THE WESTPORT ACCIDENT

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LX, Issue LX, 31 October 1910, Page 5

THE WESTPORT ACCIDENT

THE INQUEST. BY TELEGRAPH— PRESS ASSOCIATION. WESTPORT, Oct. 30. At the inquest on Saturday, touching the death of John James Muir and James Bowers the victims of the fall of coal and stone in the wooden bridge section of the Westport Coal Co.'s mine, a verdict was returned that death was accidental, and that no blame was attachable to anyone. The evidence went to show that a crush of earth fhat could not have been foreseen had occurred. Apparently a fall took place, partly covering Bowers, towards whom Muir was making to free him, when Muir himself was overtaken by a further fall, and asphyxiated. Mr Rawson, S.M., Coroner, in addressing the jury, said the men who worked in the recovery party had upheld the best traditions of the British miner. He believed any one of them would have risked his life to save a fellow-worker. Mr Marshall, Inspector of Mines, and Mr Dixon, th© Westport Coal Co.'s district manager, endorsed the Coroner's remarks, and stated that the miners had worked in a most heroic manner. The funeral took place this afternoon, the cortege being a very lengthy one, with the Westport Garrison Band in attendance playing funeral marches.