ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 896, 16 August 1910, Page 7

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

SHOCKING OCCURRENCE. MANIPULATING A DIGESTER. Shortly after 8 o'clock yeet&rday morning an elderly married manj named Joseph Khoddis, who resides at the Sandhills, Petone, met with a fatal accident at the Gear Company's Petone works. It-appears deceased, who was employed in the boiling-down department, was opening the coyer of one' of the large digesters, and it is surmised that he thought that .the- steam and gas in the digester had "blown, oil." As the fastenings of the door were released, however, the ■ pressure of steam and gas .was so great that it forced the door open, ,and threw the unfortunate man violently : upwards. He then fell to the-concrete floor; a distance of about 20 feet. Medical aid was summoned, but it was found that death had been instantaneous. The skull beiug fractured, and the face and one arm severely cut. Ehoddis had been in the employ of the Gear Company for the past 20 years, and his fellow-workers state that ho wss a very careful man. THE INQUEST.. Ur. W.■ B. Haselden, district coroner, conducted the inquest','which was held at 1 o'clock yesterday. W. G. Lodder, manager of .'the works, deposed that Ehoddis should not have released the lid of the- digester until tho pressure of steam had been completely blown off. . ' ' A. Carter, manager of the, department in which the accident. occurred, stated that deceased had been employed by the Gear Company for 20 years , past, and was fully accustomed to the work in which he was occupied. He was a steady man, married, and was 59 years of age. ' ! ' . . Other evidence 'was given to the effect that had the unfortunate raaa taken due precaution the accident would have been , avoided. . . ■ A verdict of accidental death was returned. • THE WILLIS STEEET ACCIDENT. Mr. G. E. Fail, proprietor of the Commercial Eestaurant, ■ who met with a serious accident on Saturday, had regained consciousness yesterday : t at tlie Wellington Hospital. On inquiring from the hospital authorities last night, however, it was learned that he • was hardly so well as he had been earlici. FELL QFF A , TEAIN.. ■ . (By Telegraph.—Press.Association.) Palmorston North, August 15. : A half-caste, A. George, who fell off a train on Saturday night, while.passing from ono carriage to another, was picked up subsequently by men on • a railway, tricycle; -Ho was apparently uninjured. . t ■ - SHOT WHILE SHOOTING. Palmerston North, August 15. ■ Charles \ Bryant, who. was shot in the leg yesterday, was out rabbit-shooting with his cousin, whose gun accidentally exploded. The shots were surgically .removed, and the patient is progressing favourably. . ~ '

- WHILE BtrSHPELLING. ■ ••• New Plymouth, August'ls. ' A- lad named James Ayrton, aged 16;" died in the local hospital, as the result of iiiinrios sustained a few days ago while assisting his father bushf ellinif at Waitaanga. , ■ ' ■; . BY MACHINE BELTING. ' . Waihi, August 15. A married man named George- Hcnesy, employed at: Waihi Company's battery, Waikino, was fatally injured last night; While adjusting some belting ho was. caught in it and whirled round. , He' succumbed to his injuries this morning. DEATH OF SCHOONER'S COOE. Dargaville, August 15. An inquest was held to-day on the body of Fred Whitehouse, late cook on the schooner' Isabella Defraine. Tho evidence went to show that deceased was, partially intoxicated at 9.30 p.m. on August 1. At 10 o'clock he left the vessel to get more beer for supper. This was refused at the hotel, and the man was never seen alive again. It was • assumed that when returning to the vessel ho fell off the wharf. A verdict of accidentally drowned ivas returned, no blame being attachable to anyone. <