ENGINEER’S DEATH.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17246, 12 January 1924, Page 2

ENGINEER’S DEATH.

FOUND IN BOILER HOUSE. At 4.10 this morning Lewis Bradford Giles, fifty-three years of age, was found dead by his wife in the stokehole at the Kaiapoi Woollen Company’s hosiery factory at Woolston. The cause of death has not been determined pending a post-mortem examination of the body. Some of the circumstances point to possible electro cufion, but nothing definite is known m this respect. Giles, who was an engineer, was awakened from his sleep about 10.30 last night by an employee of the factory, who brought the information that the boiler was blowing off steam. He went over to draw the ffres. and when Mr Swainson, foreman knitter, saw him at 11.15 he was apparently quite well. Mrs Giles made inquiries as the result of her husband's lengthy absence, and at 4.10 a.m. she found him lying dead on the broad of his back in front of the boiler. The wires of a portable electric light lamp were twisted round his ankles. The gu&rd of the light was broken and the wire was hooked on the first joint of the little finger of the left hand, the electric lamp lying on his chest. The wire was grasped In his right hand. Tbe current was turned on at the gwitchboard. An inquest was opefned to-day bv the District Coroner, 3Jr H. Y. Widdowson, S.M. AN ALL-NIGHT VIGIL. Evidence was given by Grace Giles, widow, who said that her husband had enjoyed very good health. He did not have to work at night except in case of emergency. They did not live far from the factory." She last saw her husband alive about 10.30 last night, when a man Irom the mill came with a message to the effect that the boiler was Blowing steam. Her husband went over immediately. She waited all night for him to come baclTg At daybreak she sent one of her three little girls over to the mill, and the child came back stating that her father was on the floor. Witness ran over and found him lying oji the floor of the stokehole; he appeared to be dead and had an electric lamp on a flexible wire grasped in his hand. The lamp was not alight. In the meantime witness had sent the girl to arouse a neighbour, and Dr Simpson was rung up. Constable Bosworth stated that no answer could 2 ot from the doctor’s residence and no doctor was in attendance. The Coroner adjourned the inquest sine die, and a post mortem is to be held.