ACCIDENTS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20420, 15 December 1931, Page 15

ACCIDENTS.

EXPLOSION AT FREEZING WORKS. 15LUEKLY MAN KILLED. (SrECIAL TO THE THESS.J OAMAKU, December 14. Through the ammonia receiver bursting at the Pukeuri Freezing Works tills afternoon, John Scales Norton, head carpenter at the works, aged 68 years, lost his life. Other employees were completely overcome by the fumes but recovered after the application of artificial respiration. Norton was a resident of Pukeuri and liad been employed at the works for many years. A number of employees were in the fitting shop when, without warning, the ammonia liquid receiver burst. Invmediately the whole shop was filled with the white fumes of ammonia, making it impossible for the men to see even the shortest distance. They hurried to the door of the building, but three K'cro overcome by the fumes. However, they responded to artificial respiration. Two, Ferris and Dumbleton, were able to proceed home, whilst the third, 11. Ross Clark, received severe ammonia gas burns and was removed to hospital. During the rescue work the chief engineer, Mr .T. E. Dugdale, mad© a check of all the known employees in the building with a result that it was discovered that Norton was missing. Mr W. Scott, chief shift engineer, immediately donned a gas helmet and made his way to a small storeroom leading off the fitting shop. Mr Dugdale, becoming alarmed at Mr Scott's long absence and realising that if the fumes penetrated the neck of the gas riC'lmet, Mr Scott's position would be a precarious one, dashed into the building without the protection of a gas mask and found Mr Scott with the body of Norton at the door of the storeroom, and assisted him to bring it out. Artificial respiration was immediately applied, but without avail. A strong wind blowing through the dogr of the building assisted in the cispersal of the fumes, but the evidence of the effect of the gas was seen i»i tlie complete wilting of a tree half chain from the door. The efforts of Messrs Scott and 'Dugdale to effect a rescue earned the highest commendation of those at tho scene of the tragedy. The Coroner, Mr W. H. Frith, opened an inquest, but after hearing evidence of identification adjourned it sine die. WOMAN INJURED. Mrs Leek, of Spreydon, Christchurch, met with an accident while visiting Timaru on Sunday. Her husband placed a small bag On the floor of a friend's house at Washdyke, where they were visitipg, and Mrs Leek tripped over it, fracturing a thigh. _Dr. Ulrich was summoned and the patient was removed to the Timaru Public Hospital by the St. John Am-' bulance. LORRY CAPSIZES. THREE PEOPLE INJURED. (rR£3S AS3OCIATIO* IBLIORAU.) AUCKLAND, December 14. Three people were injured, two seriously, when a motor-lorry loaded with fish capsized over a bank on the road between Kuawai and Dargaville, near the Tokatoka deviation, into the dry portion of the bed of the Northern Wairoa river shortly before midnight last night. They were Colin McDonald, aged about 30, fisherman, his wife, and their child, aged fivo. The three occupants were pinned beneath the vehicle, the two elder people being seriously injured. At a late hour this evening they wero still unconscious. Fortunately the tide was out, as the spot where tho vehicle landed is covered with several feet of water at high tide. The occupants were extricated almost immediately by three men who wero in a car following. The injured people wero taken by ambulance to the Northern Wairoa Hospital. INJURIES PROVE FATAL. (press association ibleobam.) NAPIER, December 14. Thomas Henry Ball, aged nineteen years, died yesterday as the result of injuries received through a car going over a bank near Waikari. YOUTH SHOT. (PRES3 ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM ) MASTERTON, December' 14. Oswald' McAlpine, aged 18 years, of Martinborough, was accidentally shot at Whatarangi on Sunday evening while out shooting. He was conveyed to a private hospital in , iviartinborotigh where an operation was performed. The bullet penetrated his abdomen. His condition is serious.