FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE PORT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 December 1940, Page 4

FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE PORT

ENQUIRY OPENED The inquest into the death of Frederick William Townsend. who was killed on the Nelson wharves yesterday, was opened at the Public Hospital yesterday afternoon before the Coroner, Mr T. E. Maunsell. After the evidence of the mate on the Port Waikato had been heard the inquest was adjourned sine die. The first mate on the Port Waikatc, Richard Constantine Rauden, said that he was, standing at No. 2 hatch which was discharging a cargo of crates of wallboard. Each crate was about ten feet long four feet wide and eight inches deep. The crates weighed approximately four cwt each (two in a sling). He noticed a sling coming out of the hold and being swung over to the wharf. It was raised to a level of about four feet clear of the wharf and then swung over. It was not part of his duty to direct the manner of the particular operation. He was there to generally supervise.He saw the sling swinging towards the wharf and saw a man with his back to the ship. The man was standing in front of a trolly on to which the crate was to be lowered. There was a man on either side of him. Witness could not see what the man was doing. He heard the winchman shout “look out!” He saw the other two men move but not the deceased, who was caught about the shoulders and head and crushed against the crates previously discharged and loaded on the trolley. They were being discharged in the usual way.