CASUALTIES.
The following particulars regarding tho death of David Nicolson, of the Rise and Shine dredge, who was drowned on Monday last, have been supplied by one of the crew to the local director of the company. As the dredge was closed down for repairs all hands were employed on the day shift, and after stopping work the men went to the edge of the tailings in order to get info a little skiff kept there to entitle the crew to cross a narrow stretch of still water which was backed up by the bottom stack of tailings and the foot of the Cromwell Flat terrace. A strong wind, accompanied by cold rain squalls, had been blowing on Monday, and whon the men got to the edge of the water they found that the wire rope on which the skiff travelled had become fouled, presumably in consequence of the wind. Mr Nicolson volunteered to clear the line and bring the boat to the edge of the tailings. He stripped off, and when he had accomplished his object he expressed his intention of swimming to the other side. He took a header from the boat, and started to swim across, but it is thought that there must have been a strong undercurrent, for before he had gone far he was in difficulties, and called out to the men to take the boat to him. His request was carried into effect as quickly as possible, but when his comrades got within a few feet of him he suddenly sank and was never seen again. When the unfortunate man sank he was near the end of the tailings, and it is surmised that he was swept through the gorge at Deadman's Point. The water was very cold at the time, and it is thought that Mr Nicolson must have been seized with cramp. The dredgemaster was absent when the fatality occurred. -Otago Daily Times, 13/11/1903.
A DREDGE FATALITY.
An inquest was held at Miller's Flat on the 26th ult., before Acting-coroner Johns and a jury of six, concerning the death of David Nicolson, who was drowned off the Rise and Shine dredge, Cromwell, on November 9, and whose body was picked up at Miller's Flat fifteen days later. Inspector Green watched the proceedings on behalf of the Mines Department, and Mr Steward (Roxburgh) on behalf of the relatives of deceased. The evidence showed that the crew of the Rise and Shine dredge used a small dingey as a convenience for themselves, contrary to the instructions of the directors and the dredge-master. The boat was not provided with any life-saving appliances. The deceased, who had got wet while releasing one of the lines that was jammed about the tailings, proposed, as he was already wet, to swim ashore from the tailings to the bank. No sooner did he enter the water than he appeared to be struggling with some undercurrent, and called out for the boat. Some loose timber lying in the boat was thrown to him, but he failed to catch it, and before the boat went to the rescue he disappeared for the last time. The jury's verdict was to the effect that it was an accident pure and simple; that no blame was attachable to anyone, and that the crew did everything possible under the circumstances to save his life; and added a rider stating that if the convenience boat had been provided with a lifebuoy, line, and boathook the deceased's life might have been saved. -Evening Star, 1/12/1903.
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