FIREMAN FATALLY SCALDED

Taranaki Daily News, 3 October 1929, Page 11

FIREMAN FATALLY SCALDED

PINNED AGAINST STEAM PIPE. EVIDENCE AT THE INQI'EST. By Telegraph.—Frew Association. Auckland, Last Night. A verdict of accidental death by scalding was returned at the inquest, o i Cyril Percival George Hobbs, a young man employed as a fireman by the Pubjie Works Department on the 'Westfield railway deviationj ■ who was severely scalded while tvorking an engine anl died on Setptember 15. Arthur W r illiam. Everest, driver of the engine, said the engine was proceeding in reverse, pushing live tip-trucks, the truck next to the engine being loaded with timber. Approaching the Panmure station the train was stopped nea'r a bridge to pick tip a number of trtijks and witness alighted to couple up, leaving Hobbs in charge of the engine. Witness heard a rush of steam and ran back to the engine. He then saw that a cement mixing-board on the truck next to the eiig'ine had been forced through the woodwork of the cab, pinning Hobbs against the reversing gear, while it had broken a pipe on the boiler, allowing steam direct from the boiler to escape. Witness rescued Hobbs. Trevor Edward Lambert, who loaded the truck, admitted he knew the screen was on the line but’ eaid lie thought it would be clear of the board. The train was going at about only two miles an hour at the time, and -the extreme edge of the board caught an upright on the screen. This wag the first train he had loaded to pass the screen, which lie had not passed previously.