SAD NIGHT ON A DREDGE.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 975, 16 November 1910, Page 6

SAD NIGHT ON A DREDGE.

MAIMING AND DROWNING. (By Telegraph.—Press Association^ Dunedin, November"ls. . A most distressing accident occurred on the Earnscleugh No! 3 dredge some time during tho 12 to 8 o'clock shift this morning. When the relief arrived at 8 o'clock it was immediately seen, that something unusual had happened. The boat-was in a paddock, and, when; the men reached it, they found one the crew, William Linchbury', huddled' up .in the bottom of it, with every finger severed from the left hand, only the thumb and a portion of the little finger remaining. He was completelj dazed, and unable to give any particulars of what had happened. A search ■• was made for Lainckbury's mate, John • Kelly, but no trace of him could ' be found. His cap was ultimately discovered floating in th© water in the paddock, and, at 10.30, his body was found. The dredge is worked by' electricity conveyed by cable from the shore. It is presumed that something went .wrong with the cable, and that both men. left tho dredge in the boat to rectify .the -. matter. On the pole.on.shore there is a switch which", when pulled out, outs - off the power, and instructions regarding the working of the power and appliances are posted on the dredge. An examination of Kelly's .body: showed no marks of electrocution, and it is as- • sumed that he received a shock, : and fell into tho water and was drowned. The power was cut off at the powerhouse at 6 a.m., and put on again at .. ' 6.30. It is presumed that the men were working at the cable when the power came on. In addition to having . his fingers severed, Lainchbury, .was burnt on the arm, and,' as the weather was rough and wet, he must have- suf- . fercd considerably. Both men had been in the service of tho company for a long time, and were regarded as careful workmen. Kelly was a married , man with five children.