FATAL ACCIDENT.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 250, 30 October 1901, Page 1

FATAL ACCIDENT.

DEATH OF A FORMER GISBORNITE.

Wailii, Friday. The following is a report of the in

quest on the body of James Carter, a former Gisborne resident (brother-in-law of Mrs H, Warren), who was killed at the Wailii mine on Thursday evening. The inquest was held before Mr R. H. Holmes (acting-coroner). Dr Grattan Guinness, who was called to deceased after the accident, said lie made a careful examination of the body, and found a few external marks of injury, tho only one of importance being a punctured wound caused bj' tho broken end of the right collarbone protruding through the skin. The right shoulder blade was broken, and the upper six ribs on the right side were crushed in. Blood and froth were flowing from the nose and mouth, giving evidence of iuternal injuries. The crushing in of the ribs, resulting in internal injuries, was the cause of death. Edward Hall, mullocker, working on Carter’s contract, said he saw the deceased putting in a hole. Witness was working with him. Deceased told him to take the ammunition tin and get clear away, as he was abo lit to light the charge, While away waiting he heard three taps given, as if Carter was knocking the timber away. The next instant he heard a heavy fall of earth. A miner named Irwin was near him, and both sang out, “Are you alright?” Receiving no reply, they rushed forward and saw deceased lying down gasping. Irwin lifted deceased clear of the collapsed place. There was no earth or rocks on tho body. Some rocks had fallen of good size, perhaps a ton weight. Witness had worked with Carter constantly for five or more weeks, and considered him a practical and careful miner. Deceased had never mentioned anything about the ground being insecure to him. It was part of the foot wall that fell in. William Irwin, minor, corroborated Hall’s statement re the knocking of timber and the fall of oart-h. On proceeding to the spot he found Carter partly kneoling, with his right arm and side supported by a rock. Witness asked him if he was badly hurt, but got no reply. Deceased died in his arms. Witness did not consider the ground dangerous. Knew Carter from boyhood, and found him to bo a competent miner. Robert W. Wilson, miner, employed on Carter’s contract, stoping on the Empire lode, said he worked from Saturday till Tuesday last near where the accident happened. Ho called his mate’s (D. Pye’s) atten-

tion to a crack in the footwall side. He then considered the ground too dangerous to work under without timbering, and put in for safety on his own responsibility two slabs. He considered it safe after timbering. If disturbed, the ground would be liable to give way. Carter was the first man to work at the place after the timbers went in. He had known Carter for fully 20 years as a thoroughly competent miner and careful miner underground. The verdict was “'That the deceased Jas. Cavanagh (commonly known as Jas. Carter, after his stepfather), came by his death through a fall of rock, usually done by miners to let the hole borad for shooting taka its full burden, the deceased considering the ground safe.”

James Carter, the victim of the fatal accident in the Waihi mine, was considered by his mates to be one of the most plucky miners in the company’s employ, and of the most careful. His death has caused great regret. He had been employed mining at Waihi for the past five years, during which period he was never known to refuse work in any part of the mine.