TWO MEN KILLED.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 100, 26 April 1912, Page 8

TWO MEN KILLED.

CRUSHED BY CONCRETE WALL.

SYDKEY, April 20. Through the collapse of a newlyereeted concrete Tvall, two men were crushed to death at Anna.ndale, whilst a third escaped with severe bruises. The accident ■'occurred, in Pritchardstreet, Annandale, where a number of lerro-concrete cottages are being erected. The ground slopes from tbe street, and the rear walls are necessarily high, some 25 feet. Five "concreters" were engaged in mixing concrete at the rear of one of these walle, which had only been erected yesterday, when, at about ten o'clock, without any -warning beyond a audden creaking and a loud explosion, it collapsed. Two of tbe men managed to jump dear as the mass of mortar and steel came tumbling down; but two others, Richard Roper (aged 30), a single man, formerly a sailor on H.M-s. Powerful, and residing at High-street, BaJmain, together with William Habena (-aged •*&), a married man, residing at Burlingtonstreet. Ultimo, were buried under the ruins. A third man named Rochester was knocked down by lumps of falling material, but escaped with abrasions to hi> shoulders.

When the djist cleared, smothered cries of pain could ibe heard faintly issuing from the mass of mortar, and help was soon forthcoming. Frantic hande tore at the lumps of concrete, and before long two mangled and bleeding forms were extricated. They were laid reverently to the ground, and endeavour"; made to-resoseitate life, "but it was quickly recognised that in the case of Roper life was extinct. Death must have been instantaneous, as his neck and both legs were, broken. The body was conveyed to the jnorgne. The Civil Ambulance conveyed . Habeas to the Balmain Cottage Hospital, but his injuries w«-re so severe that death supervened about a. quarter of an hour after admission.

This Is the second instance of death through collapsing concrete which has occurred in Sydney recently.