ROOF AND WALL COLLAPSE

Otago Witness, Issue 3853, 17 January 1928, Page 22

ROOF AND WALL COLLAPSE

TWO MEN KILLED. > CHRISTCHURCH, January 13. With the collapse of the concrete roof and a brick wall of a timber-drying kiln in the city shortly before noon to-day three men were buried under a great heap of debris, two being killed. The victims of the mishap, all of whom are believed to be married men, are :— DEAD. CHARLES NIXON, 261 Kilmore street. WILLIAM CLARK, 108 George street, New Brighton. INJURED. A. Johansen, 91 Nursery road, Linwood, crushed arm and leg. Johansen is a labourer, and Nixon and Clark were carpenters. The kiln, which was being demolished in order that it might be replaced, is on the premises of C. E. Otley, Ltd., timber merchants and joinery manufacturers, of 381 Madras street.

About 11.45 a.m. the roof and one wall suddenly fell. Many tons of bricks and concrete crashed to the ground, and as the jarring and rending roar of the fall startled those working nearby a great cloud of dust rose high in the air. Over 30 men, under Mr C. E. Otley, worked feverishly in an endeavour to reach the buried men, and they were spurred on by agonising groans from beneath the huge pile of bricks. Men with hack saws crouched down, cutting through steel rods that impeded’ their progress, and others heaved on a rope as broken sections of the wall-were hauled piecemeal from the wreckage. Two ambulances and Dr W. H. Sheffield were quickly summoned. The first man reached was Johansen. He was close alongside the wall, and, fortunately, was in something of a pocket, but his right leg was imprisoned and badly smashed. Dr Sheffield was able to give him morphia injections. It was nearly. half an hour before he w*as extricated,and he was sent direct to the hospital. By this time the relief gang had partly uncovered one of th e other men. This w as Nixon. Dr Sheffield gave him morphia, and spoke to him, but he relapsed into unconsciousness. He also was in something cf a pocket, but immediately over him was a huge section of wall, weighing tons. It was rather a ticklish job to get this mass away without injuring the man underneath, but extraordinary precautions were taken. The ranks of the relief workers were soon swelled to about 50, as eager volunteers joined in. At 1 o’clock Nixon was removed, and it was found he was dead. A great’ slab had crushed his bodv.

Shortly after 1 o’clock Clark was located in about the centre of the broken wall. He was under tons of brick and stp ne , buried even deener than was Nixon. Hi s back was broken, and he was hornbly crushed, with his face against tlie brickwork, and his right arm raised as though to shield his head. A large crowd quickly gathered outside ie timber yard, and there were many anxious inquiries from relatives of the employees.

Th e work of dismantling had been in progress for about a week, and portion of the kiln had been removed. There were four men in the kiln at the time the roof collapsed, but on e man got out just in time The roof was about 60ft Abr i . a^ oUt 20ft ’ and wall was about 60ft long and 17ft o r 18ft high. The concrete of the roof was about Sin thick, and this solid mass collapsed on top of the men.

Ihe fourth man. Charles Lorette was working with the gang at the time of the tall. He was near the door and jumped to safety in the nick of time. He was struck by splinters, and proceeded straightway to his home. The proprietor, Mr C. E Qtlev had passed through the kiln about half a minute before He had not gone W paces when he heard the crash Hying pieces °f brick struck several of the hands m the yard, but no one was badly injured. On e or two men showed <> ” e h " d “ "“ S| ‘

THE INQUEST OPENED.

CHRISTCHURCH, January 14. An inquest was opened this morning concerning the death of Charles William Nixon (aged 56) and George William Clark (aged 68), who were fatally hurt when a brick wall collapsed at Mr C. E. Otley’s premises yesterday. After evidence of identification, the Coroner (Mr Mosley) adjourned die inquest so that the police may make inquiries. Later in the morning the coroner, accompanied by representatives of the Labour Department and the secretary of the Carpenters’ Union, inspected the site.