ACCIDENTS AT LYTTELTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15333, 16 June 1910, Page 8

ACCIDENTS AT LYTTELTON.

SEAMAN KILLED ON THE ECHUNGA. OFFICER CONSIDERABLY INJURED. Two serious accidents occurred on board the -steamer Echunga at Lyttelton yesterday afternoon, olio of them resulting in the death of a seaman belonging to the vessel. The steamer having discharged tho last of he-r cargo of coal was preparing to leave for Sydney. She has extremely larpe hatches, end these are covered with numerous planks laid upon steel beams. Heavy steel girders are placed from side to side of the hatches and shorter beams go between these to cany tho boards. The second officer, Mr Harold Biuir, was supervising the operation of placing tho heavy thwartships beams in position. Ho was standing near one of tho hatches and was caught unawares by ono of tho beams, which swung round, and tho end struck the calf of his light leg, jamming it against an adjacent steam pipe cover. A deep gash was inflicted by tbo sharp corner of tho beam at the back of the leg, and the cover of the steam pipe mado a smaller, cut in the front. Dr Guthrie was sent for at once and attended to Mr Blair’s injuries on board. He found that no bones were broken and that it- was not necessary for Mr Blair to leave the vessel. Scarcely had the sensation caused by this mishap subsided when an able seaman named Charles Matherson, belonging to tlie vessel, was knocked into tho hold while assisting to cover No. 4 hatch. At the timo lie was sitting on one of tho thwart-ships beams, about to place ono of tho lignt fore-and-aft-timbers in position. The beam had been hoisted with one winch and tho order was given to start the second one attached to it. There was no time for anyone to interfere before the beam swung over and struck the deceased on tne hip, and ho fell straight to tlie bottom ot the hold, falling flat on his back. Dr Guthrie was still on board and had the man removed to the Casualty Ward. He died about half an hour after the accident. lie had received terrible injuries,, his neck having been broken and his pelvis smashed when he struck tho floor of tbo hold.

In order that the vessel could loavo for Sydney last night «u inquest was hold in tho evening by Mr H. Yi. Bishop, S..M. Evidence was given by tlie captain, the chief officer and. others who witnessed the accident. The Coroner returned a verdict of accidental death, no blame being attachable to aiiyono, Tho deceased was a married man, thirty-coven years of age, and was a native of Sweden, and came from Newcastle. Ho had shipped in the Echunga only on May 28. The vessel was concluding her second visit to Lyttelton, and as both stays had been lengthy the victims of tho accidents had become known to many people- in the port, and the necidents caused widespread regret.