MAX FAINTS ON HIGH TRIPOD

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21323, 16 November 1934, Page 12

MAX FAINTS ON HIGH TRIPOD

* More Than 150 Feet Above Ground * SHEERLEGS AT NAVAL BASE DEMOLISHED [THE PRESS Special Service.J AUCKLAND, November 15. More than 150 feet above the ground at the top of the shcerlegs, which this morning were sent toppling into tho harbour from the Devonport naval base, a drama which might easily have, become a tragedy was enacted this week. Only because he was not alone at the apex of the 100-ton tripod Charles Madigan is alive to-day. With two workmen. Madigan, who is well-known as master of the Auckland Harbour Board's floating crane Mahua. had climbed the long ladder running up the outside of the reaileg of the tripod to carry out seme work at the top. The job which the men were doing was the fixing of a heavy sling lo facilitate the lifting of the structure after it had been dropped into the harbour. Madigan was perched at Die top of the ladder, one of the workmen being on the apex of the tripod above, and the other on the ladder immediately below him. In an endeavour to shift a heavy iron collar, which had not been moved for many years, so that a sling might be effectively rigged. Madigan strained heavily on an iron bar. Suddenly the bar slipped and his two elbows jarred sharply on the tops of the two sides of the ladder. Fortunately for Madigan, his bodv was pressed hard against the rungs of the ladder, and the jar did not send him hurtling backward:; down the leg of the tripod. j Lost Consciousness Although in considerable pain as the result of the jar to both "tunny bones," Madigan did not immediately lose consciousness. Within a few minutes, however, no doubt partly because the accident had happened 156 feet above the ground, he began to feel dizzy. At first he thought that he would immediately attempt to descend the long ladder; but as he began to feel worse instead of better he realised that such a course would be impossible. A few minutes after the accident, Madigan, still at the top of the sheerlegs, lost consciousness completely. Fortunately for him. his two companions on the tripod were able to hold him as he lay across the top of the ladder. Down below in the dockyard, naval j ratings and civilian workmen wen', about their various jobs totally un-1 aware of what had happened 150 feet above them. Neither of the two men who were with Madigan on the sheerlegs dared to go down for help, and all three remained where they were.

When Ihc injured man regained consciousness, lie was helped to remain where he was until his strength came back, and then a careful descent wav made to the deck of the jetty and safety. Altogether it was estimated that Madigan was in peril for almost 20 minutes. "I have never fainted in my lifebe fore, and it was a great place to pick to start, with." said Madigan, who has been in charge of the floating crane for 14 years, and is widely known as a keen yachtsman. The coincidence is that an exactly similar incident occurred some years ago. when u man who is now employed as a fireman at the dockyard, lost consciousness at the top of the sheerlegs. and was: held in security until his senses returned. Work or Demolition As six bells sounded on the train-ing-ship Philomel nearby, the sheerlegs, which had been a landmark in Auckland Harbour for 25 years, crashed into the water this morning. The sheerlegs, which were made of steel, were 15Cft high and weighed 100 tons. Thev were built at a cost of £30.000 for heavy lifts at the naval dockyard, but were only used six times. The demolition work was clone by the Auckland Harbour Board. In preparation, the rear leg was driven forward to give an overhang, and this morning all that was necessary was to burn through the cheeks holding the rear leg. This was done in three minutes, and the sheerlegs fell with a dull roar. As they dived into the water there was a crash like that of a warship's big gun and the spray rose 150 feet.