A SERIES OF ACCIDENTS

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 183, 2 August 1913, Page 5

A SERIES OF ACCIDENTS

A SHUNTER'S MISADVENTURE. THROWN UNDER MOVING WAGONS. LOSES HIS RIGHT ARM. A DANGEROUS S__j_-_n t TING YARD. A shunter named Walter Lawrence met with a serious accident while going about his duties in the Auckland yard yesterday afternoon, and as the result of injuries sustained by-being thrown under a line of moving wagons he has lost his right arm, the limb being amputated from just below the shoulder. The unfortunate incident occurred on what fire known as the "shunting legs," at a point on the Parnell side of thedd goods shed. Lawrence was attending to the points in shunting on the inward rails, and apparently, in stooping over to recover a sheet of paper he had dropped, he was struck by a line of wagons in motion on the outward rails. He was thrown on to the track, but saved himself to some extent by spreading out his arms, and two vehicles passed over the right arm before he was hit by an axle butt of one of the waggons and pushed clear of the line. When picked up by some of his fellowworkers, Lawrence was found to be suffering severely from shock, coupled with a badly crushed arm where the empty wagons had passed over it above the elbow. He was immediately removed to the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, at Mount Eden, and this morning, it was found necessary to amputate the injured limb. The patient, though still suffering from shock and the effects of; the serious operation, is bearing up as well as can be expected. He is a man over .'SO years of age, and of good physique, and is expected to pull through. He is an experienced and careful worker, and is graded as a first-class shunter. He lived with his parents at Grey Lynn, and had been on the Auckland staff for some years. The accident emphasises the hazardous nature of shunting operations at the Auckland yard, on account, it is declared, of the construction of the "shunting legs." The free, space for the manipulation of the points between the inward and outward lines is about five feet, and when wagons are running on both, with the bodies of the carriages overlapping, the space is so much redt ;ed that a shunter is cramped for room. He must be very alert and -careful, and stand erect in front of the points, and the slightest diversion from the upright position probably results in a serious accident. 11 is understood that frequent representations have been made on behalf of the shunters as to the dangers of the position, while also better lighting of the yards for night work has been persistently urged, but no tangible steps have been taken tn improve matters in either direction. Tbe "shunting legs" are looked upon as a death-trap, and it is considered that the operations of tbe shunter are already sufficiently hard and precarious without being complicated by the dangers of-cramped working space. It may be noted as a coincidence that just a few minutes prior to the accident Ijawrence. in speaking to a goods shed hand, suggested that the latter should go in for shunting as being more remunerative and a stepping-stone to advancement. The goods shed band replied that his position was more comfortable and not so liable to accident. TRAM AND CART COLLIDE IN KARANGAHAPE ROAD. A collision between an outward bound Grey Lynn tram ear and a cart occurred in Karangahape Road about nine o'clock this morning near the Edinburgh Street corner. The north side of the road is at present under repairs, and all cart traffic is confined to the southern half, with the result that vehicles and outward trams pass one another at quite close quarters. The cart, which was driven by a man named Jones, of Point Chevalier, was going towards town, and appears to have swerved on to the tram line, with the result that an outward bound Grey Lynn tram car, which would normally have passed it on the wrong side, struck the point of the near shaft, upsetting the whole turnout. Both shafts were broken, but the cart, which was empty, apparently sustained no further, damage. The driver was thrown out into the mud, but beyond some bruises and abrasions he was unhurt, and the horse also escaped. The front of the tram car was somewhat dinted by the impact. A CAPSIZED CAB. PASSENGERS AND DRIVER ESCAPE INJURY. A peculiar accident happened to a party of two ladies and a gentleman, who had hired a cab to reach Arthur Street, Ponsorrby, after arrival by the Rotorua express last evening. When the four-wheeler wa6 rounding the corner into Arthur Street, which is naj-row. it was suddenly capsized. The driver was thrown on to the struggling horses, while the surprised passengers made a hasty exit- through the one free door. Beyond the surprise and slight shock, nobody was injured, but the driver was fortunate in getting clear without hurt. "One of the horses received a deep gash in the hindquarter. The capsize was due to the break gear being jammed. - ' AN EXCITING INCIDENT. PANMURE BUS OUT OF CONTROL. Half a .dozen passengers by the Panmure 'bus were the unwilling participators in an exciting experience in Wellesley Street East this morning. The vehicle was descending the incline, and was in front of the Technical College, when the rein broke, which meant that the driver lost control over the horses. One of. the three animals was more restive than the others, and the startled team shot across the road in a diagonal course, and bumped over the footpath into the wall fronting Albert Park, where the heavy vehicle was jammed and securely i held. This was a most fortunate circumstance, for had it not happened, thus supplementing the brake pressure that had been promptly applied by the driver, it is not easy to imagine where the runaway would have ended, and what would have been the- -facte of the jwini- agar. It -waa aMtTOßngijifiiaittothoeeTWmm-li iteii, ms.

DANGERS OF TROIXEYXNG. _, BOY'S MIRACULOCS ESCAPE. \ A RUSH DOWX COLLEGE HTT.T:.'.. One of the most popular pastimes amongst the youthful portion of Auckland's population at the present time is the dizzying sensation of bumping down the steepest grades to be found per medium of the four-wheeled trolley. These vehicles vary in type and construction, and are a- source of annoyance. to pedestrians as well as to general traffic and a menace- to the life and limbs of the users. This fact was demonstrated by an incident that occurred on College Hill this moTi-ing. A twelve-year-old lad. Malcolm Eeed, whose parents reside in Rennell Street, Ponsonby. was indulging with two youthful comrades in the favourite sport, and the party essayed a descent of that steep incline. A start on the hazardous journey was made from near the top and a course was chosen down the roadside. The small carriage, well-guided, swung down the hill, and gathering impetus with the descent, developed a .Treat pace, for a small-wlieeled vehicle, till it was practically rushing through space as the bottom was reached. At this point the trolley got out of hand and shot across the tram track in front of a city-bound car. Two of the boys rolled "off ami! escaped injury, but Reed got mixed ii|> in the trolley, and when- picked' up it was found he was suffering a sligtit concussion of the brain and sundry abrasions about the legs and body. *H e was taken to Cooper's pharmacy. where he received attention, and then removed to the District Hospital, His injuries are not serious, but he had a very narrow escape. RAILWAYMAN'S DEATH. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WEL__I]*G?TON, Friday. A man named Peter Creghorn Jackson, who while working on the railway line at Pa-ekakariki, on July 14, had both hi* thighs crushed through a screwjaek slipping and letting locomotive wheels fall upon him, died in the hcspital late tonight. Jackson was 31 years of age, a son of Mr G. F. Jackson, of Dunedin." He was married. At the inquest one witness 6aid the appliances for work at Paekakariki were not so safe as those in the centres. A verdict was given of accidental death, no blame being attachable to anyone.