PETONE TRAGEDY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1564, 7 October 1912, Page 4

PETONE TRAGEDY.

■ Csl RAIL SHOPS YARD

PROCEEDINGS AT INQUEST.

An inquest concerning the death of Thomas Cooke, who was killed at tho Petone workshops on Friday nighl, was held before Dr. M'Arthur, district coroner, at tho Petono Courthouse, on Sahir. day morning. Sergeant Forster was present for tho police, and Jlr. Pearson (district locomotive engineer) watched tho proceedings on behalf of tho Railway department. The chief witness was Richard Woodhead,'a casual labourer employed at tho shops. Ho deposed that he was working with deceased, when tho accident occurred. Both ho and deceased were then engaged in taking down htod brakes on a car in the repair yard. Deceased was working underneath the car. At about 3.45 p.m., a shunting engine bumped into the car, and he (witness) at once rolled clear of the lino. Ho also gave a warning to Cooke, but it then apparently was too late, one of tho wheels having passed over deceased. Witness at onoo gave the stop signal to the shuntcY, and tho train was pulled up emartly. it was tho usual ( practice, when men were engaged in such work, to put out clanger signals—a red fla£ on each end of the car. On this occasion, however, there woro no signals available. Deceased was responsible for putting up the flags. If he had lain flat, and liaa not tried to get out, the bogey would not have touched him. To Mr. Pearson: Ho was aware ot a "rulo" that in all cases workmen were expected to exercise tho utmost.care in avoiding accidents. Henry Arnold, shops shunter, 6tated that ho was in charge of the shunting engine. When tho fatality took place his engine, with 24 wagons and a car, was backing on to the ear on which deceased . was working on at a very slow pace. No danger signal was displayed, and, from where lie was, it was impossible to see deceased. Just after the impact occurred witness received the signal to stop from Woodhoad, ami tho train pulled up within three feet. , To Mr. Pearson: Ho hadbeena shunter for 13 years, and he could not remember any other case of men working underneath a car without a danger signal being exhibited. Ho was cognisant of the rule that danger signals should be displayed on cars in such a case as this. Dr. Murdoch Ross described the injuries sustained. Patrick Hisman Jane, driver on the engine, stated that he did not sec any danger signals. His attention was always directly on the shunting, but he nevertheless always kept a sharp general look-out. Erne-st Henry Cambourne' stated that he had allocated the work for deceased. The latter went without his (witness's) authority to work ■underneath the car. Deceased knew tho'rule relating to danger signals, and was also aware as to who was responsible for their exhibition, In summing up, tho coroner said that •it was a deplorable thing that men should neglect a simple little rule like this to their own undoing. "Hero we have," ho continued, "a man who was a good workman, losing his life through, neglect of a eimplo rule—a rule that one cannot express too earnestly, especially in a big shunting yard. We express our deepest sympathy with Mrs. , Cooke." A verdict oC "accidental death" was returned. « Mr. Pearson, on behalf of the railway workshops, tendered , his sympathy, and added that deceased was an excelleut and sober workman. The funeral took place at the Taita Cemetery yesterday aud was largely attended. The Petone Municipal Band led the cortege, and tbe Petono ex-Xavalt wero also in attendance.