ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 17 July 1915, Page 7

ACCIDENTS & FATALITIES

DEATH FROM C!Ag POISONING,

An inquest was held by Mr. D. G. A. Cooper, S.M., yesterday afternoon into the cause of the death of Daniel Barry, who was found dead at the Wellington Meat Export Company's works at NgahauraiiKa on' 'Tuesday afternoon last. Mr. M, Myers appeared for ,tho Weill"^ 11 Meat Export Company, Mr. P. Jnckson for deceased's relatives, and Mr. M. J. Reardon for tho Wellington Freezing Works' Employees' Union. Dr. Hamilton Gilmer, who made a post-mortem examination of deceased's body, said that in his opinion death was due to carbon monoxide poisoning. Albert Burridgo, engine-driver and foreman at the gas-houso at tho Meat Company's works at Ngahauranga, said ho knew deceased, who was employed at the works. Part of dcceased's duties was to attend to the cleaning of tho gas-pipes. Witness was talking to deceased a few minutes before 'three on tho afternoon of tEo Tuesday. At about 4 p.m. he discovered deceased lying apparently dead in a "scrubber" which was part of tho gas-liouse. Dr. Pattio was sent for, but he pronounced life extinct. Witness was of the opinion that deceased's death was due to a leak in. a valvo of one of the "scrubbers." Witness examined tho "scrubbers" every morning. Ho could detect no smell of gas in the room where deceased was. . To Mr. Myers: A "scrubber" was a lonp vortical cylinder, at tho bottom of wluoh was a pipe, where the gas entered. Deceased was engaged on the Tuesday, in cleaning one that had not been in Uso sinco July 5. From July sto July 13 tho valves had been turned" off in' tho "scrubber" in question. A man ■ Was not supposed to work alone in a "scrubber." Witness was not aawre I that deceased had gone back alono into tho "scrubber," as when deceased had left him at 3 p.m. he did not say he was going back to tho "scrubber." To Mr. Jackson:. Cleaning a. "scrub-, ber" was considered a dangerous job for one man, as there was a possibility of leaks., Evidence was also given bv Patrick .! Joseph Barry, deceased's brother. The Coroner returned a verdict that the cause of death was duo to deceased inhaling carbon monoxide gas, the escape of which had occurred by some means which had not been disclosed by the evidence. No blame was attachable to anyofie.