GLASGOW WHARF FATALITY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1332, 9 January 1912, Page 2

GLASGOW WHARF FATALITY.

RISKS OF THE WORK. An inquest was held at the public hospital yesterday nfternoon l>y Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M., touching the death of A. Rickman, who was tilled on the Glasgow Wharf on Saturday. From the evidence it appeared that deceased, who was a wharf lalxjurer, was working hear a crane at a limo n railway train was approaching. No one saw the accident, but deceased was jammed by the train against the crane. He was taken to tho hospital where ho .succumbed. Deceased was Si) years of age, v;as married, and had two children, one 29 years and the other 20.

• At the inquiry Mr. T. S. Wcston appeared for the Wellington Harbour Board, Mr. W. Perry for the widow of the deceased, and Mt-. IT. R. Evans for tho Shaw, Siivill, and Albion Company, and Mr. G. G. l'arland (secretary of tho Wharf Labourers' Union) was present.

'Percy Eustace M'Galfrey, boatswain on the Knniora, slated that lie had seen the train of trucks coming and before walking away had called: "Look out!" A little-..later he "heard-that - the man had been killed."

Thomas Edwards, wharf labourer, who was working with deceased, deposed that there was no need'for the latter to have been where he was at the time of the accident, except for a private purpose. Ordinary duty did not require him to, be then-. ' ■

Felix Joseph M'Gowan, driver of the shunting engine, gave evidence to the effect that there wore twelve or thirteen meat trucks on in front of the engine. Witness's view had been blocked by the tri»!ts in front, and he wns not aware of the accident until he received a signal to stop and was told by the shunter (Green) that a man had been caught. Green stated iu evidence that, when ho signalled the train to proceed, the lino was clear and he knew nothing of the accident till the train hart been stopped. He did not think that the accident would have been avoided had there l>oen a man walking iu front of the trucks. At the close of the evidence Mr. Riddell remarked that the evidence showed that the occurrence was one of those unfortunate accidents that do happen on the wharves. It seemed to him that deceased had met his death accidentally. The wharf labourers were well aware of the danger iu which Ihoy placed themselves in getting into certain positions. Neither the driver nor shunter of the train was Bwnro that Rickman was in the position which lie had placed himself in. Whether greater precautions should have been taken ho could not say, and he could not offer any suggestion on the matter. The verdict was one of accidental death.