THE PATEA FATALITY.

Evening Post, Volume XVII, Issue 513, 19 May 1879, Page 2

THE PATEA FATALITY.

Some additional particulars relating to the recent shocking accident at the Patea Breakwater works, by which the contractor, Mr. R. Dickson, lost his life, are given by the Patea Mail:— From the evidence taken at the inquest, it would appear that the deceased gentleman wasasslstinar id lifting concrete blocks out of the sand by means of a crane aad truck, tbe former being usod to lift the blocks so as to place them in the latter, when they were conveyed to the end of the breakwater and again lifted out of the tru«k by the crane, and placed iri position. Everything being apady, both crane and truck were started along the line at a good speed. It wa9 usual for some of the men to keep in front of tho crane, so as to prevent it runnta& too fast, and on this ofecasipn Mr. .Dickson and another ■ .placed themselves each side,"Tvhile another man occupied the position betweenithe rails. When the crane was neafing- its de'stluatlan, where there are a quantity of loose boulders, Mr. Dickson ia passing over thesa missed his footing, and fell across the line. Ho managed .'to get his body and ono of hh legs out of the way, but before ho could get the other over the crane was on him, and completely shattered the limb at the thigh, just leaving It hanging by a piece of skin. Tho sight was a fearful one, and the workmen were thoroughly unnerved for a time; but they soon recovered themselves, and attended to the wounded man. A large belt was made fast round the stump to stop the bleeding, and a horseman was dispatched in haste for a doctor. Unfortunately the tide was in, and the longest way had to be taken, and the man, in endeavoring to make as much haste as possible, knocked his horse up, having to walk a great portion of the way. However, Drs. Percy and Keating were found at last, just |n tho act of amputating Mr. Guy's finger, which they left and hurried down to the breakwater, when in a very short time the leg was removed -and the main artery secured. But there seems to have been no hope from the first, as Dr. Keating stated at the Inquest that even if there had been a doctor on the ground at the time of the accident, Mr. Dickson's life could not have been saved. Mr. Dickson expired shortly after the limb was removod. He was conscious up -to the, time of the doctors arrival, but was in great agony, and implored that chloroform might be administered, which was done.