ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15773, 14 November 1911, Page 7

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES

FLOUR DUST EXPLOSION. . United Press Association—By Electrio

Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, November 12.

By an explosion of flour dust the Primrose flour mills at Glasgow were wrecked. Four persons were killed and seven injured, two of the latter being in a critical condition.

PARACHUTIST KILLED. VANCOUVER, November 12.

A balloonist named Poller made an ascent at Oklahoma, and when he was descending by a parachute the bar broko at a height of 3000 ft. He held the broken ends together till he was within 100 ft of the ground. Then his strength gave out, he fell and was killed. '

THE PRIMROSE MINE ACCIDENT. CAPE TOWN, November 12. Five more natives have been rescued from the Primroso mine.

[Pee Pbkss Association I .] DUNEDIN, November 13. Patrick Coakley, ninety-two years of age and an inmate of tho mental asylum at "VVaitati, wandered therefrom on September 24. His body was found in the bush two miles away from the institution.

Charles Cress, a jockey, died at the Hospital yesterday. The house doctor would not givo a certificate ot death, but it is understood that Dr Isaac Thompson who had been attending the man, will do so.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT A BISCUIT

FACTORY

Yesterday morning, William Lurch, a young man employed at Aulsebrook s Biscuit Factory, was killed by being caught in the bolt of an engine ho was attending. . . Lurch was endeavouring to put a driving belt on a wheel, when it is believed his shirt sleeve caught, and he was whirled round the shait. His arm was drawn in and was torn off. V\ hen he had circled the shaft, ho tell, but was dead when picked up. Lurch lived at Cheviot Street, Spreydon, and was twenty-two years of age. An inquest was held last evening before Mr H. W. Bishop, District Coroner. „,, . ~ , Frederick Lurch, father of the deceased, identified the body as that of his son. Frank Batterbury Button, foreman at Aulsebrook's factory, stated that deceased had been employed in the factory for about two years, and for some time past had been working as assistant brakesman. About 10.15 a.m. thatday he had been helping witness to put a belt on the currant crushing machine, and was standing en a small ladder adjusting tlio belt when his shirt suddenly caught between a loose pulley attached :to the machine and the bolt. He was whirled right round the shaft at least a dozen times before the engine could be stopped. The occurrence was a pure accident, and nobody could have forseen it. ' Charles Cooks'on, engineer at the factory, said that at about 10.15 a.m. he heard a noise, while ho was standing with his back to deceased. He turned round and saw that Lurch had been caught by the main driving shaft. The engines wore immediately stopped, and tho man fell free of the shaft in a neap on to the currant machine below. \'i ltness picked him up and laid him on the floor. The man was not then dead, but expired almost immediately afterwards. There was absolutely no negligence on the part of anybody. A verdict was returned that deceased had been accidentally killed by coming in contact with tho main shading.

On Thursday nieht Mr J. P. Rourkc was thrown from his horse while riding between Dunsnndel and Ins home. Dr 'Withers was called in, but the young man never regained consciousness, and died on Sunday ir/>ming. While driving iv» Ashburton on Saturday afternoon'. .Mr and and Mrs J. Bland, of Winchnmre. were thrown out of their gig. owing to the breast-baud breaking, and lettiuc the hor'so out of the shafts. Although shaken, neither of the occupants was seriously injured.