An accident occurred this morning at the quarry, situated at Kilgour’s Point, near Sawyers Bay, by which a man named William Gibbs lost his life. It appears that the deceased and two other men, named Griffith Jones and William Hoskins, were enaged quarrying the face of the quarry. The deceased was at the time holding the drill, and Hoskins striking. Without any warning, a mass of stones came down, and Jones, who was working just below the other mem noticed the fall and sung out, Hoskins being fortunate enough to get clear; but the mass of weight, about two tons, came down all about the deceased, who was struck by some of the stones, and frightfully mutilated. Jones and Hopkins got him out, carried him to a boat, and brought him to Mussel Bay for medical assistance. Dr Drysdale was immediately sent for, but life was extinct on his arrival. Deceased was a married man, about fortyeight years of age, and lived at Carey Bay. -Evening Star, 3/12/1874.
An inquest upon the body of William Gibbs, who was killed in the morning at Kilgour's Point, was held last night at the Port, before Dr O' Donoghue, Coroner. The evidence disclosed nothing more than appears in our report of the accident, and a verdict of "Accidental death" was returned. -Otago Daily Times, 4/12/1874.
A fatal accident occurred in the vicinity of Port Chalmers yesterday morning, about 9 o'clock, adding one more to the already long list of like melancholy cases in the district. The deceased, whose name is William Gibbs, was working at a ballast quarry at Kilgour's Point, on the Dunedin side of Sawyers' Bay, with his mate, William Hoskins, the two being at the time engaged in driving a drill for blasting. They were standing on a ledge about 4ft from the floor of the quarry, and above them was a perpendicular face about 6ft high. This appeared to them to be perfectly secure, no sign of liability to give way being noticed. While engaged as above stated, about three tons of stone directly above them suddenly gave way. Hoskins, who was using the hammer, sprang off the ledge and escaped untouched, but Gibbs was forced down beneath the heap. Griffith Jones was the only other man present. He was at the time loading a lighter at the quarry, and he and Hoskins immediately extricated Gibbs, who was then alive, and having a small boat handy they put him into it and brought him over to the head of Mussel Bay. Gibbs lived until the boat was about 200 yards off the head of the bay. On their arrival medical aid was sent for, but was of course unavailing, as life was extinct before the shore was reached. The body was then given over to the police, who removed it to the morgue. The deceased, it is said, is a native of Portland, England, and 45 years of age; he is unmarried, but has a cousin in the colony. He leaves property in Carey's Bay and money in the Bank, and a will providing for its disposal. His mother is still living in England. -Star, 7/12/1874.
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