SHOCKING FATAL ACCIDENT.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3670, 19 April 1883, Page 3

SHOCKING FATAL ACCIDENT.

A MAN LITERALLY CUT IN TWO. A shocking accident occurred at Messrs Wilding and Bull's saw mill, Waipukuran, yesterday, by which a man named Smith, a laboring'man, lost his life. Our informant states that the unfortunate deceased was literally sawn in halves by one of the twin circular saws, against which he appears to have accidentally fallen while it was in motion. No person appears to have witnessed the awful occurrence, but it is supposed that Smith must have slipped while in the act of "pinching" a log that was lying on the bench. The deceased has two brothers employed 'it the same mill. Since the above was written we arc in receipt of tho following authenticated particulars of the sad affair from our Waipukurau correspondent:—A fatal accident occurred at Wilding and Bull's saw mills yesterday at 2.30 p.m., by which a man 1 named John Smith was killed. Thedeceascd was engaged at what is known as the breaking-down bench, and was standing close to a circular saw i feet G inches hi diameter, and at his work, when tho accident occurred. No person saw him fall on the saw, and those who saw him immediately afterwards are unable to explain how the affair came about. George Mason who was working within nine feet of Smith, says ho heard above the noise of the mill what sounded like a groan, and an unusual burr of the saws, and on looking round he saw the deceased lying on hi* back on the bench witli the saw through his risj-ht shoulder and body as far as the lower part of the abdomen, the poor fellow being nearly cut in two. The saws were immediately stopped, and the dead body removed from its horrible position. The deceased, who is about 30 years of age, had only been working at tho mill for about six Avecks. His two brothers are also engaged in the shed, and were working close by at the time of the accident, but neither of them witnessed the shocking affair. Our Waipawa correspondent forwards us the following additional particulars:—A shocking fatal accident occurred yesterday afternoon at the saw-millingestablishmentof Messrs Wilding and Bull, Waipukurau. A young-man named John Smith, one of three brothers, all residing at Waipukurau, Ava-i engaged in conjunction with some other mill hands in adjusting a large log for the breaking-down saw,' technically known as a "twin circular." Smith Avas standing on the saw bench with his back towards the saw, engaged m jmlling the log into position, when h'j lost his balance and fell backwards upon the saws, being instantaneously killed. Deceased struck the saw first with his shoulder, and Avas cut across the back down to the hip, the body being divided into two parts, Avith the exception of a small shred of skin. An inquest Avill be held this day before Dr. Reed.