THE KAITARATAHI FATALITY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9640, 15 January 1903, Page 3

THE KAITARATAHI FATALITY.

« CORONER'S INQUEST. The inquest onii the body of Charles William Johnseu, killed on the railway works near Kaitaratahi. was heild at tlH' Kaitaratahi Hotel at 3.15 this afternoon by Mr Barton, S.M.. Coroner. Sergeant Siddells was present, and called the evidence. Mr J. W. Brown was chosen foreman, of the' jury. Dr. David Morrison, stated that yesterday, m consequence of an urgent message, li£* proceeded to KaiUi.rata.hi and found deceased was breathing his last. He examined the body, and found that the heart had almost ceased beating and the breathjug was just an occasional gasp. Except for a bruised forehead, there were no signs of external injury. Witness ciim» i to the conclusion that Johns-en died of 1 shock or internal hemorrhage. Witness arrived at Kaitaratahi. at about 1 p.m., and every despatch w;us used to get him on to the scuue by special train m th.- ' shortest possible time. Charles Edward Armstrong, C.E.. m j charge of the Gisborne-Karaka railway, stated that he know deceased, who was employed m William Williams' gang on the work. The gong were employed at earthwork on a cutting, which was m , about 50ft, with two low faces. It was worked m this manner for safety, no high falls ■ being allowed. The- one at which the accident happened was only 7ft 6in, m height. A. small portion from oaiie comer { appeared to have slipped off a sloping portion of the strata, commonly called a greasy back. The batters were also taken m as the cutting advanced to give more room and so ensure further safety. Willituns, the. forem)n\, 'wa-s a competent workman, and witness had every nsisou j to believe that the. work was carried on , m a safe and careful manner. When, the j accident was reported to him he obtained , medical aid m the quickest possible time. William Williams, miner, now employed t as laborer on the Gisborne-Karaka railway works, gave evidence stating that deceased was one of a gang of seven mer. working on the, railway line just behind Scott's roadstead. They were working ] on a cutting, the depth of which was about 19ft. The work was carried on m i two benches. The men were working on tin.- bottom bench, the height of wJiich was about 7ft 6in. The formation wa« sandstone and papa. The earth was re- ' moved by taking down falls, and the party had taken one fall out ' yesterday morning. At about 11.50 a.m. the party were shovelling into the truck and getting '. ready for another fall. Deceased was j picking at ilio bottom at this time, preparing for the fall. There were two men picking and two shovelling. Witness was shovelling into the truck, and on looking up saw a lump coming off thu corner. VVitness sang out to deceased, "Look out," but the fall had struck him and knocked him down. Decetised wa.s < covered from his feet to his waist. He I was extricated, and called out to witness, "Oh, Billy, take me out." Deceased could not stand, and liad to be> carried. Word was immediately sent to the Engineer, and the deceased was carried on a stretcher to Kaitaratahi Hotel. There was no carelessness on the part of tinybody. In taking the previous fall itwas necessary for tlirec men with crowbars to remove it. In reply to the foreman, witness said deceased at no time showed carelessness m work. He was the most careful man witness had. William Morris, laborer, stated he was shovelling whilst deceased was picking on the bottom of the cutting. Witness heard Williams call out, and looking round saw a lump of earth falling. It fell on deceased, splitting m two as it fell, a.nd partly burying him. There was no danger attached at the cutting, 'and the authorities used all precautions m prosecuting the work. The jury returned the following verdict : "That the deceased came by his death accidentally, no blame being attached to anyone." A rider was added stilting that great rvt'dit was due to the authorities for tlm quick despatch of medical assistance. The funeral is being held this afternoon.