SAWMILL FATALITY

Hokitika Guardian, 23 March 1925, Page 4

SAWMILL FATALITY

inquest AT ROSS. An inquest was held at the Empire Motel, Ross, on Saturday at 110011 touching the. death of George Sutherland. who met with a fatal accident at the Tofara. mill, Ross road, the previous evening. Mr I). .J. Evans. District Coroner, presided, and Sergt. King led the evidence. Charles C. Clare stated Sutherland was working with him Hit' previous day. They were trollying. At 5.J0 o'clock the previous evening, they proceeded to unload the trolly carrying two logs. Olio was crooked and awkward, and it had to be handled first. A jack was used to raise it owing to the bent nature of the log, and the jack was wor keel to its full length. When raised Sutherland and witness were in front of the log, there being 110 room behind because of the second log. They proceeded to use the cant level' to roll tlio log towards them. Apparently, owing to the crooked nature of the log raised in the air, the log came away with a run, and the jack Hew round, hitting witness who was knocked clear, lie rose immediately, and in that intsanl saw the log passing over Sutherland, who was on the ground. Witness did not know wluit knocked deceased down, hut it may have been the flying jack. The log would weigh at least three toils, possibly more. Sutherland's head was on the skid wav, and lie was practically crushed to death, breathing his last shortly after, without speaking. Witness went for Wood, another employee, nearby, who arrived as Sutherland expired. Witness considered they were sale in working the log the way they did, and said the gear and appliances were in good order. William AY. Wood staled he was called hurriedly by Clare after the accident, and found Siitherlniisd on the ground. lie saw at once that the man was injured badly, and almost immediately Sutherland expired. Clare was then despatched to notify tile police. The log had rolled about ten feet past where' the body was. and its weight would he sufficient to cause fatal injuries, passing over deceased in the manner it did. Alexander Sutherland, of Mari Mari, gave evidence as to identification of deceased, who was his brother. The latter was a single man, aged 18 years.

Constable Kennedy stated lie wen

ut once to the scene of the accident when notilicd. The deceased was lying face downwards, the head resting on a (; by !! skid. The body was warm, and blood came from the mouth. 011 the large log nearby there was evidence that it had passed over the man, some hair adhering to the mud, which bore also the impress of the man’s coat and .shoulders. The jack was lying a few inches away from the body. Noticed a fracture of lhe skull above the lclt ear. The body was brought to Ross, where a further examination was made. Itibs en both sides were broken and the jaws were broken. There were marks and bruises about the face. Death, from the nature of the severe injuries, must liavo been practically immediate. From what was described hv (hire, witness concluded Sutherland had been knocked down by (lie jack, and was not able to recover quickly enough Lo escape I lie log. which, owing lo its bent nature, would roll over with considerable force. T. Move, secretary of the Timber Workers' Union, telegraphed from Moulin regretting to hear of ,Sutherland's death, and stating lie was not able to attend the inquest that day. The Coroner, who expressed regret at the sudden and fatal nature ol lhe accident, and sympathy with the bereaved relatives, said there was no doubt dentil resulted from an accident which happened with unexpected suddenness. The appliances in use were in goal! order, and there was no blame attachable to anyone. T! o verdict would he accidentally killed.