FATAL ACCIDENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1923, Page 2

FATAL ACCIDENT.

An accident which ended fatally ha: - nened in the vicinity of .Maiianui Sawmill Yesterday afternoon. A party ol three men. one of whom was Thomas McGillieuddy of G rcymout h. age K> veurs. was working ballasting a tramway line. With the two mates MeGi.lictitl ly was employed trill king gravel from a ]it out on to the line. He was sitting on a loaded timk ot grave! which was Icing drawn by a horse, when be tell ell the truck, and t o* wheels ran over Ills body crushing the right shoulder and leg. He was working alone at the time, and no one saw the accident. Imt he was conscious when flicked ii]), and could detail tlie particulars. He was brought through to Westland hospital and his lelinives summoned from Gieyinotitli. but expired about H> o’clock last night. All inquest is being held this forenoon. ( OHONT.IVS lXt.it'EST. An inquest was held at the I’oliee Station at o'clock this morning in respect lo the above death. Mr 1). .1. Evans (C.’oronei 1 presided, and Sergi. King led the evidence. I)r Baird stated lie was called up

about 0.3!) o'clock yesterday afternoon, and a- a result of the repoit went out immediately with tile ambulance. Found .MeGillieuddy on a trolley at the inter-section of the Ross road and Mannimi tramway. He was in a weak condition, absolutely blanched. puKoless, and suffering extremely from severe hemorrhage, and shock. Jie had a compound fracture of the leit arm. the wounds of which had bled excessively. Ei.ur or five lower libs on tile left side were fractured also. with hemorrhage into the plural cavity. He complained of great pain in the abdomen, and there was the possibility ol serious bowel injury. He was taken to the hospital with all speed, and received every ntttention but died about 10.1 •». The immediate cause ol death was shock and hemorrhage. He was conscious up to the time of death and was able to describe the accident. He said he had slipped off the trolley and been run over. His injuries wore consistent with such ail accident.

Thomas Power, a working mate, said deceased was on the last trip of the day's work when the accident happened. .MeGillieuddy was driving a horse drawing a loaded trolley. He had about 311 ebaiiis to go. While one trolley was out tile other was being loaded. \\ hot l . MeGillieuddy did not return, witness went to see the cause, and near the end of the trip, found MeGillieuddy lying between the wheels ol the loaded truck, the lior-e standing quietly. Saw at once his condition was serious and called the third mate, Baireti. and tlit* injured man was got out. and placed on a smaller trolley, and taken to tile main line, when Barrett hastened to the mill to ting Hokitika lor medical help. MeGillieuddy told me lie had slipped, and the trolley passed over him. He said he was settled. The accident happened about a quarter of an hour before witness came on the scene. Witness sent for the relatives of de.ea-i.il at South Beach. Greyninutb who arrived shortly before death and were able to converse with the injured man at the hospital. 'llie loaded tr« 1ley would be a bout 2 tons weight. It ran on iron rail-. William Barott, the third iartner in the contract, corroborated the foregoing witness' evidence. Ihe party had been working together since Easter and always got on well. Deceased was a single man. about 10 years ol age, and of so law habits. The line was in good order, and tin- plant well found. The Coroner returned a verdict ol death by shock and ltemorihuge, the tesuit of an accident tin the Manarnii tramway caused by tailing lion* a loaded trolley, the front wheels of which passed over the man. The body was removed to Grcymouth to-day and the funeral takes place on Monday.