THE NIHOTUPU FATALITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11686, 22 June 1901, Page 5

THE NIHOTUPU FATALITY.

FURTHER PARTICULARS.

The bodies of the two unfortunate men, Fulton and Smythe, were removed yesterday morning to the- Avondale Hotel, Avondale, where they now remain awaiting the inquest.

-Additional particulars gleaned by .Mounted Constable Itamsay, winy arrived in town last evening from the scene of the accident, show that tho men were cutting a road, in order to lay water mains round the face of a cliff immediately above Quinn'a Creek, which i* situate about a mile past the Nihottipu Falls. The formation of the cliff is of a clay and sandstone nature, and has been loosened in many places by 'he recent heavy rainfall, and some part* of the track which the men were engaged in cutting have given way and have been nrecipitated into a guile beneath, a distance fully 109 ft. It appears that the ioremaji. Victor Parker, Mas. prior to the accident, working on the crown of the clifr, immediately above Rosser and the two deceased. Parker v.as endeavouring to loosen a rock with a enowbar, and when he felt what he thought the rock to he moving', gave warning to his mates beneath, but almost immediately a large body of earth and stone give wav.'ai.d the warning was so short thai the "onfortunate men had little or no time to avoid toe danger. It is slated that Posser. who was working on Fulton's let! hand, ran to the right and got. clear, while Smythe ran to the "left, in the direction of Fulton, and seemingly under Ihe face of the did. Fulton, ivlio had los! his left eve in a, former accident, and wore a glees one in its place, seemed to hesitate, and a stone struck him almost immediately on the chest, knocking him over the embankment into the gully beneath, a fall of about 100 ft: Smvthe was at the. same time carried by the debris into tin? gully, and both men were entirely buried by the fall of earth and stone, which was about three-quarters of a chain in width. No time was lost by a gang of 50 men, under Mr. Carrie, v. ho h..s undertaken the work of an adjacent contract, also a number of Fulton's men. and three Auckland City Council employees, in the work of reeoveri"g the bodies, and the rm-n deserve the

groatest- credit for the way they worked, 12 ii; Tie shift, in the rain and storm. Stones were constantly shov, eriug from overhead and striking the men as they toiled.

With the object of taking precautions against a recurrence of accident, sentries were posted at the top of the hill in order to give timely warning of any fall of earth that might possibly have taken place. When the bodies were discovered they were lying within 6ft of one another, cad were covered with some Sit of debris. The second bode, that of Fulton, was discovered at half-past four p.m.. and stretchers were procured, and it was with the greatest diiliculty the bodies were removed to Fulton's camp, owing to the inaccessibibty .{ the counti-'-. the men having to climb up a hundred feet incline, through mud, mnlbck, and rub.

On examination Smvthe was found io have sustained a severe cut under the left. eye and a. scalp wound on the bee-k of the head. Fulton's right side and clips;, were considerably bruised, lie having no doubt been struck by a rock, and lie also sustained a scalp' wound on the Lick of the head. The right five was. closed, and the face was disfigured, it is stated that Fulton was sliot-isiahtcd. and at the time of the slip wore a pair of old glasses, which were not his accustomed ones.

Mounted Constable Ramsav sLiveil 'A the camp in charge of the bodies ;d! Thursday night, and at ebdtt o'clock y;v--terda.v morning 25 of the men carried the bodies, bv relays, on stretchers, a distance of four miles, through very rough and broken country. and in the fare of considerable difficulties. So bad indeed acre the tracks owing to the heavy rain wlii'h fell, that tho journey occupied over three hours, and the bearers were r.!cn.sed to find that when thev reached" the main road Mounted Constable Itamwy had » trap in readiness, and by tins means Tie remains were conveyed to the Avondale Motel, where the coroner (Mr. T. Ore-dram) will hold an inquest this morning.

The statement of Harry Rosspv, v.lin had a miraculous escape, is that lip was engaged in the work of excnvalinsr ;i. track round the fnce of the cliff, the" required width beincr 12ft. and of vldc-h 9ft h?d ; ,1-l-cadv iiopii cut .-i'vtt. Re v.ms work in:; on Fulton's left hand, and Pmvtlie v,n workiii" on the riirht. Ml at once ho heard a cry from I'arkpr, v. ho was working on the inn of the cliff, th ;lu- rib v. : .-.s slipping, and be immediate darted (n the rhd'd' and avoided the d'incer. Smvthe ran to the loft and Fulton seemed to go towards the face of the cliff".