KAPUNI FATALITY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 March 1925, Page 4

KAPUNI FATALITY.

INQUEST CONCLUDED

VERDICT OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH

The adjourned, inquest touching the death ol Frank Gorman, railway guard, who -met his death in aiii accident on the Te Roll —Oipunake line near Miaingawhe>ro on Wednesday, 18th Hist., concluded at ivlanaia yesterday.. Air. A. H. Gli rustic, J.T. (acting coroner) piedded and the jury was comjposed of Messrs. J. J. Meldoti, J.P. (foreman)', L. G. Nielson, J.P'.,' C. Hivngeir, F. Mourie, J. A. G. Cosgrove, and A. Franklin.

Sergeant, J. Henry conducted police proceedings, and Air. C. H. Weston appeared for the Public Works Department.

Six witnesses were called, and the jury after a brief retirement returned the following verdict: “That Frank Gorman was accidentally killed by a ballast train coming into collision with a cow on the Te lloti—Opunake railway line between A.iiroa and Afangawheio.” The jury also, commended Driver Sherlock oil has prompt action in bringing the train to a stop-.. Dr. M. Al. ftookin (or Ea.ponga), who had examined the body shortly after the accident, said it had a cut on the left side of the head and a. few abrasions on the left arm and right leg, but the main injury was a severe bruising of the abdomen on the right side. There were; signs of internal bleeding and. lie came, to the. conclusion that death was due to haemorrhage, probably from the right kidney. Evidence of identFcation was given by William Bulmau, timekeeper, employed by the Public Works Department at Kapuni, who said he had known deceased for about two years. So far as witness knew deceased was a single man, witn no relatives in New Zealand. < •

Thomas Sherlock, engine-driver, said that he had been driving the engine of the ballast train. The engine,was in the rear, and was pushing the train. When about 40 chains from the Scene of the accident five"trucks loaded with sleepers destined for the Alangawhero siding had been attached to the front of the train, which then consisted of 11 empty and the five loaded trucks. The deceased was riding in the first empty truck—the sixth from the front—and was standing with David Nolan. A number of other men, totalling about 20, were in this and other trucks, but vvith the exception of the two mentioned all were sitting down. The train had resumed its journey, and was about a mile on the Opunake side of the Alangawhero siding when Nolan gave the danger signal, and witness applied the Westinghouse brake attached to the engine, the trucks being fitted with hand brakes only. Witness had also reversed the engine, and had then seen a cloud of dust in front of the train, which continued for about 28 yards from the time the danger signal was given until it came to a standstill. When the brakes were first applied the trftin would be travelling at about 13 to 14 miles an hour, which speed was reasonable, as the Government regulations allowed 15 miles an hour when the engine was pushing a train. Immediately the engine stopped witness had gone to the front of the train and found Guard Gorman pinned underneath a heap of trucks,*eight of which had been derailed.- The body of a cow was lying on : the side of the line in a clear space about nine feet behind. With other workmen witness had dug under the deceased and released him. This had taken about 20 minutes, and while it was being done deceased had been quite conscious and had given directions as to the best method of relieving -him of the weight. After deceased had been taken out everything possible had been done for him, but he seemed to collapse when relieved of the weight, and died within about eight minutes. At the time of the accident witness had a clear view for a mile ahead, and had not noticed any obstruction. nor, had he seen anv cows grazing on the side of the line* but he Had . been on the opposite side of the engine from tne sine of the line on which he understood the cows had been grazing. Witness had been driving on tne line for 15 and it had always been in good order. In his opinion the derailment was caused by the trucks colliding with a cow which had got on the line. The cow had' been struck simultaneously with witness’ receipt of the danger signal. The brakes of the engine were in good order, and he had done everything possible to bring the train to a standstill. The total weight of the train would be about 7(J tons. It would have been dangerous tor anyone to have attempted to ride on the leading truck, and the truck deceased was standing in was the most.suitable for his' purpose. Asked if he wished to add anything, witness, said he considered the reason no one besides Nolan appeared to have noticed the cow on the side of the line was because its fawn Jersey colour was practically the same as cut portions of the hedge, heaps of which bordered the line.

1° the jury: He could make no statement regarding the condition of the fences.

To Mr Cosgrove: It might have been possible for stock to reach the line from the roau, 'as tne cattle stops were not yet put in. Daniel Nolan, ganger, employed by the Public Works Department, Kapuni, said that he had ridden in the sixth truck from the front, in .which there weer six other employees, including deceased. The latter was standing wiLii witness. Witness noticed three cows grazing on the side of the line, but he did not at first consider that there was any danger, as they were grazing quietly. The cows were on a hank about tnree feet in height, and just as the leading 1 truck dx - ew level one of the animals stepped down to the line. Witness gave the stop signal to the- driver, who complied immediately, witness feeling the check on the speed of the train. He called to deceased to jump, and jumped clear himself. The trucks oiled up on each-other, and the remaining occupants either jumped or were thrown ,clear, four being injured, but deceased . was pinned benea th the heap with a wheel pressing on his stomach. He had asked witness to Shook the engine on and pirll the truck away, but this was impossible, as it was lying crossways at right.angles to the line. The speed of the train was under fifteen miles an hour, and was quite reasonable. It travelled about a chain only after the stop signal was given, and witness considered everything possible had been done to avert the accident. He had seen cattle on the line oh other occasions, hut would not .call, it- -a common occurrence. In his opinion, the accident was not in any way due to line defects or defective working of the train. ; Robert Alexander Wilson, engineer in local charge of the works at Kapuni. said that on arriving at Kapimi at about 5.30 n.m. on the 18th inst. he had been informed an accident had occurred on the line, and had immediately telephoned for Hr. Hockin at liyaponga., and on learning that the

doctor had left to answer an urgent call had communicated with Hr. Davies at Manaia. When Hr. Davies 'arrived witness had directed him to the scene of the accident, and had sent stretchers and a first aid outfit. Witness then stood by in readiness to summon the ambulance from Hawera it it'was required. The following morning he visited the scene with Constable ■ scannell, and viewed the spot where deceased had been extricated., and also saw the dead body of a cow. No earmarks or brands were visible. From marks noted, he thought the locomotive had travelled -2- chains 28 links after the cow had been struck by the leading truck. The line was in very good order, and . the derailment was undoubtedly due to the train having collided with the cow. He had been on the section fo,r about a week only, and had not known of any previous trouble caused through * cattle grazing on the line, though, as the line was not completed, there were no cattle stops on the road crossings. The line was used for construction work only, and under present circumstances trams had to be pulled, one. way. and pushed the other, it was not possible to have had the loaded tracks handled in any way other than that adopted. He did not think that the way the brain, was made up affected the efficiency cf its running. Fifteen miles an hour would have been quite a safe speed. ’ I V / To the jury witness said he had examined the hedge fence, which had been trimmed, and found one or two holes which tne cows may have come through.

Constable. J. Scannell said that as the result of information received ait about 6 p.m. on the 18th inst., he had f;one to the scene of the accident,, and ound that the guard, Frank Gorman, had died as the result of , injuries received. He had seen the body of a cow lying on the side of the line, but had been unable to ascertain to-whom the animal belonged. The line „appeared to be in excellent order.* in company with the coroner he had viewed the body on the following day, and was satisfied it was that of Frank Gorman, who had been known to witness for 16 years. ..i,.' ■ ->

This concluded the evidence,] the, verdict. being given as detailed above.