NORTH SHORE ’BUS ACCIDENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 13030, 22 November 1905, Page 6

NORTH SHORE ’BUS ACCIDENT.

INQUEST ON EDWARD ROGERS. FIRE BRIGADES SHOULD WARN THE PUBLIC. The inquest commenced upon the body of Edward Rogers on Monday was continued at the hospital yesterday by Mr. T. Gresham (city coroner) and a jury of six. George Scarborough, 'busdriver for Mr. Parsons, Devonport, stated that he had been

driving for 14- or 15 years. All tho time he

had been at Devonport ho had never known tho brigade to exercise near tho 'bus stand before. Oil the night of the 13th he was in charge of Parsons' 'bus, which was standing on the outside of tho line of four vehicles. Ho was sitting on the steps of his vehicle.

Tho wheel was not chained, but tho reins

was tied fast on the brake, which was hard on tho wheel. Ho was not facing tho bri-

gade from where ho sat, but could hear a

whistlo every now and again. Ho heard what he thought must have been spray rat-

tling in front of his horses. The horses darted forward, and witness rushed and got hold of tho reins, and found it necessary to pull • them in towards the triangle fence. Ag his vehicle swung round tho swinglepole touched one of the horses in Paterson's

'bus, the horses of which had also been startled by tho water. He did not see Rogers under the wheel.

James Wm. Willetts, driver of one of tho waggonettes, said the brigade came on tho spot about , eight o'clock. Ho did not hear any warning from the brigade. The Witness corroborated the former witness' statement as to the accident. As soon as the water spurted all the horses got into a panic. - Ernest C. Curtis also gave evidence. George Slrude, fire inspector for the Devonport Borough Council, and also captain of tho fire brigade, said that on tho night in question he was in charge of tho brigade. It was eight years since they had let go any water for fire brigade purposes at that spot. It r'/as not a practice, but at the request of the Council the pressure was tested owing to a supposed stoppage in the main a week previously. The reason they chose the hydrant in question was that it was most likely to givo the best results. Previous to starting the firemen to work he went around tho vicinity telling the people congregated to keep, out of the road, so that they would not get wet or injured. He was within 20 paces of the cabstand when he called out to them, "Stand by your horses." The Coroner: There were four drivers, and they have sworn that they had no warning.—Tho only conclusion I can come to is that they were behind their vehicles, but I believe they should have hoard me. To Mr. Devore: The water was thrown 50yds .away from the cabstand towards tho bell tower. lie was satisfied from tho direction of tho wind, west-south-west, that the spray could not have reached the cabstand. The noise of the compressed air issuing from • the tube would not, ho thought, startle tho horses.

To Air. McVeagh: Ho assisted Rogers from underneath tho vehicle. The first words Rogers said we re, " Wlie.ro is the capfain of the fire brigade? You should not [ have done this; you should havo warned us. •. Constable Lowry produced a plan showing the position of the 'buses and the hydrant. He said that in about. the- three years ho had been at Devonport he had not seen the brigade practice in the streets before. offers was a very careful man with horses. Mr. Gresham summed up the evidence at. length, during which he said that the cau~e of death was clear. It was tho duty of tho jury to determine whether or not the letting go of the water caused the stampede of the horses. The jury, after retiring for some time, brought in the following verdict:—"The cause of death was laceration 'of the kfdnevs caused by tho deceased being accidentally crushed as a result of an accidental frightening of horses by a display of water by the von port Fire Brigade, and that the said hdward Rogers came by his death by accident and misfortune." 'The jury added the following rider:"That on future occasions warning should be given to the public before tho hydrants are let loose." At a meeting of tho Devonport Borough Council, held last night, if. was jresolved on the motion of Mr. E. G. Ford, "That a lettor bo sent to Mrs. Rogers and family conveying the Council's profound sympathy in tho loss which she has sustained in tho death of her husband