MOTORMAN FAINTED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19850, 20 January 1920, Page 6

MOTORMAN FAINTED.

CAUSE OF TRAM SMASH.

THE CORONER’S VERDICT.

[Prut Pbkss Assocuirox.] W-KLL-TNGTON, January 20. Tiie verdict, in regard io the. recent tram fatnlitv at Pirie Street was given by Mr Rollings, S.M., this morningThe Coroner found that the three victims, Joseph Small. James 15Jans and Janies Alfred M'Ewcn. had died from injuries received in a tramway accident, no blame being attachable to the deceased motorman, Small, who had lost control of the car bevore it reacned Austin Street through tainting. I m conductor did all he could with the knowledge and materials at In? disposal tt avert* disaster. He dislodged too trolley pole and applied the hand brake, but had no means of applying the other brakes at the back of tne car. No doubt the Corporation would take proper steps to prevent a. rocmrence of the disaster. The evidence suggests the following precautions: The corporation should insist on strict compliance with the rule regard ing compulsory stops on this dangerous hill. All conductors should he instructed in the mechanism of the car. and particularly in tiro use of brakes, anjdj, when proficient, they should lie provided with a duplicate set of handles so that, in case of emergency, these rai>l\,t he applied at the rear of the ear. The glass window in the cr.r, imme-diately-behind the motorman, and any other doors.'should be kept clear and transparent, so that the conductor may have a constantly uninterrupted view of the motorman.

■ the passage way through the centre, of the ear should he kepi clear of pastier? and other obstacles, so that the conductor may he able to-get quickly from the had.' to the front in ease of an accident to the motorman: incidentally this would also, prevent tho common _ practice of overcrowding. A periodical examination uf all mntormeu should he made at, rcaponahle intervals.

An appliance known as dead men's handle ’ might bo i.*;.sin lied. This would, in the event, of the collapse of the motorman, automatically cut off the power, apply (ho brakes, and bring tiie oar to a standstill. 1% may cost ntiicji money, but this should no* stand ui f the way o[ public safety. Jim deceived] dames Lvaim. bad disp.ayed Croat courage in going u, the tront or the car to assist, the nuftta. miin. If he had not done so, he might, like the other passengers. have escaped «.'»>rvn ! u, ' 10 I ’.. Ill T' ,vil ' K< . His heroism de-•-tnod public recognition. ■ 1

YESTERDAY’S PROCEEDINGS FJBr Press Association.^ , WELLINGTON. January 19.. lie inquiry into the Pirie Street tram fatality was resumed this mornlng; ~ , ■ I l l ederick R. J'urkert,-Assistant En-giueor-in-Chief of the Public; AVorKs Department, . said that-the object of compulsory slops on inclines was to enable a motorniau to keep his car pro,Vnc,er .control. The departmental delimtion of a compulsory stop was a place at which a stop must be made, no nutter what the load or any other circumstances. AVitness said that the happening oh the accident was not con“is^ nt Tvith the conductor’s statement that, the car came practically to a stop k. i s H n Street and he applied the make at Ellice Avenue. Assuming that the piotornian was down and the car nan come practically to a stov> at Austin Street and tho conductor had applied the hand brake at Ellice Avenue, Lie accident could not have happened. v\ itncss assumed that the conductor, being a now-hand, would,not have been able to apply more than 60 per cent of what was possible by an experienced motorman or conductor. This he assumed in tho conductor’s favour. Replying to Air O’Shea, witness said that it was possible the late Air Evans could have interfered with the handle and released the brake,

To the Coroner; It- was possible to fit the city cars with the ‘‘dead man” handle, and that would have the effect of stopping fhe car automatically if the motonnan became incapacitated. Gwyn Denning, fourteen v ears of ago, who saw the car emerge front the tunnel, said that it did not stop after coming out-

Dr M’Lvcdy gave evidence touching n post-mortem examination he held on the body of the deco.ased motorniau Small on the afternoon following the accident. The blood vessels were" normal. Tho heart was contracted. There was no blood in the left ventricle and very little blood in (be right ventricle The stomach was absolutely empty There was no sign of food or fluid of any description. The rest of the organs were finite normal. AVitnosa had" no opportunity of examining the brain on account of the nature of tho injuries. The cause of death was laceration of the skull.

To Inspector MMllveny: The whole evidence of the post-mortem pointed to the fact that deceased had fainted:. To tho Coroner: The post mortem disclosed that the man was not dead at tho time of tho crash. This concluded tho evidenceThe Coroper intimated that ho had already arrived at his conclusion, but as the evidence was very lengthy, and p. 5 tho matter vm of some importance, lie- was desirous of putting his finding in writing. He would, therefore, deli vor bis verdict to-morrow.