CORONER’S INQUEST

Hokitika Guardian, 27 April 1926, Page 4

CORONER’S INQUEST

MONDAY. APRIL 26, 1926. j

Alt inquest was held at the Police ■Station at 3 o’clock yesterday after-

noon touching the death of Arthur Alexander Finch, who died on Saturday as a, result of an accident on the sawmill tramway of Malfroy and Coy., Arahura. Mr D. J. Evans, J.P., District Coroner, presided, and Sergt King led evidence for the Police. 1). C. Finch, brother of deceased, gave evidence as to identification, also stating he last saw his brother alive on Thursday evening when he was in hi.s usual health. M. J. Mitchell, engine driver, employed by Malfroy .and Cov., said he left Kawhaka at 6.30 o’clock on I ridav morning with a locomotive and two trucks of sawn timber, hound for the Three Mile railway siding. At Toker’a bill on the tramline he had instructions to pick up a load of tramway rails, to he moved along the line some 10 chains where the tramway gang under Finch were relaying 1 the line. Along with Finch and I others assisted to load eighteen rads Io„ to The truck, consisting of two bogeys, and secured the loading as . usual with chains. When ready to ' stru t. Finch gave the signal, and the ! engine pulled out with the load. ! Finch was standing beside the line j when he gave the signal, which was i the last witness saw of Finch, as Ins ' attention was then engaged ahead. On reaching the spot where the rails ~-ere to he dropped, stopped and disconnected the load. When about to re-start, was overtaken by one of the tmllovmen. who said Finch had been iniured. Ran hack a short distance and found Finch on the ground beside the rails, and one of the surfacemen will, him. Finch was conscious, and ! in reply to a question said he was (done. With all haste the jigger was i gilt ready for the injured man. It was seen his left leg from the knee ! down was badly crushed. The flesh j was torn and the hone chatteled. I lie I throe surfacemen were directed to I push the jigger through to the Throe I Mile, as it was thought the engine j would shake the patient too much. I Witness hastened with the engine to ' the Three Mile to report the accident, and summon the ambulance. The ambulance was out before the jigger arrived, hut without loss of time the p itient was transferred and sent ' 1 i the hospital. Rails bad been carried ’ before similarly, but Finch bad not ridden with them. He was supposed ' to ride on the jigger with the other 1 men. The deceased was a cautious ' and careful man, and took no risks. When the accident- happened the engine wjis travelling about 12 to lo 1 miles an hour to take a hill. I here was one curve near, and there would be some sway on the back truck. Where he fell was about thirty chains ! from where he. boarded the moving truck. There was only about five ; chains to go to where the rails were 1 to he left. There was room on the engine for him to ride it lie. wished. Never knew him to ride on a truck ‘ kaforo. The rails were loaded close * i and were weighty. He could not tall *; between them. The best means were I'takn to get him to the hospital quickly. No lime was lost. | To Mr Turley (representing the 'i Workers Union): The shifting ol the rails with the working of the train ’. may I 1 ive caused Him to jump. There i was no ambulance outfit on the en- ’ gine. There was very little bleeding ,I i I • men. ills! the crushed foot. II ’.Hi - on till had liven there it would not ' have been of any advnnalge for the injuries received. The load which ’ passed over Finch would weigh over ’ | live tons. i Dr Hail'd i-tve evidence of receipt I of news of the accident, and reaching , t-lic" hospital as soon as the patient. ’ He arrived at the institution aboiiL 1 !) o'clock. The patient had the aspeel of most profound shock. His lips : were without colour. Examination ” revealed hi.s left leg from the knee “ . down had been very badly crushed and lac-orated. while the bones wore fraci tiii'ed. The limb was cold through the ! blood supply being cut off by the m--1 , jury. There was hardly any bleeding. j I’cstorat ive measures were applied, jybut it was impossible to do more than j splint the leg and dress the wounds, I the patient’s condition being so low. I Measures were taken to combat the shock, all day and up to midnight. I Infusions of solution into the veins were carried out twice. Later, as a lasi resort, the infusion of a pint of his brother’s blood directly into the circulation was made. This hist measure caused, after a, few hours, a marked improvement in the patient's state, and it was possible on Saturday morning to remove the injured leg. Ho stood the operation well, but after , ‘three hours began to lose strength. Further attempts were made to rally him. hut lie .sank and died in the al ternooii. The (aiise of death was shock. George Hell, tramway hand, was working in the gang with Finch. About 8 ti.m. on Friday, assisted io load the rails, which were well secured. Finch gave the driver Hie signal to start. Witness was standing lieside Finch. As the .truck with the rails came along Finch jumped on top ol the rails. He was first in a sitting position with his legs on the rails, and then rolled over on his stomach. , He said in reply to witness ho would ride on the truck so that when ho came to the place he could unhook the I pole. )\ ilness saw the train pass out 10l sight with Finch on |he rails, i Later the gang proceeded along on the j jigger. About half a mile along the ; truck found Finch on the ground bo- . side the rails. Fie said lie wa.s done, i and directed him to stop tlio engine. | When asked how the accident happen- | ed Finch said he saw the rails wore going to slip, and was afraid there would ho an accident. He thought it host to jump off. As he jumped the I truck rolled, and that was al! he know. I Two wheels .of the bogey passed over Finch's legs.

The Coroner said the verdict would he death from shook, caused by an accident on the tramway of Malfrov and Coy., on the 23rd inst. Sympathy' was expressed with the bereaved relatives. The attention of the mates of the deceased and of the doctor and staff of the hospilj.il was appreciated, and the action of the brother in giving a pint of his blood specially p raised.