THE TRAGIC DEATH OF CAPTAIN FAIR CHILD.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 5, 6 July 1898, Page 2

THE TRAGIC DEATH OF CAPTAIN FAIR CHILD.

♦ THE INQUEST. The enqniry by the Coroner (Mr. James Ashcroft) as to the circumstances of the sad accident which happened on board the Government steamer Tutanekai on Monday evening, causing the death of Captain Fairchild, was held yesterday afternoon on board the vessel. Captain Allman (Nautical Adviser to the Government), Mr. W. T. Glasgow (Secretary of Customs), and Mr. G. Allport (of the Marine Department), were present to watch the enquiry. Mr. J. E. Evans was foreman of the jury. The Coroner regretted the duty which had called them together. Captain Fairchild was one of the oldest and most esteemed servants of New Zealand. He died at the post of duty, though with great suddenness. It might be some consolation to his relatives to know the universal expressions of regret that had followed the sad event. It was for the jury to ascertain whether any blame attached to anyone for the accident which caused his death. William Brown, chief officer, described the accident, and, referring to the shackle-pin which broke and caused the accident, said he considered it was capable of holding about 10 tons. The pin comparatively new, having only been in use about three months. It had previously carried a weight of about 4£ tons. The steel rope attached to the shackle was tested to take about 17 tons. The shackle vl'as tested by witness personally about four weeks ago, and had not been used since until yesterday. There was no special strain put on the shackle from the way iv which it was hanging, and the weight of the boiler which was being lifted was stated to be 2 tons I7cwt. Dr." Henry said there was no hope of saving the deceased's life from the first. The back part of the skull was fractured, and the bone driven in on the brain. Ulric Norberg, who was at the winch at the time of the accident, said if the pin was of good steel it ought to have borne 20 tons strain. It was procured from Cable & Co. The load was lowered gently, and the winch was still when the pin broke. There were fully a dozen people on deck at the time, but the gear fell clear of all excepting the captain. Harry Powell, foreman of. the smithing department at Cable & Co.'s Foundry, was uuable to identify the pin as having come from the foundry. They did not keep steel of the size the pin was made of, and it was not to be got in Wellington. Still he would not swear the pin was not made in the foundry. He should 6ay the pin was steel, rather hard. Several experts were called with reference to the quality of the pin. J. P. Luke) of Luke & Co., was of opinion that it was steel, slightly hard ; and ought to have borne a strain of 25 or 30 tons. The breakage was extraordinary, but the coldness of the weather probably had something to do with it. The cold affected all metals. D. .Robertson, ironfounder, could not explain the fracture unless there had been some surging motion. Mr. Duncan, Government Inspector of Machinery, was also of opinion that there must have been some surging motion, if not at the lift when the break occurred at a previous one. The pin ought to have a working strain of six tons. Mr. M'Murrich, engineer to the Union Shipping Company, had known similar breakages to occur under slight weights. It was one of those things which could not be accountedior. He did not think the weather had anything to do with it. The Coroner did not consider it was any use- proceeding further with the enquiry. All reasonable care was apparently taken, and there was ample evidence that the shackle-pin ought to have borne a very much greater strain than it did. He did not know whether it would be of any use if there was some provision for having tests made of gear of this kind before it was used ; but, apparently, there was always some risk of accident. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that the deceased met his death by accident, and that no blame was attachable to anyone.