FIREMEN KILLED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16331, 21 January 1921, Page 10

FIREMEN KILLED.

ENGINE TURNS SOMERSAULT. SENSATIONAL. ACCIDENT AT HAMILTON* [Per Psess Association. } HAMILTON, January 20. A terrible accident occurred last evening, as a result or which two members ol the Fire Brigade were killed and nine others more or less seriously injured. KILLED. Fireman Herbert Graham, twentytour years, single. Fireman George Prince, sixty-eight years, married with fourteen children. SERIOUSLY INJURED. | Superintendent C. H. Archer, broken , collarbone and minor injuries. ' Fireman S. Dickey, concussion of the Other men on engine were;—Tuckv (driver), J. N. Irvine, S- Davits, Da vis, L. Davis, G. Morris and -J. Sr, Clair. The brigade were at a grass fire at Claudelaiids, wlien another alarm for a fire in the main street sounded, and they were returning. Nearing the loot of a hill a motor lorry was noticed ahead 1 in the centre of the road. The engine 1 on its right side, having just • previously gone almost into the water- : table in order to pass ‘two cars. The i horn of the engine was sounded con- | tinuou.sly, and the firemen also shouted i to attract the attention of the driver j of the lorry, but evidently the latteT did not hear, and kept co in the middle j of the road. Driver Tuckey endeavoured to pass I the lorry on the right side and applied I the brakes. Unfortunately the engine j was evidently too far over and it struck ! a hank which, combined with the fact tiiat. the. brakes Jiad just boon applied, caused the rear end of the engine to j The engine turned a complete some!- ; sault. righting itself in a miraculous | fashion. The men were thrown in all ! directionsj It was at once seen that the results were serious, and willing helpers were on the spot. Graham was found lying in a pool of blood, unconscious, and evidently in precarious condition. He died in the hospital without regaining consciousness. Prince was also very seriously injured. Ho was removed to the hospital and operated upon immediately • after admission, his leg being ampuI toted Unfortunately lie failed to rally j and died about 0 p.m. Prince showed : gieat powers of endurance and was more concerned about the injuries of j others than lus own. He urged the ; helpcr.3 to lea ye him and do something ! for tiie younger members of the brii ga.de who had been injured, j S- Dickey was badly hurt and was un- : conscious. Ho was taken to the hospital, and at latest advices was still unconscious. George Prince was sixty-eight years of age, a highly-esteemed resident of tho town, where he had lived for twenty-one years. He was regarded -is

the pioneer fireman of the town. Altogether he liad been connected with firefighting during the past thirty years. Formerly he was employed by the Railwav Department for thirty years, and he retired several years ago on superannuation. Graham’s parents reside in Auckland. He saw three Years’ war service and was I awarded the i 914-15 star, the British war medal and the Victory medal, i Eighteen months ago be joined the | Hamilton Fire Brigade, aud had proved ! scientions worker and liked socially. ; News of the accident- cast a gloom i over the whole town and district, and i general sympathy was expressed for the ( victims. If is said that never before in Now | Zealand has such a big fire brigade accident occurred. The engine weighed about five tons. ! Tt was badlv damaged, and tlm wonder lis that more of the men were not j killed. Several bad miraculous escapes.