FATAL ACCIDENT AT CHAIN HILLS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 214, 15 February 1875, Page 3

FATAL ACCIDENT AT CHAIN HILLS.

The following full particulars of tlrs accident appears in the Daily Times of the 11th instant:—• A shocking accident occurred at the Chain Hills tunnel yesterday morning, causing the instantaneous death of two men, and serious injuries to two others. The m< n employed on the day shift, numbering fifteen, commenced work at seven o’clock, five being employed at the north end, about seven chains from the mouth, under the direction of Thomas Kerr, and they continued to drive holes into the left side and roof for the purpose of blasting until close on eight o’clock, when one went away, and Fred. Turnidge warned two of the others to stop, as the material they were boring (blue rock) was treacherous and might give way. The wellmeant warning came two late, as almost immediately a mass of about two tons fell over the unfortunate workers. The assistant

foreman, Wm P. Patterson, observing the occurrence, with commendable pluck rushed forward at great risk, the stone still falling, and sought to rescue his comrades. Kerr was taken out dead, his forehead being cut open and neck broken. lie was about forty years of age, a married man, with a wife and seven children, and had resided in Fairfield (close by) for fourteen years, Thenextbrought out was Tims Wedlake, whose left leg was broken below the knee. Frederick Tnrnidge was the next carried out, and his injuries are of a most painful description. His left temple is fearfully lacerated, and ho afterwards stated that he heard the flesh being torn off. His left leg is broken in two places, and his right one at the thigh and knee. That this man still survives is a wonder, and it is still mure strange that ho was not for a moment unconscious or unable to converse freely with those about him. These two were removed to the hospital. Great difficulty was experienced in extricating the other man, he being literally buried, and when at last the body was brought to light it presented a horrid spectacle. The skull was nearly broken in half, the split extending from the right temple across the no e to the side. It was utterly impossible to identify him. This man’s name was Patrick Dempsey, and from a ticket found in his pocket it appeared that he had recently been an inmate in the Hospital, and was about thirty-nine years of age. On information of the accident reaching town, Serg ant-Major Bcvan mounted and proceeded to the scene, and our reporter met him returning to Green Island with the workmen, who were conveying the bodies of Kerr and Dempsey in a stretcher. They were all so disheartened that they knocked off work at once. The holies were taken to Jennings’s (late Eagerty’s Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle Hotel, where they were searched, and an inventory taken of the articles found upon them. Kerr’s watch was broken, and had stopped at five minutes past eight. Turnidge, Dempsey, and Wedlake had been enjoying themselves at a ball on the previous night, and had only been employed at the tunnel an hour before the accident occurred. From what we could learn, it appeared that every precaution had been taken to guard against such a slip, the roof of the tunnel being bricked within 12ft of the accident and timbered within sft of the spot. The sufferers at the Hospital were progressing as well as might be expected last evening.