and Evans were working together yesterday morning on the purifier flat. They were taking a shaft out of a purifier for the purpose of repairing it. The mill was going, but the machine they were working at was disconnected. The machinery on the two floors above was at work, driven by belts from shafts on the purifier flat. When witness got to the purifier at which Evans and Barton were working the belt of that machine was disconnected and hanging from the shaft to the floor. Saw Evans come from the left-hand side of the purifier to where the belt was hanging. Saw his foot go on to the belt, which was stationary, and then saw him rise from the floor. Did not know how the belt got caught. Witness made to catch hold of the belt as it was taking him up, and felt himself struck on the head and arm. Picked himself up on the store floor, five or six yards away from the machinery. Got up and went down to the engine. Found Barton was there before him, opening the furnace doors. The mill was just then stopped. Went upstairs and found Evans in Walsh’s arms. Came downstairs to see if anyone was going for a doctor. Evans appeared to be unconscious. The pulley was fixed to the shaft by a pin or key. Had never properly examined the key. Was not sure whether or not the key was far enough into the pulley. The belt had caught upon the key on one previous occasion. Assumed that the belt was caught in the same way yesterday. There was no possible way of stopping the shaft but by stopping the engine. The shaft was driven by a very large belt. Did not think the shaft could be stopped, after giving the engineer notice, till it had made one or two revolutions. There were bells for signalling.

To the jury: The head or exposed part of the pin referred to was not far short of half an inch. When the machine was disconnected the shaft kept on running. There were no sliding pulleys on the shaft. No one signalled to stop the engine. If anyone had signalled, more than likely the engine-driver would not have been in sight, and thus there would have been more delay than by running to the engine, as was done. The engine man had to look after his fires, and sometimes he unloaded his coal — he had these other duties to occasionally take him a short distance away. Did not think that Evans was careless, but if witness himself had been going between the belt and the purifier he would have pushed the belt a little further away from the pulley, and avoided treading on the belt.

To Mr Ryley: The way the belt was thrown off the pulley was the usual way. Did not think it would be possible to have sliding pulleys for the machines — there would be no room for them; and if there had been a sliding pulley it would not, witness thought, have made any difference. If Evans had pushed the belt a little to one side there would have been no danger. 

Dr Hocken said that on being called yesterday morning he found deceased on the third storey of the mill with most severe injuries. He was being attended to by Mr Mearns, and witness would like to testify to the excellent and careful way in which that gentleman was rendering first aid. Witness had no doubt when he saw Evans that death would follow. Deceased was absolutely insensible. His right thigh was broken, and witness thought his left leg also, and there were severe injuries to the head. This injury to the head was no doubt the most serious. Did not minutely examine him, as it would have been useless, and would only have delayed his removal to the hospital. Ordered him a little brandy and water, and he was then taken away in the ambulance vehicle. Did not see Evans after admission to the hospital. Thought the skull must have been fractured. The injuries were sufficient to cause death. 

Iselin Barton, apprentice at the mill, said that Evans was drawn round the shaft two or three times before the belt broke. Witness rushed to the engine, and found the driver there. The mill was stopped in about threequarters of a minute. As soon as Evans had been looked after witness went back, and found that about 18in had been broken out of the belt. The belt had caught in the key, between the key and the shaft. Evans in touching it had probably caused it to catch. The key stuck out about three-quarters of an inch, and it was square. The belt caught on this key once before, about a year ago. The key was in as far as it would go: it had not worked out. 

To the jury: Evans himself took the belt off after it caught on the previous occasion. The pulley did not fit the shaft originally, and a piece of metal was put inside of the bush. That lifted the key from the shaft. It was a laced belt. On the previous occasion of the belt catching it was witness who touched it. 

To Mr Ryley: It was not usual to tie up the belt when out of gear. The dynamo belt was tied up, but that was to allow the floor to be cleaned. When Evans cleared the belt on the previous occasion witness thought that the pulley stopped when the key was over the shaft out of his sight. It sometimes happened that a belt wound round a shaft when there was no key to catch it. If the precaution had been taken of tying up the slack there would have been no danger. 

Mr Ryley said, in answer to the coroner, that he had no evidence to volunteer, but he was prepared to answer any questions. 

One of the jurymen (Mr Heath) intimated that he wished to put a question, and John Ryley, being sworn, said that he carried on the business of R. Anderson and Co. The mill had been inspected by the Government inspector, but witness could not say when; he left that to Evans, who had sole control of the mill and machinery.

Mr Heath intimated that that was what he had wanted to know — whether there had been proper inspection. 

Witness further said that he had had a good deal of experience with machinery, and (word/s missing) how this accident had happened. 

Mr Heath: Do you think that Evans was in any way to blame? 

Witness: I would not say he was to blame. He was a remarkably fine man. I had every confidence in him, and left him sole charge. It was always my instructions that anything that would contribute to the efficiency or the safety of the mill he was to see it was done. I believe there are keys all over the mill. Engineers often leave a bit of a key projecting in order that if a pulley gets slack it may be tightened. Evans would have seen this one and would think it was not dangerous. In my opinion the cause of the accident was the not lifting the slack of the belt off the floor where they were working. This was frequently done. 

To the foreman: The engineer would not have to go away to such a distance as would put him out of sound of the signalling bell. The truck which he had to empty was brought close beside the furnace. The bell was in working order when the accident happened. 

The verdict was to the effect that the death was accidentally caused, and that no blame was attributable to anyone.  -Evening Star, 25/10/1893.

FUNERAL NOTICE. 

THE Friends of the late Josiah Evans are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave his late residence, Walker street (near Melville street), for the Northern Cemetery, TO-MORROW (Thursday), the 26th inst., at 2.30 p.m. 

A. J. WYNN AND HOPE, Undertakers, St. Andrew street. 

M.U.I.O.O.F. 

MEMBERS of the are respectfully invited to attend the Funeral of the late Brother Josiah Evans, of the Hand and Heart Lodge, which will leave his late residence, Walker street (Stafford avenue), TO-MORROW (Thursday), at 2.30 p.m., for the Northern Cemetery. 

G. R. WEST, N.G.   -Evening Star, 25/10/1893.

Northern Cemetery, Dunedin.

“A sudden change in a moment fell

no time to bid his friends farewell

think this not strange death happens unto all

today was mine tomorrow you may fall”.