NORTH BRUNNER FATALITY

Grey River Argus, 19 October 1914, Page 6

NORTH BRUNNER FATALITY

INQUEST PROCEEDINGS. An inquest concerning the death of Dqnald McMahon, who was killed in the North Brunner mine on Thursday, last, was held in Greymouth on Satur day afternoon before Mr. G. E. Perkins. J.P., acting-Coroner, and a jury of six, of whom Mr Russell was chosen foreman. Mr. F. D. Sarererit appeared on behalf of the North . Brunner Colliery Company, Mr. Dando for the Brunner Miners' Union, and Mr. James Newton, Inspector of Coal Mines for the West Coast district, appeared for the Mines Department. Inspector Phair conducted the proceedings on behalf of the police. THE EVIDENCE. Evidence was given by Messrs Duncan and Galway, working mates; who were employed in the vicinity where deceased was killed, and from their evidence it appeared the deceased had been working on the day of the accident building a chock, or better known a s a "pigsty" in mining parlance and was working by himself; A few minutes, prior to 12 .o'clock (noon), they noticed a quantity of smoke in the place where they were working and and also heard a shot some distance away. The smoke and the shot were not unusual occurrences in the mine, Duncan and mate then received a call from a trucker that it was crib time. They then left their heading and came out on to the level and sat down to have crib. While partaking of the meal they heard a groan, and went in the direction of the sound, which was where deceased had been employed building the chock. On Duncan calling out "Where are you?" McMahan replied "Here" and to the question "Are _you crook?" he replied "Yes, Jock." The deceased did not reply to further questions, and was in a semi-conscious state. They could not account for the explosion Happening. The deceased was found some distance away from the chock, which had been partially built, and so far as they knew Jor saw there had been no occasion to use explosives, nor did they notice "any indication why a shot should have been fired. Albert Victor Hill, trucker, gave formal evidence. Henry Talbot, deputy, said he instructed the deceased to build' the chock with timber, in making- th^ foundation for which the deceased would only, have required 1 a shovel, as the foundations were laid on a smooth bottom. Witness supplied the deceased with six plugs of gelignite and two detonators on Tuesd-w morning for the purpose of blowing up fire clay about eight yards further on from where the deceased was work ing on Thursday,- the day of the accident. After hearing the evidence of Duncan, who said he fired two shots for the deceased on Tuesday, and that Duncan and mate had used their own gelignite in so doing, Witness would say that the six plugs in desceased's possession had not been used. Since the accident witness had looked for deceased's cannister in which his explosives were kept, but had not' found it. He could not account for the accident in any other way except that there had been an explosion of gelignite. Witness found small particles of flesh adherent to th coal where the body was found. Dr. Morice, hospital surgeon, Greymouth, stated that the' deceased was brought to the Greymouth hospital at 3 p.m. on the 15th inst. On examm ing deceased he found the left hand had been blown completely off at the wrist. The right elbow was shattered. There were a number of small holes on the right side of the chest under the arm, and a very large lacerated wound down the front of the right thigh, -exposing *he muscles. Deceased was in a state of collapse and did not rally, and died about 10.30 p.m. The injuries were evidently caused by some explosive substance. The cause of death was shock from the severity of the injuries received. James Armstrong, mine manager, said the deceased was a capable man and very good miner. Witness visited the scene of the accident accompanied by the Inspector of Mines, the deputy and two members of the Union on Saturday, and from his examinations he would say the accident had been caused by an explosion. He was of opinion the explosion had tak en place very near the. spot where deceased was found. James Newton, Inspector of Mines said after making an examination of the mine and hearing the evidence he was of opinion that deceased received his injuries as a result of an explosion No rock had been blasted where the chock was resting, and the explosion, had occurred at that point- . In the "slit" where the deceas ed was picked up and about T4 or 15 yards from the chock, he found trrrc es of shattered flesh and sinews, He. had no reason to believe that any rule or special regulation had been infringed or that the officers of the company were in any way at fault. The actual cause of the explosion was a mystery.. THE VERDICT. The jury, after ten minutes retirement, brought in a verdict that the deceased.. Donald MrMahon. had met his d^th on the ict^t O^tobrr' bv'9l e^nlosion in th* North Brur>r»pr n^ne. and that no blame was attached to anyone.