ACCIDENT AT STRATFORD.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 9644, 17 January 1899, Page 2

ACCIDENT AT STRATFORD.

Narrow Escape from a Terrible Fatality.

Mr Walter Burgess, third son of Mr E. Burgess, of the Stratford Sash and Door Factory, had a miraculous es'oapeof being killed tho other day. He, with several others, was working at theTiuge water -wheel which drives the works, and which is being removed to make room for a turbine to give more power. The wheel was being raised with timber jacks and blocks. Mr. O. Perrin and Mr W. Burgess were working the jacks, when the jack the latter was working slipped, and the wheel shifted, knocking Mr W. Burgess down and pinning his head down on to the jaok he had jußt been using. Fortunately the wheel jambed somewhere, otherwise his head would have been simply smashed to pulp. As it was he was held so tight it was impossible to move him, and the pressure was ao great his eye-balls were protruding in a most painful manner. The discomfort of the position was increased, also, Ivy tho fact that his body, which was free, lay in the water, which came within an inoh of his mouth. Tho space was also very confined, and although no less than 14 men were Boon engaged helping, it took them one and a half hours steady and \ery delicate work t« release him from his dangerous'and painful position. The great danger was that the slightest extra pressure was certain to prove fatal, and the greatest care had to be exercised, lost something should give way, and crush his life out. Mr James Sharrook, who worked like a Briton, and who superintended operations, had. the wheel carefully packed up, and then the seotion pressing on young Burgess was carefully sawn out piece by pieoe. During the operation the viotim suffered much exorutiatinfi agony that he begged again and again to be let die. The state of father, mother, Bister, and brothers, who were all in the faotory, can be better imagined than de3orlbed. Several of those around fainted from nervous ex> oitement. Dr Paget was soon on the ground, and as soon as the sufferer was released administered suoh relief as was possible, the sufferer bemg put to bed and steps taken to restore the circulation of the blood, whioh had almost ceased and rendered the body and lower limbs stone cold. Fortunately this was successfully accomplished, although Dr Paget was of opinion that another five minutes would have been too late. Mr James Sharrock, who has not been in the best of hoalth lately, was also quite overcome with his exertions and nervous excitement, and also had to receive medical attention and was put to bed. Later in the day, both had had a good sleep and were considerably the better for it. Considerable excitement was caused throughout the town, as the news of the accident spread, and the difficulty of the task of the rescuers, and the terrible position of Mr Walter Burgess may bs imagined, when it is considered that the wheel is a ponderous affair weighing more than 15 tons, is 24 feet in diameter and seven feet wide, and tke chamber in which the wheel works is over 30 feet deep, a£P roa °b.«l at each end hy a tunnel, and the work of rescue had to be carried on by candle light.— Patea Bress.