KILLED BY HIS CHUM.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 50, 27 February 1909, Page 15

KILLED BY HIS CHUM.

ENGINEER'S HORRIBLE DEATH IN CRANKPIT OP LINER. A terrible story of the a ship's engineer by the engine's crank Iβ told by the "Daily Telegraph. , '. Shortly belore the steamship Prlns Willem, Royal Dutch Steamship Company, was to sail from New York, John vituel, second assistant engineer, noticed that an oil-cup on the arm of the crank was not quite full. It wa* fire o'clock, the hour for selling, but be determined to take the great risk. Seizing an oil-can, Vituel lowered himself Into the pit. The crank was just off the centre, and when steam should foe thrown Into the cylinder the big arm would rise, swing slowly, and descend rapidly on the other side. Vituel had to bend almost double to reach the oil-cup, which he began filling. In the meantime Mr Vanderleis, the chief engineer, and Vituel's intimate friend—for years they had lived almost as brothers and were Inseparable—had gone to his post overhead to await the starting signal from the bridge. He was ignorant of Vltuel's perilous position In the narrow pit, which is not large enough to accommodate a man except when the crank is up. He naturally supposed that the second assistant was at his regular post. Vituel had about half finished loading the cup when the signal "Ahead" sounded In the engine-room. The hissing and clatter and bustle of the place drowned all other sounds. Suddenly, as Vituel was screwing the cap on the cup, the great arm against whlth he was pressed In the narrow hole trembled for a second, then rose. Vituel uttered an agonising scream. The cry pierced to the very heart of Vanderleis, and h* looked, down through the iron grating on which he 6tood. There below him he saw bis comra :e Vituel standing in the pit with bis arms upraised. Above the man's head was the massive crank descending rapidly. The sight turned the experienced engineer's brain. With a cry of horror, his hands covering his eyes, he dashed to the deck. Even before he had left his post tho crank had dropped, the end caught Vltuel In the chest aud dragged him down Into the bottom of the pit, where In one sweep or the big arm the mane life was ground out. Even if Vanderleis had remained at his post It Tvould have been too late. The crank would have swung down with its own momentum. Once, twice, three tinjss the arm swung round, grinding Vituel to pieces, and soou It was moving so fast that one could not have counted the revolutions. Even the victim's clothes were torn' to shreds. Vanderleis was In a pitiable condition, on the verge of nervous prostration, and continually calling "Jack, Jack." With colours flying at half mast the Prins WlUem sailed without him.