THE ACCIDENT AT BURT’S FOUNDRY.

Evening Star, Issue 9688, 4 May 1895, Page 2

THE ACCIDENT AT BURT’S FOUNDRY.

When we went to press last night the inquest on Edward Williamson was proceeding at Ogg’s Hotel. John Robinson, apprentice to A. and T. Burt, said that after twelve o’clock on Thursday he went out into the yard, where he saw Duguid and AVilliamson. The three of them swung on the crane. Witness then went to the handle of the crane, while Duguid and AVilliamson sat on the end of the chain, each one on a loop. Witness turned the handle and raised them up about five feet from the ground. They jumped from the chain to the ground, and witness lowered the chain and they sat oh it again. He raised them up about six feet from the ground, when the jib started to come down at a moderate pace. AVbcn it was a foot from the ground it came down suddenly, the boys being underneath. AVitncss c died for help and somebody from the street jumped over the fence, and, with the assistance of others, they lifted the jib cli AA il iamson, Duguid having got from underneath it himself. AVitness took the pawl out of the wheel when he went to the handle first. AVitncss had played on the crane before, but bad never raised anything on it. Ihe jib was on AVilliamson for fully a minute before it was removed. Deceased did not cry out or move. He seemed to bo dead when witness saw him first. AVbcn the jib was slowly coming dowii they did not try to jump off the chain. He cried out to warn them, but they still remained at the end of the chain. Before the accident witness pulled the clutch out to see what it was like, and then shoved it in again. He moved the pawl because he could not turn the handle when it was in. Mounted-constable Boddam deposed that he saw the boy Leslie Duguid in the hospital that morning. He was suffering from a broken leg. He made a statement to the effect that the accident happened so quickly that he did not sec what caused it. The jury brought in a verdict of “ Accidental death.”