COLLAPSE OF A SEWER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11056, 6 May 1899, Page 2 (Supplement)

COLLAPSE OF A SEWER.

TWO MEN KILLED. Dn Dakfoud Thomas held an inquest a few davs ago, at St. Pancras, on the bodies of Charles Alfred Montgomery, aged 30, builders foreman, who resided at 57 Copley-street, Stepnoy; and William Cook Chamberlain, aged 22, labourer, lately liviii» at 217, Seymour-street, Euston Square, whose deaths were caused by the collapse on Friday, March 17, of a sewer in course of construction in connection with the main drain, in Osnaburgh-street, Regent Park Montgomery, builder of 19, Ford Robert Montgomery, builder of 19, Ford Square, Stepney, brother of Claries Montcomerv. said lie contracted with Mr. Burt, of 7, 'Osnaburgh-street, to make a connecting sewer from his house to the mam drain—a connection 35ft deep, 13ft long, and 3ft wide. The lower strata of the cutting were first stiff sand, and the next running or shifting sand, kept back by shoring timbers. The men were standing upon struts, or staging, removing the runners or upright timbers used for shoring, when a shifting of sand caused the struts to give way, and then the sand ou either side of the cutting poured in, burying the men beneath it. The "runners were being pulled up by a rope when the staging gave way. The cutting was properly boarded, and the collapse was wholly unforeseen. After the occurrence the witness immediately set to work clearing away the debris, and reached his brother s head. He (tho deceased) said, "I am afraid you will not get hip out. lam in Heaven, with God."' Witness replied, "All right. Charier; I will have you out presently." Then another fall of sand and timber occurred, burring tho witness, who was, however, soon rescued. Before he reached his brother ho heard Chamberlain speak, saying "I'm sure your brother will get you out. His brother died, 110 doubt, within an l our after the collapse, and Chamberlain within 12 hours. Had you a man who worked on this job, ami left it because it was dangerous ? I had a man who left because lie could not do as, lie liked. Poor Chamberlain left once, and another man, but they came back again Alfred Vernon, a labourer, deposed that all the runners had been removed when the collapse occurred. Mr. 0. F. Ellis, assistant surveyor to the St. Pancras vestry, said that ultimately the trench was timbered to his satisfaction. There might, howevei, have been add id an additional skelet on frame at the lop of the runners. Did you point that out? I did not observe the omission until the day of the accident, The removal of the runners would tend to loosen the sand and dislodge the struts. He considered that the lunncrs should have remained and it was an ciror in judgment to remove them. Mr. W. N. n'.jir, C.E., engineer arid surveyor to the St. Pancras vestry, confirmed the last witness' evidence. The vestry, he said, assumed no responsibility as to the way in which sewer contractors executed their work so long as ultimately the sewer was completed to their satisfaction. Dr. J. Maughan, police divisional surgeon, deposed that nourishment wag lowered to Chamberlan, beef-tea., brandy, etc., and ho lived 12 hours 10 minutes. When, eventually, witness reached him lie was dying. His'head, neck, and right arm were alono free. In tho case of Montgomery, death was due to asphyxia, and in that of Chamberlain to syncope, consequent upon shock and exhaustion. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death," adding that in their opinion the contractor committed an error of judgment in removing the runners.