Inquest at Cromwell.
The inquest on the body of the late Jno. Towan Hosking, who was killed on the Rising Sun Dredge on Thursday, was held in the Cromwell Courthouse on Friday evening before D. A. Jolly Esq., acting-Coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Mr A Warburton was chosen foreman.
Mr C. Hutton watched the proceedings on behalf of the Rising Sun G. Dr. Co. and Mr E. R. Green, Inspector of Mines, was present on behalf of the Mines Department.
Jno. Clements, Blacksmith, Rising Sun Dredge gave evidence that Hosking was fireman on the dredge and was on shift at the time of the accident. About 2.30. p.m. witness threw the belt off the boring machine, deceased being alongside when he did so. The belt caught on the shaft and got doubled round it. Witness asked Hosking to stop the engine but instead of doing so he went to the belt and tried to catch it as it revolved. There was about 18 inches of a loose loop hanging. Deceased made several attempts to get hold of it and eventually his hand was caught in the loop. He cried out "Oh" and was immediately swung round the shaft, striking witness with his feet as he revolved. Witness ran to the engine to stop the dredge but before he got there Renshaw, the winchman, had got across and done so. Witness then went back and found the body was considerably mangled. Assisted the others to put it in some hessian and carried it into the office.
To the foreman: Thought it was a dangerous thing to meddle with the belt while the engine was going. There was no possibility of getting it off the way he attempted to. Had not seen any one attempt to do the same thing before.
To Mr Green: It was witness's duty to attend to the boring machine and belt. Intended hanging it up out of the way when done with it. Deceased had no right to interfere with the belt. Should think the shaft made from 15 to 20 revolutions before it was stopped. Before the accident took place the machinery and belting were well protected. One of the guards was broken down by deceased's leg striking it.
To Mr Hutton: Anyone could see it was dangerous to touch the belt. Did not tell deceased to do so, only told him to stop the engine. Deceased disobeyed his order by not stopping the engine when told to. Could not understand why he attempted to catch the belt as it was impossible to get it off that way. He must have known the risk he was taking. Deceased had no reason to be near the shaft unless he was oiling and he was not doing so at the time.
To Mr Green: Deceased would have to pass under the shaft on the way to the elevator once or twice a shift when oiling. The shaft was about four feet from the deck. Deceased went voluntarily to the belt to help witness.
To the foreman: The fireman was not expected to assist witness in any way, a man being specially employed for this purpose. Was not likely to go down to the shaft to feel the bearings.
To Mr Green: The shaft could not have caught him at the bearing as it was properly protected.
To Mr Hutton: Was not sure that there was no written order on the dredge prohibiting the men from interfering with the belting while in motion.
Wm. Renshaw, winchman, gave similar evidence as to the manner in which the accident occurred. He immediately stopped the engine and threw the friction out of gear. The shaft probably would make from 12 to 20 revolutions before it stopped. It was travelling about 120 revolutions to the minute. He cut the belt and with the assistance of Bethune took the body down. Deceased was apparently quite dead, both legs being cut off below the knee and the right arm torn away from the shoulder.
To Mr Hutton. There was a written order on the dredge prohibiting the firemen from touching the belting while in motion. The deceased must have have been aware of this order.
Rob. McIntosh, Assistant-Inspector of Mines also gave evidence. He had visited the Rising Sun Dredge on several occasions and always found a reasonable comcompliance with the regulations. In his opinion the deceased committed a foolhardy act, which in the ordinary working of the dredge it was unnecessary to attempt.
To Mr Hutton. — In his opinion the machinery and plant was not in any way defective.
F. Bradley, Police Constable, gave evidence that deceased was a married man, 36 years of age, residing at Cromwell and had a wife and three children.
The jury returned a verdict. — "That the deceased John Towan Hosking met his death on the Rising Sun Dredge, working on the Clutha River, at Cromwell, on the afternoon of Thursday, 13th July, by being accidentally caught in the belting of the boring machine which was fouled on the screen shaft, and there is nothing in the evidence to show that any blame is attachable to anyone." -Dunstan Times, 17/7/1905.
DEATH
HOSKING. — On the 13th July (accidently killed on the Rising Sun Dredge), John Towan Hosking, dearly beloved husband of Maria Hosking, aged 37 years. Deeply regretted. -Cromwell Argus, 24/7/1905.
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