William Elkanah Turner, 1876-4/4/1903.

 

ST. BATHANS. 

OBITUARY. 

With intense regret I record the death of William Turner, of St. Bathans, who, on Saturday evening last, succumbed to the frightful accident met with on the previous Monday while engaged with other employees of the Scandinavian Water Race Co. sinking an elevator shaft. A quantity of clay dislodged itself suddenly from the embankment above, and rolling down the face of the claim to a shelf above, bounded over and fell into the shaft breaking both legs of the unfortunate man above the knees, one fracture being compound comminuted. The poor young fellow was conveyed by Mr Neil Nicolson, the manager, and others to the surface, and taken to the local Cottage Hospital, where he was promptly attended by Dr Lilly, who decided owing to the dreadful nature of the accident to send him to the Naseby Hospital that evening. He was accordingly removed there with all care and promptitude in Mr Walter Thurlow's spring van. Dr Church did all that medical skill could accomplish for the unfortunate sufferer, but at last on Saturday morning found that it was absolutely necessary to have one of the legs amputated. The result and shock to the system was however too great, and the patient gradually sank and expired the same evening.

The body was conveyed to-day to St. Bathans. Large numbers including his mother, and other relatives of the deceased forming a cortege to the R.C. Chapel. When the funeral bells were tolled, and a special service read in the Chapel. The funeral burial will take place to-morrow. Poor Mr Turner was of a most unassuming disposition, and extremely popular amongst his fellow workmen, and indeed his career was most exemplary. All St. Bathans people deeply deplore the sad bereavement of his mother, his brother, and his sister, and deeply sympathize in their loss, at the untimely death of poor Willie. Large numbers from all parts of the district were present to-day (7th) at the interment, and the customary burial service and prayers for the dead were offered up by the Rev. Father O'Dea. It appears that the claim manager had taken every precaution to ensure the safety of those working in the shaft, and consequently it is considered by the authorities unnecessary to hold an inquiry.   -Mt Ida Chronicle, 10/4/1903.

GRATITUDE. 

On behalf of the forlorn mother and brother and sisters of the unfortunate young man, William Turner, who died in the hospital from the injuries met with in the Scandinavian Water Race Co.'s claim at St. Bathans on the 30th ult., I have been asked to thank all those kind friends in Naseby, both inside and outside the hospital, for the gracious help and sympathy rendered during their sore trial.  -Mt Ida Chronicle, 17/4/1903.

Scandinavian Co's claim, 1899. Elevator in the background. The excavated area is now St Bathan's Blue Lake. Hocken Library photo.

St Bathans Catholic cemetery.