FRIGHTFUL DEATH OF A WORKING MAN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume IX, Issue 428, 24 June 1881, Page 18

FRIGHTFUL DEATH OF A WORKING MAN.

A terrible accident occurred on Friday afternoon at Messrs. Vickers, Sons & Co.'s, of the Riverdon Steelworks, Sheffield. At three o'clock thirty labourers were dragging a large oval ladle from the No. 6 furnace to the moulds in the melting-house. The ladle or bucket containing nine tons of molten steel was fixed upon a low iron wagon that ran along a tramway laid upon the floor made of iron grating. When the ladle had been dragged within two yards of the mould a part of the iron grating gave way, and the near rails upon which the waggon was running fell about twelve inches, causing the ladle to fall suddenly on one side. The sudden tip caused about 25cwt. of molten steel to splash out of the ladle, and the heated mass fell upon several of the casting men. The liquid fire spread all round the tramway for the space of some yards ; sent a great flame upwards, and such a cloud of steam that at first it was impossible to ascertain what was the extent of the accident. A man named Tom Picksley, a labourer, was, however, observed striving to get out of the flames ; his clothes were entirely burnt away, and he was horribly injured by the fire. His fellow-workmen ran to him, wrapped their coats about him, and saved him from instant death, but the medical men give no hope of his recovery. A still more terrible sight was now revealed. As the steam cleared away, George Lewis, another casting man, was observed on the iron grating in the midst of the molten steel. In consequence of the great heat it was | impossible to reach him at once, and there the man stood for some seconds burning to death, apparently beyond all aid. His clothes were entirely destroyed by the fire and his body was terribly mutilated, the flames burning him fearfully on the legs, body and face. Several attempts were made to rescue him. At length two men, named Kelly and Hughes, laid thick planks across the burning mass of metal and succeeded in dragging him away. The man was still alive, but the suffering he had undergone had evidently turned his brain. He was removed to the accident room at the works, where he died at half-past five o'clock. William Kirton, another labourer, was also frightfully burnt on the legs and lower part of the body, and was taken to the infirmary. Charles Brookfield and several other men were slightly injured. Several medical men were speedily in attendance, but their services were of little avail ; for it is scarcely possible for Picksley to survive.