DEER STALKER’S DEATH

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 May 1943, Page 2

DEER STALKER’S DEATH

INQUEST AT GREYMOUTH

I An inquest into the circumstances tirrounding the death of Gordon Jamieson, 20, of Blackball, on Mount Brian O’Lynn, in the Kopara district in April 25, 1943, was held at Grey'.nouth this morning, before the Cor--1 oner, Mr. G. G. Chisholm, S.M. Senior '.Sergeant G. F. Bonisch conducted the I proceedings for the police and Mr. W. D. Taylor represented the relations of the deceased.

Walter James Meadowcroft, of Blackball, gave evidence that on April 22, 1943, he, with Allan Joseph Reynolds arid deceased left Blackball with the intention of going to Haupiri on a deer-stalking expedition, i hey went to Bell Hill that day and remained there for the night. They were joined by Dalziel Dudley and ch the following morning they set out for Haupiri. That night they arrived at Fisher’s Hut at the foot of Mount Brian O’Lynn, and stayed for the night. Early the next morning tney climbed the mountain. All day Saturday the four of them tramped the mountains and that night camped on the mountain tops under a tent made from deer skins. Their ciothes were damp. During the mgnt a blizzard came up and it was snowing and very cold. They broke camp in the morning and started for home. They were all in good spirits and no one in the party made any I complaint. ! ‘‘We had to travel some distance

lo the divide to Mount Brian O’Lynn,” continued witness. “The weather was very bad with rain and ■Jcet. A dense fog came over and ~-e were compelled to shelter under a rock for about four hours. It was then about 2.30 p.m. on the Sunday, April 25. At that time the log lifted and we continued along the track around the mountain, but had /ravelled Only about half a mile when my attention was drawn to ■ condition of deceased. He had wit down and was complaining of coid feet. Dudley and I assisted Jamieson to walk and we got him as far as the timber line. He was then quite conscious but seemed to collapse. I carried him down the track a little further and laid him on the ground sheet and covered him with a blanket. Reynolds remained with Jamieson while Dudley and I went further down the track where dry wood was available and intended to make some tea. We had just made the tea when Reynolds informed us that Jamieson was ‘crook We hurried over to him only to find that he was dead. We covered the body and left for Nelson Creek, and informed Constable Honey by telephone.” , . „„ Corroborative evidence was given by Allan Joseph Reynolds, of Blackball, and Dalziel Charles Dudley of Bell Hill. The latter stated that when they set out on the return journey on the Sunday morning they missed the track owing to the bad weather conditions and had to take shelter under a rock until pro. At that time they were all

SOAKING WET & HALF PERISHED

with the cold. About 3 p.m., the sun broke through and the clouds lilted sufficiently for them to find a trade. They set off for home and passed ovur the divide to Mount Brian O’Lvrtn. Jamieson had not matte any’ complaint up to that time and witness had not noticed anything wrom? with him. He saw deceased have'll drink of water from a creek and warned him that it was not wise to drink snow water. Alter drmkmg <he water deceased went about 200 yards and then began to stagger. He complained of suffering from cold feet but witness did not take the complaint seriously as tney were all in the same position from walkmg in the snow. He would not say tnat they had had a strenuous day on the Saturday while on the mountains, but during Saturday night and Sunday the weather conditions were vel V bad. Deceased would be m wet clothing all day Sunday. . To the Coroner: They had no hie or tent when they were sheltering 1 under the rock on. the Sunday. ! To Mr. Taylor: They intended to 'camp on the mountains on. the Satui - day night. Saturday was fine with sunshine, and there was no reason to expect a blizzard. The blizzard conItinued from the Saturday night until 'the Sunday afternoon. Constable A. W. Honey, ot Ahaura, said that in response to a message he went to Haupiri and climbed to the snow line with Dudley and some other men. He was shown the body of a male person, dressed m a black coat, thin light sports trousers and heavy boots and socks. The only underclothing on the body was a black jersey which did not cover the waistline. Witness had the body removed io Blackball and latei to Greymouth. , Dr H S. Rav, of Greymouth, detailed the results of a post-mortem examination. He stated that the external appearance of tne body was that of a man who had suffered severely from exposure and cold, lhe detailed examination showed no oovious cause for death and was of the opinion that death was due to cold and exhaustion. _ He formed that opinion after examining the body and reading the evidence ol deceased’s companions. . The Coroner returned a verdict m accord with the medical evidence that deceased’s death was due to cold and exposure as a result of his being exposed to a blizzard on the mountains. <The evidence showed that no other •member of the party was affected, but the exposure was evidently too much for deceased. It would appear from the evidence of the police constable that deceased was not sufficiently .clothed for such an outing. WALLSEND MINER’S DEATH i An inquest into the death in the Grey Hospital on April 28, 1943, ol •Joseph Morrow, miner, who was struck by a fall of coal while at work in the Wallsend mine on April 27, was also held this morning beiore the Coroner'(Mr. G. G. Chisholm, S.M.). Senior-Sergeant G. F. Bonisch represented the police and Mr. W. D. Taylor watched the proceedings on behalf of the relations of deceased. / The Coroner, after hearing the evi’dence, returned a verdict that the (cause of death was oedema of the brain, caused by a fracture of the base of the skull, as a result of his being struck by a fall of coal in the Wallsend mine on April 27, 1943. The evidence was as follows: — ■ James CaldOr. miner, stated that on the day of the accident he was working with deceased in a place in the Wallsend mine where they were removing part of a pillar. The place appeared safe to work in and had been examined by Deputy Maughan about 10 a.m., when he said it was quite alright. At that time the deputy fired a shot for witness and

deceased. At about .11 a,m.,_ witness was working above five Or six yards away from deceased when he heard a fall of coal from where deceased was working. Witness went over to deceased and found him on his back, unconscious, and bleeding from the cars, nose and mouth. A piece of coal about two feet in length and six inches thick Was lying across deceased’s legs, while about half a ton of coal was lying about the place. Prior to the accident happening deceased was trying to get down a piece of hanging coal from the .top of the rib and had apparently loosened the coal from underneath when the niece came down suddenly and hit hint. . . Percy Maughan, deputy m the mine, stated that he examined the place about 8.45 a.m. on the day of the accident, and found it safe, free of gas, and with a sound roof. About 10.50 a.m., Witness was in the place next to the place worked by deceased and Calder when he heard a fall of coal, but did not-take any notice as it sounded like a fall of coal picked off a side. A few seconds later he heard Calder call out so three of them in the place ran to help. They found Morrow unconscious, and rendered what first aid they could until the arrival of the doctor. Witness was of the opinion that deceased, who was trimming a rib at the time of the accident, heard a fall of coal coming and attempted to get clear, but tripped and when lying on the floor was struck on the head by a piece of coal. The side of his mine hat was dented and there was a large piece of coal lying some feet away on the opposite side of the rails to where deceased had been working, where he was lying on the rails. Francis E. Lockington, manager of the mine, stated that he made an examination of the place alter the accident. Deceased had been trimming loose coal in front of him when a slab of coal had fallen off the fib or the roof above him and struck him on the top of his hard hat. There was a large piece of slab coal from against the roof lying on the opposite side of the tram to where deceased had been working. It would weigh approximately lewt., and was possibly the piece which hit deceased. The place was properly timbered, and in the opinion of witness the injury to deceased was accidental. On the day following the accident he examined the place with the Inspector of Mines. x , ~ 4 Constable W. J. Theyers stated that on the day following the accident he inspected the place with the mine manager and the deputy. The place was about nine feet six inches in height and was well timbered and open. The place from where the coal fell on deceased was high up and between two props on the rib side. The large piece of coal which was believed to have struck deceased was obviously roof coal, as it bore the roof mark on one of the sides. It would be about lcwt. in weight and was l °Dr. H. S. Ray.mf Greymouth, stated that on instructions from the Coroner he performed a post-mortem examination on deceased. He found severe bruising and abrasion on the back ot the left shoulder, laceration of the right ear and severe bruising over the right mastoid and the right side of the neck.' The brain was oedematous and the cerebro-spinal fluid was blood stained. There was an extensive fracture of the base of the skull. The cause of death was oedema of the brain caused by a fracture of the base of the skull.