FATAL ACCIDENT.
MAN KILLED ON THE GOLDEN POINT DREDGE
[FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Havelock, September 6.
A fatal accident occurred on the Wakamarina Golden Point Dredging Company's dredge, Wakamarina river, yesterday. Martin Elliott, a single man, 33 years of age, engine driver of the Golden Point Dredge, was oiling the winch shaft when his clothing became entangled in the couplings. His left arm was reduced to a pulp, his ribs broken and vertebrae dislocated. The accident occurred at eleven o'clock last night, and he died on the road to Havelock at three this morning. He was conscious till the end. Deceased was a popular young fellow and a keen footballer. He was a grandson of the late Doctor Muller and second son of Mr Charles Elliott, formerly of Blenheim, and now of Pelorus. He was formerly employed in the 'Frisco trade as refrigerating engineer on the Moana. -Marlborough Express, 6/9/1901.
THE MINING FATALITY.
An inquest us to the death of Martin Muller Elliott was held before John Allen, Esq., District Coroner, at the Court House, Havelock, on Saturday last, the proceedings not commencing until 5 p.m.
The following were sworn as a jury: — Messrs Robert Stansfield, journalist (foreman), William Morrison, engine driver, George Gwillim, laborer, Robert Crespin, miner, Frank Binn Rush, miner, and Andrew Sanmellion, miner.
After having viewed the body, the jury returned, and the Coroner having issued a burial certificate, the proceedings were adjourned until Monday at 9.30 a.m. The jury, counsel, and police inspected the dredge on Sunday. Sergt.-Major Mason represented the Crown; Mr Rogers appearing for the deceased's relatives, and Mr McNab for the Golden Point Dredging Company. Evidence was taken at the adjourned hearing.
James Elliott deposed: — Am a farmer residing in the Pelorus and brother of the deceased, who was 32 years of age, and single. He was an engineer, and was working on the Golden Point dredge. He was exainined for his certificate last Tuesday, 3rd September, and received an intimation from the Chief Inspector of Machinery that his application for a second-class certificate of competency as stationary engine driver had been passed, and he would receive his certificate after the next meeting of the Board. He was acting as engineer on the Imperial dredge for about six months. He had been at work on the Golden Point dredge for the company about a week or ten days, but before that he had been engaged in construction by the contractors. Deceased was dead on arrival at home, which is about six miles from the dredge. We got medical assistance at once.
By Mr Rogers: For many years before he was engaged at sea in the engine room of steamers. His last appointment was refrigerating engineer of the Moana in the 'Frisco trade.
By a juror: He was a right-handed man.
Robert Hoadley, deposed: — Am a medical practitioner at Havelock. Was called in to see deceased about 3.30 a.m. on Friday, 6th September, and proceeded at once to his father's house, about four miles. He was dead when I arrived; examined the body. The injuries were entirely confined to the left side of the body; there were a few scald wounds, but no fracture of the skull. There was only superficial blood about the head. The bone of the left arm, between the elbow and the shoulder, was broken to pieces; the skin was not broken; several ribs were fractured on the left side; the left was much contused, but no skin broken. There were no marks on the legs, and they were not broken. The vertebral column appeared to be dislocated or broken in the dorsal region, i.e., about the middle of the back. The cause of death was shock to the nervous system and the immediate cause traumatic collapse. The injuries sustained were quite sufficient to cause his sudden death. Should say he had been dead about an hour or an hour and a half when I saw him. I think he met his death from injuries received by the machinery on the dredge.
By a juror: — Found no injury on the right side of deceased.
Ralph Andrews deposed: I am dredgemaster on the Golden Point dredge, and have been in charge since January 17th, before the machinery was put in. We started dredging at 12 o'clock noon on Friday, 30th August. Deceased was winchinan at the time of his decease. His duties were to move the dredge about by the winches, to lift and lower the ladder, and to attend to the bearings of the winch machinery and the winch machinery generally. The winch shaft has been lengthened, about seven feet having been added on. This was done before we started work, and before the visit of the Inspector of Mines, Mr Richards, and the visit of the Inspector of Machinery, Mr McGregor. The Inspector noticed the shaft couplings, and spoke to me about having had to lengthen the shaft. There were two cast iron boxes and six bolts which projected about half an inch from the thread of the nut parallel with the shaft. The accident apparently occurred by his clothes catching the end of the bolt. Deceased told me he was leaning over to feel the friction strap bearing to see if it was hot. The shaft is about three feet above where he was standing. The shaft caught his coat. It was not necessary for him to do this. The friction strap would be about 2ft 6in to the left of where he was standing. The proper way was to have gone round to the back of the winch, the oiling place. If he had gone round there is an angle iron guard which acts as a stay for the winch, as also a guard for the oiling. On the side he was standing there was nothing between him and the shaft. By some means his dress was caught in the rink and the injury caused. The shaft would be revolving 130 revolutions to the minute. Deceased had on a football jersey, a waistcoat, and a loose coat. There was no one in sight; the engine driver was on the other pontoon. He screamed out as he was caught and the engine driver stopped the engine. The whistle was blown at 11.30 p.m. and I knew by the time it meant me, and I met him on the road. I live 150 yards away. The engineer went on board and I went for assistance and sent for the doctor. When I got on board I saw deceased, and he was able to tell us how the accident happened. He asked me to move him to the hotel, where the doctor could set his arm, and he would go home to-morrow. I went down with him in the trap. When we had got about a mile he asked me to lift his head and we set him up. About ten minutes after we found he was dead. Everything was done we could do to help him. I have not got a certificate as engine driver or engineer. I have received no certificate under extract 11 of rule 83, but the inspection has taken place and I have been promised the certificate. I have a certificated engineer and two certificated drivers. We work three shifts, with a certificated man for each shift. When the accident happened Robert John Murray, a certificated driver, was in charge. I heard one of the certificated drivers remonstrate with deceased for going about with a loose jacket. Where deceased was feeling the bearing was the wrong side. There was plenty of room for the deceased. You might fence off the whole of the shaft but I don't consider it necessary, as the two inspectors have passed it. The only way to avoid the danger would be to take the shaft off and put a new shaft in. One shaft came from Dunedin originally seven feet short, and it had to be lengthened. It is a proper coupling put on a a proper and workmanlike manner. Have had no occasion to complain seriously on deceased's part.
To a juror: — Deceased should not have been within five foot of the shaft except on the oiling side, where there is a guard iron. There was quite sufficient light, the dredge being lighted by acetylene gas.
To Sergt.-Major Manon: — Deceased did not attach blame to anyone. There is room at the end to get round and oil the winch. I can't say the exact distance between the acetylene chamber and the end of the shaft. Deceased was very venturesome.
(Text missing) Co's. Have a marine certificate. Inspected the dredge on Sunday, 8th September, in connection with the enquiry. The place of the accident was pointed out to me and also the shaft coupling. It is a proper coupling and the usual way of coupling two shafts together. There are other safer methods than bolts. The way this was done was the usual way. I have only seen two or three others; it is not safe if a man has to work close to it. There was plenty of room for him to feel the strap without coming in contact with these bolts. It is not usual to wear loose jackets or clothes. It is a very dangerous thing to wear these about machinery. He would be carried round and round until his clothes gave way. The way provided is to go round by the gasometer to feel and oil the bearings. There would be a foot or 14 inches of room. I don't think it is necessary to fence off the coupling. The man had no right there. I allude to the place pointed out to me by Your Worship. I have heard Mr Andrews' statements; they are correct. It would be safer to have a new shaft; the ends of the nuts should be rounded off. The people who made the thing ought to have seen it right; it could be boxed off solid.
Robert John Murray deposed: — I am a certificated driver working on Golden Point dredge. Was in charge at the time of the accident; was not in sight of deceased, but heard him scream out. I stopped the engine and blew the whistle for the manager. Went round and saw his clothes whirling round the shaft and the deceased lying underneath the coupling on the floor. The clothes were rolled round the coupling. He was able to speak. I lifted him out and set him up against the post. He told me he was going to oil the friction strap and got rolled round the shaft. I said I would go for the manager and he said "All right." We removed him in front of the engine, then into the trap and on to the hotel. He died in my arms on the way to the hotel. (The coat and wearing apparel, very much torn, were produced, and also the boots broken in two.) I had said nothing to him about his clothes.
To a juror: — There was plenty of light. The accident occurred at 11.30 p.m.
The jury retired at noon, and at 12.30 found the following verdict: — That the deceased met with his death at Wakamarina on board the Golden Point dredge, 6th September, 1901, accidentally and by misfortune. -Marlborough Express, 10/9/1901.
ANNIVERSARY. — The Havelock Wesleyan Christian Endeavour Society celebrated its first anniversary on Sunday evening, when the Rev. H. Foston preached a sermon on “The call to service." Mr J. Charlton, professor of music, presided at the organ, and, at the close of the Service (to express sympathy with those in the district recently bereaved) played the “Dead March in Saul," the congregation standing the while.
Canvastown.— Out of respect to the memory of Mr Martin Elliott, the Canvastown Football Club refrained from holding its fortnightly dance on Saturday evening last. -Pelorus Guardian and Miner's Advocate, 10/9/1901.
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