MINING FATALITY

Grey River Argus, 1 April 1946, Page 8

MINING FATALITY

1 — ’ INQUEST INTO THE DEATH OF ? ROBERT McCABE An inquest into the death' of Robert McCabe, the vjetim of an accident at Stockton State Mine on March 14 was conducted at Ngaka- . wau on Saturday before Mr. C. H. Thomas, Coroner. Mr. McGhie represented the Mine Company, Mr. Connew and Mr. Tyler the Miners’ Union, and Mr. Adamson, Inspector of Mines was present. Andrew McCabe, miner, married of Ngakawau, identified the body as that of his son, Robert McCabe. He ■was single, 46 years of age, and resided with him at his. home. He was a competent and experienced miner, was of a cheerful disposition and enjoyed good health. He last saw him alive at about 6.30 on March 14. He was then in his usual health. Merviyn Edward Theobald, single 24, of Hector, employed at the Stockton mine at a collier, said Robert McCabe was his workmate. ' They started at about 8 a.m. on March 14 in what is known as the D Section. Deceased was working at the face and was tricking ' for him. Deceased was in good health. At about 10.30 a.m. some shots were tired at the face. These would bring down about four or live boxes of coal. Harry Briggs was the shot fiver. Deceased and witness had been working for about an hour after the shots and everything then appeared safe and in order. The place was adequately timbered, lie ■had just finished assisting deceased to fill a box and pushed it further down the road for about a couple of chains from the face, when he i heard some coal fall. He immediately returned to the face and saw deceased lying face downwards with a quantity of coal covering his body. One piece, about half a ton in weight was lying across the small of his back. He was severely injured about the head. Witness sought the assist-

ance of two miners nearby, Robert Young and Walter Strang, and they assisted him in bringing deceased out. He then appeared' to be dead.

The underviewer, Harold McEwan was immediately on the scene and arranged for the attendance of Dr. Simpson. McEwan was the last I official at the place prior to the accident. That would be at about 10 a.m. Deceased was wearing the regulation pit hat. In reply to Mr.' Adamson, Inspector of Mines, who asked what deceased

I was doing immediately prior to the accident, witness said he was unable to say as he did not actually see the accident. Corroborative evidence was given by William Strang, Robert RobertI son Young, Thomas John Douglas, ! John Campbell, Henry Briggs and | Harold Wallace McEwan. The last named stated ihe ambulance man in charge of the section was Mr. Briggs. Nurse, 'O’Shea happened to be at the scene of the accident and attended the deceased at the mine mouth. Dr. John Simpson said he examined’ the body of Robert McCabe at Stockton. The injuries he found were multiple fractures of the brain, multiple fracture of upper nasal bones and jaws, fracture dislocation I of cervical vertebrae, lacerated right wrist. Death would have been instantaneous. In delivering his verdict the Coroner, Mr. Thomas said that the deceased, Robert McCabe, met his death through injuries from a fall ol coal at the Stockton JState Mine where he was employed on March 14, 1946. Both the Coroner and Sergeant Matthews expressed sympathy with the relatives of the deceased and commended Nurse O’Shea and also deceased’s workmates for rendering assistance in a very efficient manner.