RIMU DREDGE FATALITY

Hokitika Guardian, 9 February 1924, Page 3

RIMU DREDGE FATALITY

THE INQUEST

SAIFRDAY. FEISRFARY Pth

The inquest concerning the death ot Frederick John Archer was nmewed at the Alagistrate’s Court at 10.10 a.m. before the Coroner. Mr I). J. Ivans. The Inspector of Alines (Mr Downey) was in attendance, representing the Department. Air Afurdoeh appeared for the Ritnu Dredging Coy.

Hector David Archer deposed lie was a brother of deceased. Witness worked on the same shut, from midnight to 8 a.m yextenlav. Last saw bis biothei alter daylight. He came down the stairs front the top dock. He went to ti e grease cup ol the bearing oil tae too of the screen. Was on the lower deck when ho came back to the lower deck and started the nozzle pump. Saw ids brother go to the upper deck. It was the usual procedure before commencing to clean up. Did not see him again alive. About 30 or 40 minutes later. John Brown asked where was the boy. They then stopped the machinery and searched the dredge. Witness went round the top end of the screen and along the water pipe to a

gangway alongside the tables. AA bile going along there be noticed bis brother i-i flic bottom box under the screen. Have not the slightest idea how he go 1: there. AYlten his brother went up (ho stairs he was following his

usual duties. Did not stay to kco the todv taken out.

John Thomas Brown deposed he was f-ii employee on Ritnu dredge. Was on duty yesterday from midnight- till 8 a.m. Fordo rick Archer was on the same shift, hast saw him alive at

•J 5C a.in. at the south spud at the back of the screen. Archer had come down from talcing' off a stone Stood talking lor a few minutes and deceased then said lie was going to screw some of the clips down and would come back in a few minutes to let witness finish his "oik. Ilis duties at that time only took about ’JO minutes. Through bis being away a little longer than usual, immediately the bucket line stopped, witness stopped the screen and stacker ai d went up and made enquiries from bis brother, Alex, the winehiuan. if

he had seen his brother. Tied. He asked wliv. and witness said lie was a little longer away than usual at that hour of the morning, and that- he (witness). was going to the end of the screen to see if ho could sec him. Came down and had a good look about the screen, but saw nothing of him there. Went hack to tiic wiiichroom and both the brothers were {here then and told them ho had no 1 .-.eon Fred. All the machines were Hepped at once anti a search made, '.fitness went buck round the bottom dee!, amf Hector Archer went through the top deck. Found traces of where he had been sweeping and going down

on to the centre deck discovered him on the bottom cud of the .screen. From there went round to whore deceased had been • sweeping to sec* if they could it 11 <1 the cause of the accident. Saw v.here he had been sweeping the dirt inside the guard rail. How lie came to get into the screen the wit-

ness did not know. The matter was reported to the dredgomaster by telephone at fi.ot) a.m. Deceased was in ili ' bo-t ol spirits and good health. Had never heard of anyone having had a narrow escape of falling into the screen. I'o Inspector of Alines--The stacker

"’as in tlh. charge (if wifness and his duties I-: t']:t liim there. It was impnssdi'e lor witness to SCO 11 it* deceased oil Hie 11111 )t>i* deck. Ho did not know of anything to litinjr deceit,sod inside the railing. There were no parts to oil there. and ilit* railing was in good order. To the Coroner—Deceased iiad been engaged in similm dnlies for .about. Id months. There was no suggestion ni anyone taking a short cut. The •screen revolves about seven times a minute. He could not account- for the cause of the accident. • liibn Henry West deposed lit- was an oiler on the dredge. Mad boon there live, weeks. The duties ot deceased and witnss were practically similar. They .swept flown the inside, and washed down the outside with a hose. A boss broom was used, for sweeping. The guard rail to the screen was substantial. and is undamaged. 1 hero was no necessity tor the sweeper to go inside th.- harrier on the side where the accident happened. There were no hearings or machinery. On the other side "here the motor was. there it as also a guard, rail. It was necessary here to come inside the guard rail to feel the healing and oil it. if necessary. If one Were inside the guard rail, feeling that hearing and slipped, would fall on the s'-ieen, which would cany from st.-ir-hoaid !o port. Witness had been insidi that rad ie pul oil in the hearing. To ihe t'oiom-i When inside (he rail hafl Uriel- fell any risk. Deceased vcidd not he. oiling- and have tlio hioom in his hand. The broom being lound wjt.h the body, would indicate that deceased "as engaged in sweeping. To i nspeeior u| Mines- Witness had in ivl s":"P> the I'oAlw-yv inside the rii i ling. Frank Le'njnrr.iu l ewis deposed he dn-dgemastc;- of the Ilium dredge. The deceased was an employee on the di edge since August 1922. as greaser.

a-'-- w a* efficient-. Witness could not hem an opinion as to how the accident happem.nl. Tt was part of deceased's dot' lo -woe]) tile top deck. There was ! " necessity to go inside the rails to sweep. To Inspector of Mines—The railing was .‘*(l inches high. The men were not allowed to go inside the railing while the screen was working. r fo the Coroner There was evidence that deceased had carried out part of ’ii- duties, the floor space being swept clean right up to the ran. The broom handle was long enough to reach the bottom footway. While doing that, if •he broom were caught by the screen he did not think a man could be pulled over l lie railing, as he would let go it. though it was possible he may have crawled over to sec where the broom had gone, if stieli had been the ease. The accident was reported by telephone to witness between (i.'J!) and {>.3o. Witiii .-n informed the police and then went to the dredge. The body bad not been removed when lie reached the dredge. He could form no reasonable opinion as to how tlie accident happened. I!• ii id never seen a man cross by the ties on the screen.

Charles John King deposed he was Sergeant of Police at Hokitika. At ('..40 a.in. on the Sth., the dredgeinaster reported a fatal accident on the dredge, to Fred Archer. In company with the diedgomastei proceeded id the dredge at once. On arrival found deceased lying in a '.angled mass in the bottom boxes mid or the screen. The body was lying on its buck. One log was stretched out full length, the other was laying back across the body. The clothes wore in shreds, lie removed the body le the morgue. Found the injuries wore Midi that death would he instantaneous.

To Inspector of Alines-- There was an i !ir plate at the end of the screen that bore traces of flesh, which led witness in believe that an arm bad come into contact, with it. and in revolving had severed the arm from the l“ldy. Underneath the body was a broom, which was intact, laying parallel with the body. The railing was quite strong enough for the purpose intended. Judging from the injuries on the hotly lie i onsidered that deceased had fallen lengthways on the screen. This concluded the evidence. The Coroner said the verdict would be “accidental death”. The Court found it was unable to say how the accident occurred, and wished to convey its deep sympathy with the parents

a n.l relatives. The accident was a very regrettable one. Every precaution had been taken by the Company for the safety of its employees, lie was unable to say how the deceased met his death. He was a careful man and death appeared to he due to a pure accident, hv.t exactly how it- occurred could not be determined.