CRUSHED TO DEATH FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE MAITAI

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 76, 31 March 1914, Page 7

CRUSHED TO DEATH FATAL ACCIDENT ON THE MAITAI

CARGO SLING GIVES WAY. A distressing fatality occurred on the Union Company's steamer Maitai to-day, while berthed at No. 14, Jervois-quay. The vessel arrived from Auckland via ports, this morning, and immediately commenced to discharge a fairly large quantity of general cargo. In No. 1 hatch (forward) there was stored a number of bags of superphosphates. Discharging operations proceeded satisfactorily until a fully-laden sling gave way. Eight bags, weighing, with their contents, 15 to 16 cwt, dashed to the bottom of the hold, striking with full force a labourer named Thomas Caldwell, residing at No, 9, Tory-street, Petone. The falling bags altso struck E. Bradley, another labourer, who was assisting in the discharge of the superphosphates. Caldwell was crushed to death, receiving such terrible injuries that his end must have been instantaneous. Bradley was badly shaken, but later was able to ,\vaJk to his home in Willis-street. The force with which the bags struck _ Caldwell can well be imagined when it is known that they dropped fully 40 feet. They were well above the hatch when the rope broke. The serious nature of the mishap was immediately realised by Caklwell's fellowworkers and those in charge of unloading operations. No time whatever was lost, and everything possible was done for the unfortunate man. He was soon raised on to the wharf, where it was found that life was extinct. The body was removed in an ambulance to the Morgue. As a result of enquiries a Post reporter learnt that the load placed in the sling wag not unusually heavy. The sling was of good Manila 2Jin ix>pe, and apparently quite sound. All rope used for slings is thoroughly examined, "In fact," so it was stated, "the men themselves would refuse to work with rope which was not in perfect order." The rope was tested to lift 30cwt. The fatality has some particularly destressing features. Deceased, who was forty-five years of age. was married and leaves a wife arid six young children. He joined the Wharf Labourers' Union on loth NoverriWt 1 , and was looked upon a-s a- good worker. He had been unfortunate, however, in only obtaining intermittent employment. On 9th January last he met with an accident through •which 'he lost a. portion of one of his fingers. Instead of claiming compensation lie signed off, and for rcne weeks was unable to do any work. A little over a week ago he resumed, and arrangements had been made by the executive of the Wharf Labourers' Union for him io obtain regular employment, in view of the run of misfortune ba had experienced.