GAS FATALITIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2452, 4 May 1915, Page 6

INQUIRY OPENED ."NOISE LIKE THE ROAR OF THE SEA': ' WHAT A GAS-MAN DID Yesterday afternoon the Coronial inquiry into the circumstances of the death of the five victims of last week's gas tragedy was opened by Mr. W. G. Riddell, S.M. The five victims were:— Walter Holmes, single, 39, residing at 19 Mulgrave Street. James Robert Smith, single, 19, residing at 14 Mulgrave Street. Young Wong, 29, residing at 328 Tinakori Road. Young Ching, 29, residing at 328 Tinakori R-oad. /Young King, 36, residing at 328 Tinakori Road. At the inquiry, Senior-Sergeant Mullnny appeared for the police, Mr, T. Neave for the Wellington Gas Company, Mr. J., C. Peacock for the relatives of Walter Holmes (one of the victims), and Mr. E. G. Jellicoe for the relatives and friends of the deceased Chinese. The Coroner said that he proposed to take evidence of the identity of the deceased persons, and then adjourn the inquest till'next Monday, so that evidence might then be producod as to the cause of death. The Death of James Smith. As to the death of _ James Robert Smith, evidence was given by Grace Evelyn Bennett, who kejit No. 14 Mulgrave Street as'a ! boardinghouse. Shesaid ,that Smith had been boarding with her since about April 19. He was an engine-cleaner on the _ State railways. She had last seen him alive a little after 10 p.m. on last Thursday night. He was then in his usual good health. Next morning he did not come downstairs to breakfast at the usual time, so she went to call him, and found him dead in bed. The window of his bedroom was open, and thero .was a strong smell of gas in the room, such as she had never previously noticed in the house. Mr. Neave: Do you remember when the meter was watered last? Witness: No. Mr. Neave: Do you ever water the meter yourself? Witness: No; I never touch the meter. ■

Mr. Neave: Was there any smell of gas outside this room? Witness: Yes; I noticed a._ faint smell of gas when I got up, but it was very bad in this room. The Coroner: It was particularly strong in deceased's room. \ Witness: Yes, particularly' strong. The Coroner: Had Smith any relatives in Wellington. Witness: I think not. Sergeant Mullany: I understand th'at all his relations are on the West Coast of the South Island. It is possible some of them may be here when the inquiry resumes later on. Constable John Isbister who was called to Mrs. Bennett's house and had Smith's body romoved to the morgue, deposed that when he entered deceased's room there was a very strong smell of gas there. "Put Half a Bucket of Water In the Meter." Elizabeth Johnson, who keeps boarders at 19 Mulgrave Street, gave evidence respecting the deceased 'Walter Holmes. She said that deceased was 37 years of age,-, and a wharf labourer by oocupation. He boarded at her house, and had been in very good health all along. On Friday morning she rose at ahout 5.30. and noticed a very strong smell of gas through, the house. She examined the points, and' found that the tap in the passage was turned on .very slightly. She did not then examine the meter,' but it was always turned on. Later.. (about 7.40) 'her attention was directed to the ■ fact that gas was escaping from the mater. The escaping gas was making a noise like the roaring of the sea. She got her boy to turn the meter off. When' she knocked at Holmes's door to oall him. she got no answer. She then knocked at the door of another boarder, and got no reply, so she entered the Toom, and found the occupant (a Mr. Ersldne) too 'stupefied to sneak. When she opened the door of Holmes's room she got a great shock to' find him lying on the bed looking dreadfully white. She sent for assistance, and when Drs. Henry and Anderson-arrived they said that Holmes was dead. Deceased's room was a good distance away from the gas meter.

Mr. Neave: Where 'is the meter in your house? Witness: In the front passage, behind the front door. Mr. Neave: Do you remember when the meter wan la rt watered ? Witness: Fully four weeks aeo. Mr. Neave: Was there a gas jet in Holmes's room ? , ■ Witness: No, there is no gas at all upstairs. Mr. Neave: Was his room just above tho meter? Witness: No his room is away at the back of the house.

Mr. Neave: Is there a fireplace in the room? ■ - ' , ■Witness: No. Mr. Neave: Was the window open? Witness: Yes, a little from the bottom. " . ■ Mr. Neave: And the door? Witness: It was'slightly ajar. ■ Mr. Peacock': How long have you been in this house? Witness: Two years. Mr. Peacock: Have you had th® same meter all along? Witness: Yes, the same meter, but a new service. Mr. Peacock: When was the new service put in? Witness: Some considerable time ago. Mr. Peacock: Havo you used tho gas. since Friday? .' s Witness: Yes. The gas-man camo and fixedl it up that morning. Mr. Peacock: What did he do? Witness: He put half a bucket of water into tho meter. The Coroner: Before this had you any reason to complain of tho quality of tho gas? Was tho gas burning all right? Witness: I had no complaint. Witness added that tliero was still a smell of gas in the vicinity of tho meter. She said also that the gas-man had' said that it was the force of the gas which had turned on the tap of the passago jet. Constable Isbister, who was called to the house, stated that when ho entered Holmes's room be detected a strong smell of gas there. Dr. Henry said that Holmes had died through suffocation by qoal gas. The Searoh for the Chinese. Alfred Edward Bowden, storekeeper, of 326 Tinakori Road, whose shop was next to that of the deceased Chinese, deposed that on Friday morning lie smelt gas in the backyard attached to his own shop but there was no such smell inside 'his shop. In searching: for the cause of this strong smell of gas : ho examined a neighbouring place, but found nothing wrong there. In the afternoon the smell was still easily noticeable, and as lie had heard something during tho day about gas motors bavin;; blown out, ho decided to examine tho shop of the Chinese, piit'ticlilru'l.V ill view of tlw foot that there had been no sign of life about

their premises all day. He opened a. window of tlio building, and gas fumes rushed forth. He called the police, and eventually entry to the promises was effected. The meter there was on, and gas was hissing from it. Sergeant King, who entered the prcmisos,' stated that the escape of the gas from tIM meter was accompanied by a loud hissing. The escape was from the register. He turned it off with difficulty the hissing then ceased. The inquiry now stands adjourned till 2.15 011 Monday next. THE CHINESE VICTIMS. At the Chinese Association rooms in lory Street a meeting of the Chinese community of Wellington was held on Sunday to discuss whether would send to China the bodies of tlse three Chinese, Young King, Young Ken, and loung Wing, the victims of the gas tragedy. After a brief discussion it was decided to send the bodies for burial in China. Tha Chinese Consul presided at the meeting. Charles Ching, .the Chinese who was admitted to the Hospital on Friday last suffering from partial asphyxiation, was discharged from tie institution yesterday.