FATAL ACCIDENT AT CALLAGHANS CLAIM.
FREDERICK CHARLES STOOP KILLED.
A fatal accident happened yesterday about 4 o’clock at the Callaghans Gold Mining Coy’s claim at Callaghans, resulting in the death of Frederick Chair Stoop, a miner, who came into contact with an electric current and was electrocuted. It appears that the deceased who was working for his father, Mr Charles Stoop, of Rimu, who had a contract at the claim, had gone into the tunnel there and was bringing out a truck. A man named Morgan who was going on shift heard the truck as he entered the tunnel, and going forward he put his hand on it, when he received an electric shock. He called out and, a companion turned off the current of the electric lighting, and it was then found that the electric light line had sagged down and was touching the truck, which was made of iron. The line was lifted out of the way, and then the lights were turned on and going to the other end of the truck they found the body of Frederick Charles Stoop, he apparently having been electrocuted. The alarm was given, and every effort made to resuscitate him, but without avail, and he was then carried out into the open, where a further effort was made. In the meantime Dr. Page of Kumara had been sent for, but on his arrival he stated that death had ensued, having practically been instantaneous, from electrocution, from a current of 250 volts.
The body was then brought info town, and later was conveyed to the residence of the parents at Rimu.
The deceased was a native of Woodstock and would have been twenty years of age on March 13th. He was a son of Mr and Mrs Charles William Hoop, of Rimu, and was a bright lad and good son in every respect. The news of the sad fatality was received with general regret and deep sympathy has been. expressed for the bereaved parents and relatives in their sad loss.
AN INQUEST. An inquest concerning the death was opened last evening by the Coroner, Mr A. E. Benjamin, at the police station, when after the father identified the remains as those of his son, Frederick Charles Stoop, the proceedings were adjourned sine die. The inquest will be resumed some time next week. -Hokitika Guardian, 4/3/1933.
The funeral of the late Frederick Charles Stoop of Rimu, the victim of Friday’s fatality, took place to Hokitika cemetery yesterday afternoon, the cortege moving from Rimu. There was a very large attendance of mourners from all parts of the district, and a large number of floral tributes from sorrowing friends. The Rev. G. Naylor conducted an impressive service at the graveside. -Hokitika Guardian, 6/4/1933.
Mr A. E. Benjamin, Coroner, this morning presided at the resumed inquest on the youth, Frederick Charles Stoop, killed on March 3 in a tunnel at Callaghan's Goldmining Coy’s claim. Mr J. A. Murdoch appeared for the Callaghan’s Goldmining Coy., Ltd., and Mr J. W. Hannan for Westland Power Ltd. Mr Scoble (Inspector of Mines) was also present. Sergeant King represented the police. The father of deceased, Charles W. Stoop, said his son was working in the face and trucking on the day of the accident, using an iron truck in the main drive. The body part was of steel and the trolly of wood, and it ran on iron rails. The tunnel was lighted with electric, light. The permanent lights were into the sump, and from the sump to the face, a distance of 180 feet, was flex. Bulbs were connected to the flex. The flex was fixed to the wall by dogs and iron nails, as permanent as possible. The loaded truck would be pushed by the trucker to the foot of the incline, and would weigh about three-quarters of a ton. It took a good push to move the truck, using the two hands on the truck. George Morris called witness, stating the truck was alive, and he switched off the lights for a second or two. A few moments after he went down the tunnel and saw Morgan and Hoggarth were working at his son. The lights were then on. There was no response from his son, who was then carried out to the surface. As far as witness knew his son was then dead. There were nine men working, three in a shift. Preparations were made to put in a conduit from the sump to the jump-up a fortnight before, but this had not been effected. In a blue reef tunnel the sleepers work down with the water and the truck sometimes sways across to strike the wall of the tunnel. Stephen Havill, in his evidence, said: I am overseer of the working of the claim, or virtually manager. They had been working with the electric light since the tunnel was started. I sent notice to the Inspector of Mines of the installation of electric power in the tunnel, but. not separately for lighting. Just before the accident preparations were made to extend the conduit. Electric light was used for convenience. The main tunnel was driven 250 feet. They started off from the first with electric light and the voltage was 230. Mr Stoop sen., had the contract for working the mine. I had an improvised fan for the tunnel for improving the air and did not think there was any black damp. Every morning I went into the face with a candle. I do not know who substituted a fuse in the switchboard. Frank Morgan, shift boss, said that on March 3, at a few minutes to four, he started to go down the tunnel. When at the top he heard the truck below moving. He got to the truck. The lights were burning. The truck had stopped at the foot of the incline. It was loaded. He did not see anyone there and had to go between the truck and the wall to go past. He put one hand on the truck to do so and got a shock that nearly knocked him over. The flex was caught on a corner of the truck on the right hand side of the truck coming out. The flex was tight. He told Morris to go and turn the light off. When he did so witness freed the flex and waited till the lights came on again. The truck was then free of electricity. After passing the truck witness's foot struck something in the shadow. It was the deceased on the floor of the tunnel. He was laying face downwards, stretched full out. He spoke to him and got no answer. Then he called out to Morris, stating there had been an accident and to send for a doctor and the police. Witness was dry when he received the shock. He had not received a shock on this truck before, but received a couple of lighter shocks from the flex near the jump-up. He presumed the truck being “alive” was caused by the flex being on the truck. The inspector of Mines gave evidence that on March 4, about 2.30 p.m., he visited the scene of the fatality. Certain tests were carried out by Messrs Langford and Sampson. Both expressed satisfaction at the results. Witness examined the cable that had fouled the truck and with Messrs Langford and Sampson found a slight puncture in it. This evidently allowed contact to take place between the copper wire and the truck. The puncture had practically closed up at the time of the inspection and a fair amount of force had to be used to open it. As a result of the examination Mr Sampson and witness eame to the conclusion that a small current only had passed through the lighting cable, in fact so small that it does not appear as if it would have, blown the ordinary lighting circuit fuse. Witness examined the pump and found the machine was sufficiently earthed. The presence of carbon dioxide was noted at the time. This was at the place where the deceased was found. A sample of the air in this locality was taken by witness and an analysis at the Dominion Laboratory gave the following result: Carbon dioxide C.0.2, 3.10 per cent.; oxygen 0.2, 17.04 per cent.; carbon monoxide C.O., nil; sulphuretted hydrogen H.S.2. nil; nitrogen and inert gasses (by diff.), 78.86 per cent.; total 105.00. There were no men working in the mine when the sample of air was taken. The Coroner returned the following verdict: That Frederick Charles Stoop came to his death in a tunnel at Callaghan’s Goldmining Coy’s claim on March 3, 1933, by electrocution, as the result of coming in contact with the electric power used for lighting the tunnel, through a truck he was pushing, when an electric flex was punctured. -Grey River Argus, 28/3/1933.
Hokitika Cemetery.
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