David McKissock, 1861-5/9/1905.

Accidents and Fatalities

Per United Press Association

An accident in the Hound Hill Company's claim at Winding Creek, Waikaia, on Tuesday resulted in the death of David McKissock, formerly of Stirling, Clutha. McKissock and Fredrick Calverley were working when a slight fall of debris jammed the lever of the nozzle. While the two were clearing this away a heavier slip took place and completely buried them. McKissock, who was nearest the nozzle, sustained the brunt of the fall, being knocked over the nozzle, a sharp portion of which made a terrible gash in his neck. Calverly, who escaped with bruises and a severe shaking, on getting free set to work to relieve his mate, but in doing so broke his shovel, and had to go for assistance. Help arriving, the body of McKissock was extracted, and from appearances it is presumed that death must have been instantaneous. The deceased, whose age was 44, leaves a widow and three young children.  -Southland Times, 8/9/1905.

The sad news was received in Stirling on Wednesday of the death of Mr David McKissock by accident in a gold mining claim at Winding Creek, Waikaia, formerly known as Switzers. It appears that Mckissock was working with another man, Calderly, in the "Break 'em all" mine when a fall of earth occurred, and McKissock failed to make his escape in time and was killed. The late Mr McKissock up till some months ago was in the employment of Mr Farquhar, storekeeper, Stirling, and was well known in that district. He leaves a wife and three children. Mrs McKissock is a daughter of Mr Allan, of Hillend, and in the sudden and tragic death of her husband has the sympathy of a large circle of friends in the Clutha.  -Clutha Leader, 8/9/1905.

MINING FATALITY.

INQUEST AT WAIKAIA. 

Our Waikaia correspondent writes: The adjourned inquest in connection with the fatal accident at the Winding Creek was continued on Friday last. The jury, accompanied by the Sub-Inspector of Mines, visited the claim in the morning and returned to the Courthouse, where the evidence was taken, Mr John Maher being Acting-Coroner, and Mr William Nation foreman of the jury. 

The first witness, Frederick William Calverley, deposed that he had been working on the Round Hill Co.'s claim at Winding Creek for eight days. Knew the deceased, David McKissock, and was working on shift with him on the 5th last. On going to work at 8 o'clock in the morning deceased and witness assisted the offgoing shift to change the position of the nozzle from where it had been placed during the night. This being completed, they commenced sluicing and worked until dinner-time. On resuming work deceased sent witness to the boxes for some bags to cover up a leak in the pipe line. During witness' absence deceased was clearing the channel to the elevator. On witness' return deceased went to the nozzle and blew down another charge. Witness signalled to him to withdraw the water. While doing so a fall of earth took place, striking the lever of the nozzle and tilting it into the air. Deceased pulled the nozzle down but could not swing it to the side owing to its being jammed with the fall of dirt. Deceased came to the elevator for a shovel to clear away the fall, and told witness to assist him. Witness remarked that it would be dangerous, but deceased was of an opposite opinion. They commenced to clear away the dirt and had been at work about five minutes and were nearly finished when a larger fall came without any warning and completely covered both deceased and witness, the depth of dirt being nearly two feet. The height from which the fall came would be about 10 feet, and they were working about two feet from the face. Deceased and witness were working about three feet apart. Witness got his head and hands clear and commenced scraping the dirt away with his hands. He had some difficulty in getting clear as his feet were jammed in his gum boots. Immediately on getting clear he picked up an old shovel and commenced to dig his mate out, but the shovel broke before he got much done. There being no other shovel handy he ran to Thornton's for assistance. Olgar Thornton at once came with him, and after some time they got deceased's head and upper portion of the body clear. The body was lying face downwards. They dashed some water on deceased's face, but without result, he being then to all appearances dead. 

To the Coroner: They were from 8 o'clock to 10 shifting the nozzle to its position at the time of the accident. Mr Ramsay, the manager, was assisting in the work, and remained on the claim probably half an hour after the water had been turned on. He warned them to stop any leaks in the pipe line and to divert any water that might come from them down the pipe line clear of the face. The leak in the pipe line was close behind the nozzle and was playing to a height of about 10 feet on to the face that fell in. The leak was stopped about ten minutes before the first fall came. 

To Mr Ramsay (manager): Mr Ramsay came on to the claim between 9 and 10 o'clock and remained there half-an-hour after the water was turned on. Witness heard Mr Ramsay tell deceased to stop the leaks as soon as possible. There was nothing to prevent them carrying out his instructions at once. In witness' opinion the fall of earth was caused by the leak from the pipe line. Mr Ramsay had repeatedly warned witness not to go too near the face, and had knocked him off work when there was heavy rain falling. 

To the Sub-Inspector of Mines: Witness was under the orders of Mr John McKissock previous to Mr Ramsay's arrival on the claim. Mr John McKissock was considered to be a competent man in a claim. The nozzle was shifted to a position seven or eight feet from the face. While they were shifting the line there was a general conversation as to the safety or otherwise of the position, the opinion being that the face was safe. Did not see anyone examine the face to find out whether or not this opinion was correct. There was a small fall first. Witness asked deceased if any more was likely to come, his reply being that there was no danger. Witness was not an experienced man in working ground. Deceased was a careful man, but witness was not capable of forming an opinion as to deceased's expert knowledge of the work. Neither of them took any steps to make themselves safe beyond looking at the face. 

John McKissock, brother of deceased, deposed that he had been working on the Round Hill Co.'s claim at Winding Creek, and had been on the same claim for about eight years. Deceased had been on the claim for six months, and previous to that time had had no experience of working on a hydraulic claim. Deceased had been working as nozzleman for three or four months. He considered deceased quite competent to act in this capacity, having known men with far less experience occupying the same position. On the morning of the 5th inst. witness, along with deceased and others, had shifted the nozzle to its present position. He was foreman on the claim, and in consequence of a conversation with Mr Ramsay (the manager), had shifted the nozzle to its present position, where he considered it perfectly safe. Had it been a clay face, he would not have put the nozzle where he did. He had assisted to extricate deceased, and found him lying face downwards, dead. There was a large cut on the right jaw and several small marks on the face. Saw the body removed to the manager's house. 

To a juror: Witness left the claim before the water was turned on, and had no knowledge of any leak. Apart from the circumstance of the leak, he was quite satisfied that the nozzle was in a perfectly safe position. 

Olgar Thornton corroborated the first witness' evidence as to the finding and extricating the body of deceased. 

John Ramsay, manager on the claim, stated that on the evening of the 4th inst. he and his foreman conferred as to the shirting of the nozzle, and he instructed the latter, who was on the 12 to 8 shift, to commence doing so after daylight. He instructed McKissock to trim the face and make it secure before shifting the pipe line, and to use his own judgment as to the best position in which to put the nozzle. He (Ramsay) came to the claim next morning and found the pipe line laid and- the nozzle in position with the exception of the tube. McKissock then went home and witness completed the work. He remained nearly an hour on the claim, working the nozzle himself, and found everything right. He saw some leaks in the pipe line, one being immediately behind the nozzle, and on leaving the paddock he left instructions with deceased to throw some bags over the leak to stop the jet from it. He also gave Calverley similar instructions. On leaving the paddock he went round the top to see if there were any leaks or cracks overhead, and being satisfied that everything was safe went home. On hearing of the accident he at once repaired to the claim and assisted to extricate the deceased. 

To Constable Herlihy: At dinnertime both men are away from the paddock at the same time. 

To the Coroner: He did not remain to see the leaks stopped himself, he considered the claim safe in the hands of McKissock and Calverley. There was no hard and fast rule as to the working of faces. He did not consider the nozzle in a dangerous position, otherwise he would have had it removed. 

Constable Herlihy gave evidence as to receiving information of the accident and taking steps to institute the enquiry. 

This concluded the evidence, and after retiring the jury returned a verdict "That the deceased, David McKissock, was accidentally killed at the Round Hill Mining Co.'s claim at Winding Creek, Waikaia, through a fall of earth."  -Mataura Ensign, 12/9/1905.

Waikaia Cemetery.