FATAL ACCIDENTS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2014, 25 February 1907, Page 3

FATAL ACCIDENTS.

WHIRLED ROUND THE SHAFTING. A shocking accident occurred at the Waiki no battery between twelve o’clock on Thursday and two o’clock on Friday morning, resulting in the death of a battery employee named Alexander Mac Lean. It appears that the deceased went on shift at' midnight, his occupation being as an assistant in the press shed. He was engaged oiling the bearings of the main shafting, and it is surmised that \yhen stooping down to pass under the shafting the bolts on the coupling caught the back of his trousers, and in a moment he was whirled round the shafting. His body was fearfully mutilated, and his clothing was torn completely off. His mangled body was found between one and two o’clock by a mate named Npakps, Death must have been practically instantaneous. Deceased was about 20 years of ago, and was formerly a resident of Coromandel, where he was well known and highly respected. Mac Lean was also held in high esteem in this district. A Coroner’s inquiry, touching the death of the deceased, was held at AVaikino, to-day. Evidence was adduced showing that it was the practice of those engaged about the machinery where deceased was killed to go underneath the shafting to oil the bearings on either side. The reason for so doing was that it was quicker than going the safe, but longer, road round the machinery. Just as to how the accident occurred, there was no definite information. v.'it’it'si.’S from the biitLciy stated that up till the time of the accident, no danger had been apprehended by those oiling the hearings, in the manner indicated, that was as long as ordinary care was exercised by those passing under the shafting. The jury returned a verdict to the effect that death was accidentally caused, it was thought, by deceased’s clothing catching in the machinery, no blame being attachable to anyone.