A SHOCKING ACCIDENT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CV, Issue 12428, 18 February 1901, Page 6

A SHOCKING ACCIDENT.

DEATH OF A FIREMAN. A SAD END. A shocking accident occurred in Christchurch at about eight o'clock on Saturday evening. A fire alarm had been sounded, and the steam engine rushed out of the Lichfield Street Station, turning to the left up Lichfield Street. Benjamin Berry, a branchnmn, heard the alarm, and ran to the station. He reached it as the engine was coming out, and endeavoured to get on to it while it was in motion. Running alongside he made two attempts to, ■hoist himself up, but fell back, ' his feet reaching the ground. He made yet another attempt, and this time his knees struck th.» : suction, on the side of the engine. His legs swayed under, he ■ was dragged down, and the hind wheel went over his.stomach. ' The engine was stopped as soon as possible, and two of the firemen got off and placed their unfortunate comrade in a cab, in order to take him to the hospital. His. injuries were so severe, however, that he died on the way. One of the saddest aspects of the affair is that Berry leaves a widow and six youngchildren, while another little one is expected soon. When Mrs Berry heard of the accident, she insisted upon going to the hospital. An affecting scene took place there, as Mrs Berry, almost out of her mind with grief, demanded to know the extent of her husband's injuries. Berry was thirty-five years of age. He was for ten years a member of the Christ-, church Fire Brigade, having been a branchman most of the time, and was also employed by the City Council for a 'number of years. He was very popular with the other firemen,'who feel their loss keenly. A marked feature of his character was benevolence, and he was always one of the firsfc-to take active steps in connection with charitable objects. THE INQUEST. The inquest was held/at the hospital yesterday afternoon, before Mr R, Beetham, Coroner, and a jury, of which Mr E. Brosnahan was foreman. Peter F. Campbell, a member of the Fire .Brigade, stated that he was on the steam fire engine on Saturday evening. He was the only one on the side of the engine where Berry made the attempt.to board it. It had ■then gone about two hundred yards. It was not going very fast. The deceased asked witness to give him his hand: He appeared to be "pumped out" with exertion. He' made three attempts to mount, and on , the third attempt got on to the suction. His legs then slipped under the engine, and the hind Wheel went over him. In reply to the Foreman, the witness stated that the deceased had made three attempts to get on to the engine, but on" the two first attempts he fell back on his feet. At the third attempt, his knees struck on the suction, and he went xrnder. The Foreman asked if it was the usual thing for firemen to, get on to the engine while it was in motion, and the witness replied thai it was easy to do so. William Can- stated that he also was a member of the Fire Brigade, and was at tlhe fire on Saturday night. Just as he reached the station, he got on to the engine, which was coming out. A little later the deceased also tried to get on, but slipped under theengine, and the wheel went over him. Witness and another man started to take the deceased to the hospital in a cab, but he died on the way. Edward Smith, Superintendent of . the Fire Brigade, stated that it was understood that no member should get on the engine while it was in motion, although it was often done when members were late. There was no rule on the subject, but- it was a verbal instruction to most of the members. Berry had been specially cautioned in this connection time after time. The deceased had bec-n in the habit of going to fires on Ms bicycle, riding by the side of the engine, but on this occasion he had not his bicycle with him, and tried to get on to the engine shortly after it ran out of the station. T. L. Crooke, resident surgeon at the hospital, stated that the body of the -deceased was taken, to the hospital on Saturday evening, and C. Morkane, acting assistant sur-. geon, said that when the body was taken in, at 8.15, he made an examination,' and found that life was quite extinct. The Coroner said that the deceased had evidently been cautioned by. Superintendent Smith not to get on to the engine, but had ;persisted in doing so, and had been run over. The jury returned a verdict that the deceased had been accidentally killed by being run over by a steam fire engine, on which he attenpted to 'get while it was in motion. The jury submitted a recommendation that printed instructions should be posted at the Fire Brigade Stations, prohibiting men from getting on engines while they were in motion. The recommendation'was passed on to Superintendent ( Smith, who • said that he would attend to ft. At tie fatal fire at Sydenham, about two years ago, wlien two children of Mr Davis were burnt to death, Berry, at great risk to himself, rescued several of the inmates. He -was dragged out of the building in a state of .Mif location, but as soon as he sufficiently recovered, he endeavoured to reenter the burning building where the children were, and it was with the greatest difficulty that he was restrained from rushing to what would certainly have proved instant death. Superintendent Smith and the members of die Fire Brigade are already taking steps to ■ raise "funds for toe family. Many offers of assistance- have been received, and it is intended to organire entertainments for their benefit, and also to raise money by subscription. It is probable tluL .an open-air concert will be. held during the visit of the'firemen from other parts <>f the colony to the demonstration, which takes place in Christchurch next week. Subscriptions will be received by Superintendent Smith or at cither of the Fire Brigade Stations.' Th? funeral will leave the Lichfield Street Fire Brigade Station for the Linwood Cemetery at 3.30 p.m. to-morrow.