CORONER'S INQUEST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XI, Issue 3995, 1 September 1874, Page 3

CORONER'S INQUEST.

An inquiry was held yesterday, at the Greyhound' Hotel, into (the circumstances of 'she death of William Gribble, who was killed on board the ketch. Clematis. Mr. Joseph Osborne was foreman of the jury. The following evidence was taken: —David Gouk, sworn, aeposed : I aai a shipwright, carrying on business in Customhouse-street (Smales' Point). I have known the deceased for the last seven years. He was a shipwright. His age was 3G years, and he leaves a widow and seven children. I was with him on board the ketch Clematis on Saturday morning, about seven o'clock. The vessel was lying in the stream, a little to the east of the wharf. He was assisting me to unship the centre-board. The captain (Moeller) and some of the crew were on board at the time. I went to help him, but he said he could manage it. I sent another man to heljf, but deceasedwouldnothavehishelp. Deceasedand myself were engaged in turning the handle of a ™inch, in order to heave the centre-board. The weight of the centre piece was about a ton. We were both on the same handle. The winch was not provided with a "pall" or stopper, which would prevent it running down. We raised up the centre piece. Though it required two to raise it one could hold the handle after it was raised. The deceased could hold it, and did hold it after it was raised. He to] imeto go for a man to get a marliuspike to undo the shackle. I told him not to lower till I came back. But when I came back in a few seconds, I found that the deceased had lowered two or three turns. I said to him, "It is too much for you ; I will assist you with the other handle." Deceased said, "I can manage it, Davy." Those were the last words he spoke. In an instant he was struck down on his back on the deck. I did not see him struck, but he was evidently struck by the handle of the winch, which he was unable to restrain. His head was laid open on the left temple. Blood was flowing freely from the wound. He never spoke. He was quite insensible. One of the men on board the ressel closed the wound, and I bound it up with my pockethandkerchief. Blood also flowed from deceased's mouth and nose. He attempted to raise his left hand to his head. He seemed to be choking with blood, which was running out of his mouth. He then turned ever on the right side. He raised himself until he sat upright, when he retched and vomited freely. The matter vomited was blood. We got a board, and prepared to get him ashore. The mate of the vessel went for a doctor immediately the man was knocked down. No doctor saw him until he vaa carried on. shore. He j was taken to the Sailors' Home publichouse in Ccustom-house-street: but it | was a ualf-an-ltour after we got him i ashore before a medical man came. Two came and dressed his wounds. They recommended that he should be taken to the hospital. But his friends would not hear of him being taken to the hospital. They wanted to take him home. He was accordingly carried to his own house. The deceased struggled considerably, and his breathing was accompanied by a rattling noise. tlr. died ui a quarter to eight o'clock on Sunday morning. Every precaution was taken to secure safety in the work on board. If there was any rashness it was in him for lowering the weight. The winch belonged to the vessel. He believed the weight was too much for one man. It was safer for one man who understood it than if in the hands of two. It was the lowering that gave a greater force to the. resistance. The raising of these centre-boards is work often done in the harbour. I never heard '-i any similar accident before. If 1 had to do the work again I would decidedly have a "pall" to the machine. Deceased was a sober man. Neither of us had any drink that morning. I believe the occurrence was purely accidental. The deceased was an experienced man at such work.—By a juror : The handle came off the winch after the deceased was struck. The danger was that there was uo means of putting a break oil it.—Dr. Hooper said he knew the deceased, who belonged to the Independent Order of Rechabites. The face was so disfigured that witness did not recognise him. There was a large wound on the left side of the over the eyebrow, towards the ear. There was an extensive fractHre of the skull. Blood was flowing from ear, mouth, and left eye. The cause of death was fracture of the skull, caused by a heavy blow from a blunt instrument.—Captain Moeller gave corroborative evidence.—Dr. Hooper stated that the cause of death was injury to the brain by external violence.—The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death."