PINNED BY THE NECK
EMPLOYEE MEETS DEATH.
MISHAP ON STEAMER.
[Per Press Association. — Copyright.] DUNEDIN, This Day. A temporary employee, Orkney James Stevenson, aged 30, a married man with one child, a resident of Queenstown, met his death yesterday while assisting in riveting operations on the coal chute of the steamer Earnslaw. Stevenson was secured by a rope and was standing on the belting of the ship, “holding on,” during the riveting of an iron plate. The vibration of the hammering shook out a pin, allowing the chute to drop. As it fell it caught Stevenson and pinned him by the neck over the waling of the wharf.
A doctor was called immediately, but could do nothing. Stevenson was to have finished his employment last night. -Northern Advocate, 20/7/1935.
SKULL FRACTURED
QUEENSTOWN FATALITY
(By Telegraph. — Press Association.) INVERCARGILL, July 19. While engaged in riveting work today on the steamer Earnslaw, which is at present undergoing her annual overhaul at Queenstown, Orkney James Stevenson, aged 32, married, with a child aged three, was killed when an iron plate weighing 1501b, used for conveying coal from the wharf to the ship's bunkers, fell on him. He received a severe fracture of the skull and it is thought that his neck was broken.
At the time of the accident the Earnslaw was moored three feet from the wharf and Mr. Stevenson was standing on a chafing board between the ship and the wharf, his head being just above the level of the raised portion around the edge of the wharf. The vibration arising from the riveting operations forced a pin holding the plate to the ship out of position and the plate fell on Mr. Stevenson's head.
A doctor was immediately summoned, but Mr. Stevenson, who had been lifted on to the wharf, died just as he arrived. -Evening Post, 20/7/1935.
OBITUARY.
ORKNEY JAMES STEVENSON; Aged 30 Years.
On Tuesday afternoon at about a quarter to four Orkney James Stevenson, of Queenstown, met his death in tragic circumstances while assisting in the riveting operations being carried out on the coal shute of the s.s. Earnslaw. The steamer was berthed at the railway wharf, where she has been undergoing her annual overhaul for the past few weeks. Deceased was standing, roped, on the chafing board or belting of the vessel performing the duty of what is known as “holding-on” during the riveting pf the chute. This chute or iron plate measures 6ft by 4ft and weighs, approximately, 2 cwt. It is hinged to the vessel at the bottom and when not in use is fastened to one of the stanchions of the steamer by an iron pin with a drop end. The continued vibration caused by the hammering of the rivet evidently caused the pin to work loose, and the chute fell over on the wharf, taking deceased with it and pinning his head over the walling of the wharf. A complete fracture of the base of the skull occurred, with the severance of the spinal cord from the brain resulting in instantaneous death. Dr. Anderson was quickly on the scene but he found life was extinct upon his arrival. The body was removed to the mortuary at the Lake County hospital, where a post mortem examination was conducted in order to ascertain the extent of the injury. An inquest followed next day. (Report below).
The news of the tragedy came as a great shock to the community, and, indeed, to people in all parts of the County, where Mr Steven sen. was wellknown and very highly respected and esteemed. “Ork,” as he was familiarly known, was a favourite with everybody. For several years he was driving on the roads of Lake County — for the proprietor of the motor service between Queenstown and Arrowtown; for the Mt. Cook Co. on the Cromwell, the Wanaka and Mt. Cook services, and latterly for Skippers Ltd. between Queenstown and Maori Point. During all these years he was ever ready to oblige the people along the several routes he traversed, and never did he miss the opportunity of doing someone a good turn when it presented itself. He always had a pleasant smile and quiet but kindly greeting, and it can be said in all truth that his passing in all its tragic suddenness has caused more than his relatives and close friends to experience something in the nature of grief rather than of mere sorrow.
For the deceased his various employers have always had the highest praise — not only for his prowess and reliability as a driver, but also for his uprightness and his loyalty. He was never out of regular employment: rather, his services were always in demand. During the past few weeks, while the operations of Skippers Ltd. at Maori Point had eased off on account of the frost, deceased was assisting on the overhaul of the Earnslaw. He was to have finished up there the following day. He was for a time a member of the Queenstown Football Club, and a member of the Queenstown Volunteer Fire Brigade.
“Ork,” who was just on 30 years of age, was the second son of the late Mr and Mrs James Stevenson of Crown Terrace, his mother being a daughter of Mrs and the late Mr John Jenkins of the Terrace. He was born at Crown Terrace and received his education at the school there. He was married close on five years ago to Veda Ann (Lovey), only daughter of Mr and Mrs Herman Bradon of Queenstown, and is survived by her and by an infant daughter. His brothers are Messrs Stuart Stevenson (Kawarau Falls), John, David, and Joseph (Crown Terrace); and his sisters are Misses Isabel (Winton) and Miss Matilda (Crown Terrace).
The deepest sympathy will be extended to his young widow and other relatives in their sore bereavement. The funeral, which took place on Sunday afternoon, was attended by the largest cortege ever seen in Queenstown, people coming from as far afield as Cromwell and Wanaka to pay their last tributes of respect. The casket was brought from the residence of deceased’s father-in-law to st. Peter’s Church, where a short service was held, the Rev. W. W. Powell officiating. The hymn, “Lead, Kindly Light,” was sung and the Dead March in “Saul” played as the casket was being removed from the chancel. The pall-bearers were deceased’s three brothers-in-law (Messrs D. J. and A. Braden, H. Knowles, L. Ferguson and J. Hall. The numerous wreaths included one (in glass) from the employees of the Lake Wakatipu Steamer Service.
The evening service at St. Peter’s Church on Sunday was memorial in character, the Rev. Powell making feeling reference in his address to the sad occurrence and to the bereavement suffered by other parishioners during the week.
Inquest.
An inquest touching the circumstances of the tragic death of the late Orkney James Stevenson was opened on Friday evening before Coroner Sutherland at the mortuary attached to the Lake County hospital and was adjourned, after identification, to Saturday afternoon, when it was held at the Police Station.
Evidence of identification was given by Alfred Herman Braden, father-in-law of deceased. John Thompson, junr, who was working with the deceased on the Earnslaw on the day of the accident, deposed that they were engaged in riveting a flap of iron on the bottom of a coal shute which was hinged on its bottom edge to the side of the steamer. Deceased was on the outside of the steamer standing on the chafing board on belting that runs along the side of the boat. He was supported by a rope fastened round his back to prevent him falling into the water or against the wharf. Just prior to the accident, Mr McIinnes, the boss of the job, was called away, and witness took his place with the hammer. Deceased drove in the rivets on the outside and then held the hammer against them while witness riveted the end on the inside. During this, operation witness noticed that the plate felt suddenly outwards. Witness called out a warning to deceased. He could not actually see deceased while working with him as the shute was between them. Witness assisted in removing deceased on to the wharf. In his opinion Stevenson was then dead. Witness could not say that he actually looked to see how the shute was fastened up in position. After the accident he noticed that a 8-inch by half inch pin with a drop end was passed through one of the stanchions on, the ship. In witness’ opinion the jarring of the hammer caused the pin to work loose and finally come out, thus allowing the shute to fall. While at work witness and deceased did not take notice of the pin and took for granted that it was all right.
Wm. McLean McInnes, engineer-in-charge of the machinery section of the Government steamer, Earnslaw, deposed that deceased was working under his charge. The coal Thule which caused the death of deceased was hinged on to the side of the steamer and it was held in a vertical position by a safety pin placed through the top of the angle iron structure. This pin had held the shute up for eight years when not in use. The pin was in position shortly before the accident and when Thompson took his (witness’) place his duty was to rivet the head of of each rivet while deceased held a heavy hammer against same as it was put in. Witness had personally placed the pin in position every time the ship was coaled for four years past, and had never known it to come out before. On examination, and by experiment since the accident occurred, witness had come to the conclusion that the heavy driving, continued vibration and the bumping up of the rivet caused the pin to work out of position. This would allow the shute to fall down on the deceased. The shute was six feet by four feet by 1/4in thick. Witness never had any doubt of the pin being strong enough to hold the shute in position. In view of the accident witness considered that in the event of any further work having to be done the shute should be tied back as well. There were chains already on the top end of the shute, but these were for use when coaling at different levels of the lake. Did not see the accident, but was there within a few seconds of the alarm being sounded. Assisted to lift the body on to the wharf. In his opinion Stevenson was then dead.
John Robert Murdoch and Leslie George W. Ferguson also gave evidence of having seen the accident. The last-named saw the pin affixed to the stanchion prior to the accident and he considered it to be quite safe. William Arthur Anderson, medical practitioner, deposed that he received a message from the railway office that deceased had been seriously injured on the Earnslaw. Arrived on the scene and found deceased lying on the wharf. Blood was bowing freely from parts of the head. Although gasping, deceased was quite dead. Informed Capt. Herbert, O.I.C., who arranged for the removal of the body to the public mortuary at Frankton hospital. Acting on instructions from the coroner, witness conducted a post mortem examination to ascertain the cause of death. There were no cuts or external marks of injury. Found, however, a complete fracture of the base of the skull extending from above the left ear right across to the head of the right ear. By this separation of these bones of the skull the spinal, chord had been severed from the brain. Death must therefore have been absolutely instantaneous.
A verdict of accidentally killed was brought in in accordance with the medical evidence and the Coroner added a rider to the effect that the Court was of the opinion that a better method of fastening up this plate should be adopted. The court and police publicly expressed deep sympathy with the relatives of deceased in their bereavement. -Lake Wakatip Mail, 23/7/1935.
Queenstown Cemetery.
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