FATAL AND MELANCHOLY ACCIDENT AT BLUE SPUR.
On Thursday afternoon about four o'clock a very sad accident happened in the battery shed of the North of Ireland claim, Blue Spur, by which a young man named Robert Irwin lost his life, and a young lad named Charles McCann was brought to the point of death. Our reporter visited the scene of the accident yesterday, and interviewed Mr Robert Morgan, Mr Thomas Redman, Mr Kennedy, and Mr Ernest Peterson, who were first on the spot after the accident. We are indebted to these gentlemen for the following particulars of this mournful occurrence. As we have stated, the accident happened about four o'clock, just before knocking-off time, and from what we are told the last truck of the shift was being hauled up the tunnel. The deceased, Robert Irwin, a fine, steady, stalwart young fellow of twenty-two years of age, and son of Mr Hugh Irwin, also of Blue Spur, had charge of the winding-gear and was thus entrusted with a most responsible position. There was also employed a boy named Charles McCann (son of Mr Hugh McCann), and it seems it was a very common thing for the two to enjoy what was called a "lark," but which meant a wrestling match with each other, although they had been warned against any such practice in the machine-room. About the hour mentioned Mr Morgan — who was in the smithy, situated some sixty feet from the machine-room — heard the machine making an unusual sound and at once went out to see if anything was wrong. On reaching the foot of the steps to his astonishment he saw two bodies being carried round the barrel or drum of the windlass, and rushed up the steps followed closely by Mr Redman. In a moment he turned the windlass out of gear, and Redman turned off the water, and stopped the machine. What was now to be done required a little presence of mind, as all the weight of the up-coming truck was thought to be on the body of the two unfortunate persons who were none other than Irwin and McCann. "Don't cut the rope," cried Morgan to Redman, "as it is knocking off time and a number of men are coming up the tunnel. If the rope is cut it is certain death to some of them as the loaded truck would go down with lightning rapidity." But on second consideration it was seen that the rope had coiled itself about twenty times round the barrel, carrying the unfortunate fellows with it as often, so that no fear of its giving way could occur, and it was at once cut, when the two bodies were released from the fatal grasp. The rope had hold of Irwin round the left arm and leg, and the back of his head was against the windlass; whereas the head of McCann lay in Irwin's lap, with the rope tightened round his neck, leaving his body hanging down. The noise which attracted Morgan's attention had evidently been caused by the bodies coming in contact with the floor at each revolution of the barrel. When the poor unfortunate fellows were released from their perilous position, it was thought they were both dead. The boy McCann was certainly thought to be dead, as that was one reason Morgan had for calling out not to cut the rope. Irwin, when laid down, gave a groan, thus attracting the attention of those present to him. However, in the course of ten minutes all signs of life disappeared. On the other hand, the boy, who seems to have been suffocated, and who at first appeared quite dead, began to show signs of life. Some water was applied to his temples and mouth, and after a time, on the arrival of Dr Stirling and by his advice, he was sent to the Hospital where he continued to improve until he regained consciousness. Yesterday he spoke quite reasonably, but showed a great reserve when the subject of the cause of the accident was broached to him. One of his mates asked him how it occurred. He replied "that Bob" — that is, Irwin — "pushed him;" but when asked whether he pushed Irwin in return, he gave no reply but turned to another subject. The opinion expressed by those who knew the two is that they must have been wrestling, and Irwin's foot had slipped on the turning-table in front of the winding gear, when his coat had caught between the rope and drum, and his body was dragged in; having a hold of McCann, the poor boy would naturally be dragged in with him. Irwin's coat remains on the drum of the machine with several coils of rope round it; his clothes were nearly all stripped from him. When the inquest is held no doubt full particulars of the whole circumstances will be elicited. As it is, none were present but those engaged, and no one but the surviving boy can give the true and accurate account of this melancholy accident. The District Coroner (E. H. Carew, Esq.), commenced the inquiry yesterday afternoon, at four o'clock in Beaton's Hotel, Blue Spur; but under the Regulations of Mines Act, it seems that it is necessary to give a stated notice of all accidents to the Inspector of Mines, thus involving a certain delay before an inquest can be held. The only matter attended to yesterday by the Coroner and jury, of whom Mr Wm. Creswick was chosen foreman, was the identifying of the body to enable the Coroner to give an order for burial. The inquiry was then adjourned to a date of which due notice will be given to the jurors. -Tuapeka Times, 28/2/1880.
FUNERAL NOTICE.
THE Friends of the late Mr Robert Irwin are requested to follow his remains to the place of interment in the Lawrence Cemetery on SATURDAY, 28th INSTANT, leaving the Blue Spur at two o'clock.
THOMAS ANDERSON, Undertaker. -Tuapeka Times, 28/2/1880.
The Tuapeka Times reporter interviewed the lad McCann, recently injured at the North of Ireland claim, Blue Spur, who is convalescent. McCann says he remembers nothing of the circumstances attending the accident. He was quite sure, however, that there was no quarrel between Robert Irwin and him; he says, “Bob wouldn’t have injured a fly.” -Evening Star, 6/3/1880.
FATAL ACCIDENT AT BLUE SPUR.
Coboner's Inquest. The inquest into the accident which took place at the North of Ireland Gold Mining Company's claim, Blue Spur, and which, as may be remembered, resulted in the death of one of the workmen, Robert Irwin, and the serious injury of another, named Charles McCann, was resumed at Beaton's Hotel, Blue Spur, at eleven o'clock on Saturday forenoon. E. H. Carew, Esq., District Coroner, presided; Mr G. J. Binns, Government Inspector, of Mines, under the Regulations of Mines' Act, was in attendance; and Sergeant James Bertenshaw watched the proceedings on behalf of the Police. The jury empanelled were again in attendance, Mr W. Creswick, Foreman. The following evidence was taken:—
Robert Morgan, sworn, deposed — I am employed as underground manager on the North of Ireland Company's claim at Blue Spur. I have been practically engaged in mining for the last 32 years. For the last 14 years I have been employed in goldmining, before that I was employed in coal and iron working. I remember the day on which the accident happened to Irwin and Charles McCann. Irwin was at the winding-gear; his duty was to empty the water truck when it came up from the mine, and send it back again. He would also look after the machinery when out of gear.
To a Juryman — Irwin had charge of the machinery.
To the Coroner — When the truck came up, Irwin's duty was to throw the water off, and throw the engine out of gear, otherwise the truck would go to the drum. After throwing the engine out of gear, the truck would be on the turn-table. He would then turn it, and empty it in the hopper then reverse the action, and let the truck go down. Before anything happened on the 26th ult. I was at about a quarter to three in the afternoon in the neighborhood of the landing, and saw the deceased who was then employed at the winding gear. It would have been his duty to oontinue at work till half past three when his shift would go off. No one was there then but Irwin. I stayed only a few minutes. I noticed nothing wrong with the machinery; it seemed to me to be working right. Irwin was quite sober. At twenty minutes past three, the fresh shift went down before Irwin was relieved. I was then sitting in the blacksmith's shop, about twenty yards from the landing place. I heard a rap on the board, and then another an instant afterwards. I jumped up and said to Redman (blacksmith), "There's something wrong." I believed the raps were made by someone. I think so still. They were not made for the purpose of a signal. I ran up to the landing place, followed by Redman. I saw Irwin's body revolving round the drum. The upper part of his body was stripped of clothing. I did not hear any noise from any person. I went to the brake to stop the drum. I then saw Charles McCann hanging on the drum with the rope round his neck. His head was in a coil of the rope, which was round the drum. I first intended to cut the rope, and took out my knife for that purpose, but did not cut the rope as I was afraid the men below would be coming up the tunnel. I then ran down the tunnel. Peterson had come to the landing place. I beard him speaking. I "spragged" the wheels of tue truck to stop it and then undid the rope. I called out to the men below to bring up the rope with them, and then ran up as fast as possible. On going up I found the rope had been cut, and that Irwin and McCann were both released. Irwin was sitting in Redman's arms on the turntable, not dead. McCann was lying on the road alongside. He seemed the worse of the two. He was senseless. I then inspected the machinery and found nothing wrong, nor anything to account for the accident. When I put on the brake, a truck was about 250 feet from the landing place, coming up. It had come 550 or 600 feet, from a well. Irwin should have been waiting for the truck to come up. [The witness was here shewn a sketch plan of the landing-place prepared by Mr Binns, and explained on it to the Coroner and Jury where Irwin should have been standing.] His position would have been about 8 or 9 feet from the drum. He need not have been near the rope. Anywhere within the 8 feet or 9 feet would have been his proper place. A doctor was then sent for. Dr Stirling was in attendance within, about twenty minutes or half an hour. Irwin was dead before the doctor arrived. He lived probably about a quarter of an hour after I found him. He shewed no sign of consciousness. McCann was taken to the Lawrence Hospital by order of Dr Stirling.
To Mr Binns — I understood there was an Act for the Regulation of Mines, but I never saw it before Saturday last. [The Act was fully analysed in this journal several months ago, after the Kaitangata disaster.] I do not think Irwin's duties were dangerous. No accident had ever occurred to my knowledge through any person being caught by the rope. After this accident, I was told that a man had once been caught by his coat but the occurrence look place before my time. The drum was not fenced, not "securely fenced," and I consider it was safer without a fence. There was only one way in which the drum could have been fenced — viz., by quartering boards, and by adopting this mode the men would have been cut to pieces in the event of this accident occurring. I think the men were caught by the rope while on the turntable. Neither of the two need have been near to the drum as to be caught. If a fence had been there, the deceased might have put out his hand to save himself, but I would not like to say he would have escaped. He might have escaped. The deceased had no occasion to be in a position from which he should have fallen on to the drum. McCann was employed at the mine, but not at that place. He was on Irwin's shift, and was working elsewhere. He had no business near the turn-table at the time but had to attend to the feeding of the battery under the hopper. He could get away and back again without being noticed for five or ten minutes and he might perhaps get away again in another quarter of an hour. His duty was to remain in constant attendance.
To the Foreman: When the rope was cut it was found to be twenty-three times coiled round the drum. One coil was holding the two — McCann by the neck, and the deceased by the leg and arm. Irwin's leg was bigger than McCann's neck, and kept the rope from tightening on it.
To Mr Binns: Had the engine been differently placed, it would have been possible to fence the drum securely.
To the Coroner: There is as much room as I have seen elsewhere. I have myself done the same work that Irwin was doing. I did so for a week running, last New Year's week. I consider it safe to work there, with ordinary care.
Thomas Redman (sworn): I am employed as blacksmith to the North Ireland Company. I remember the afternoon of the 26th of February. Morgan was in the workshop about half past three. I heard a noise and followed Morgan to the landing place. The first thing I saw was the two bodies going round the drum. The bodies were fastened by the rope. I saw the manager (Morgan) with his hand on the brake. He stopped the drum from revolving; then he turned off the water. I then asked Morgan to cut the rope. He said he would not do so, as the shift would be coming up the tunnel, and a worse accident might happen. That was the case; it might have been so. Morgan then went down the tunnel and Paterson cut the rope. Both of the bodies then fell off the drum together. The rope was cut on the windlass, not between the drum and the truck. We laid McCann down on the platform thinking he was dead. Irwin was breathing very heavily when we took him up and laid him on the turn-table. I supported him in that position. Nothing was wrong with the machinery. A doctor was sent for and arrived in about twenty-five minutes. Irwin had died about ten minutes or a quarter of an hour before the doctor arrived. He was insensible all the time.
To Mr Binns (who read the Regulation): I do not consider the drum a dangerous part of the machinery. I consider any man could work there with ordinary care as safely as he could in a blacksmith's shop. There was danger if he came in contact with the drum; a man putting his head in a coffee-mill would likely have it taken off.
Mr Binns said they were not talking about coffee-mills.
The Coroner said Mr Binns must not argue with or contradict the witness. He would have an opportunity of leading evidence or of giving his own evidence afterwards.
The witness then resumed:— I do not think it was necessary to fence the drum. As the machinery is now fixed, it would not be possible to fence the drum, so as to prevent the possibility of accident.
To the Coroner: The machinery might have been so fixed at first as to give a larger space.
To Mr Binns: Had there been two horizontal bars the bodies might have been stopped from the drum; but if their clothes had been entangled it might have been worse for them. It would all depend upon what hold the rope had on the clothes. I do not think Irwin was working in a dangerous position. I do not think the accident was due to any primary imperfection in placing the machinery.
The Coroner asked the Foreman whether the Jury wished Peterson to be called, and was informed that they did not think it necessary.
George Jonathan Binns then tendered himself as a witness and, on being sworn, deposed: I am Inspector of Mines under the Regulation of Mines Act. I have not been appointed for any special district. I examined the machinery on the North of Ireland claim on the 28th ulto., and produce a sketch plan of it. In my opinion the drum is an "exposed and dangerous" portion of the machinery and should be fenced. There would be some difficulty in fencing it, on account of the machinery being in too confined a position, but I consider it possible to obviate that difficulty and, had there been a fence it is probable this accident would not have happened. The rope must hare been as taut as a bar of iron. Irwin and McCann must have fallen against the drum.
To the Coroner: It is possible the accident might have happened with the drum fenced. The chance of escape would have been very much greater.
To a Juryman: A man engaged as Irwin was need not in the exercise of his duty have been in such a position as Irwin must have been in, to get caught by the rope. I noticed, however, a seat within two feet of the drum. If a man sat down there and fell asleep, as men in such circumstances often do, he would probably fall against the drum.
Mr Binns, in reply to the Coroner, said he had no witnesses to call.
The Coroner then said it was for the Jury to consider whether they should wish the attendance of McCann. It would be very satisfactory to hear what he has to say, but the Sergeant states that he had seen the boy, and is satisfied he cannot recollect anything about how the accident happened. Mr Irwin, the father of the deceased, corroborated that, and a Juryman mentioned that he had seen the boy who, he added, might recollect something on his coming out of the Hospital in a week's time.
The Coroner said the evidence would have to be directed to shewing whether anyone was legally responsible for the occurrence; not for the purpose of satisfying mere curiosity.
The Jury, after consultation, resolved that the proceedings should be gone on with at once.
The Coroner agreed that not much, good would be attained by calling them together again. He did not think it necessary in this instance to go over the evidence in detail. They were all persons of skill, and had heard the evidence. They would say how the accident had occurred; whether there was any neglect in the working of the machinery, and whether that neglect had led to the occurrence of the accident.
The room was then cleared, and after the lapse of fifteen minutes the Court resumed, and the foreman of the Jury intimated that the Jury had agreed on a verdict to the effect that the death of Irwin had been caused by accident; that there was no evidence to show how the accident originated, but that no blame was attributable to the management of the claim. After some conversation with the Coroner, the verdict was reduced to writing as follows:— "That Robert Irwin came to his death at the North of Ireland Company's claim at the Blue Spur on the 26th day of February, 1880, by becoming entangled with the hauling gear, accidentally, casually, and by misfortune, and not owing to any negligence on the part of the owner of the mine, or defect in the machinery, or management thereof." This was signed by the Jury, who were then thanked by the Coroner for their attendance and anxious attention to the evidence, and the inquest closed. -Tupeka Times, 10/3/1880.
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