TRAGEDY AT ROSENEATH

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3113, 18 June 1917, Page 6

TRAGEDY AT ROSENEATH

RETAINING WALL FALLS ON MAN

The fall of. a retaining wall, during the heavy rain on Saturday night caused the denth. of William Pierce Fitzgerald, a married man who resided with his family at Crescent Road, ltoseueath. Tho accident occurred about 8 p.m., while Fitzgerald was walking from his front door towards the Itack of liis house. A portion of the retaining wall, which was of brick, over twelve feet high, slipped suddenly and came down with n mass of clay and earth. Fitzgerald was pinned against a brick chimney, and almost completely buried, only the top of his head being visible. Beath must have taken place very quickly. The noise of the fall attracted attention, and neighbours were quickly on the scene. A telephone message was sent to the Clyde Quay police station, and efforts were made to extricate the buried man. The work proved difficult and dangerous owing to the confined 6pace, the loose condition of the wet soil, and the chance of further slips occurring. Only two men could dig at the same time, and the rescue- party laboured till after midnight, under the direction of Constable T.e Vevre. before' the body wn3 recovered. Previously Dr. Elliot 'hud pro> uounced life to be extinct. The body was removed to the morgue, where an innuest will be held, probably to-<tay. Fitzgerald was a. married man, 42 years of age, ami was.a painter by trade. He left a widow and seven children. An examination of Hie scene of the slip yesterday indicated that the accident: was due 'directly to the extraordinarily severe rain on Saturday night.