DEATH OF A SHUNTER.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 4870, 23 January 1903, Page 6

DEATH OF A SHUNTER.

Details noyr available of the fatality at the Petone radway station on Wednesday night show that Frederick WilUain fcswift was engaged shunting when, tho Wan-arapa goods train arrived at .;. P- m - -The engine-driver saw him riding on the front of a waggon signalling with his lantern. Then the Tight disappeared, and when the engine-driver whistled for lights there was no response. Search revealed Swift’s lantern laying on the ground, and a few yards further, clear of the rails, was the young fellow’s body. Ho was apparently dead. The body did not seem to havo been run over. Dr Hamilton that deceased’s neck was broken and aeeply gashed, and his jaw dislocated. The assistant station-master and Guard Swindalo were at the points, but saw nothing of the accident. It is surmised that the corner of a truck struck Swift and knocked him backwards. Following is the police report;— “The stock special train arrived at Petone railway station at 11.25 p.rn. George Lindegreen, tho engine-driver, saw deceased uncouple the engine from the train at Petone railway platform, after which the train went through the loop to the rear, and deceased then gave the signal to tho driver to ‘come back.’ The guard was holding up the points at the time the accident happened. The engine-driver missed deceased about where he was killed. The driver thought deceased had gone to the other side of the train. The train was then going to the rear, and the engine-driver saw the lamp held by the deceased on the ground. He then discovered the body of deceased near the lamp, close to pbo rails. In the driver’s opinion deceased was passing between tho wuggonswhen he was killed. Joseph Swindale, guard, and John Wilson, assistant stationmaster, were standing at the points close to where the accident happened. They saw deceased standing on the brake of the front waggon waving his lamp. It is suggested that the accident took place between the waggons, and for this reason was not seen until the man was found dead.” The body was taken to the National Hotel. An inquest will be held there at 10 o’clock tiis morning.