TRAGEDY AT PUREWA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4907, 25 November 1925, Page 2

TRAGEDY AT PUREWA.

MAN KILLED RY FALL OF BOCK. FOUR OTHER WORKERS ESCAPE. A fall of papa rock occurred at 12.30 o’clock yesterday morning in the face of. the bottom heading of the Purewa railway tunnel, which is being constructed under the St. Helier’s .. Bay Road, to Tamaki by tihe Public Works Department Owen Ward, a single nian, aged about 45, was caught in the fall and crushed to death. He had come on duty at midnight—only half an hour before the tragedy. Four of his mates, working in the same ishift, had ,a wonderful escape. They got clear without injury. The fatality took place about 16 chains from the opening of the tun--nel. Deceased and the four otjjer meii / in his shift came op duty at midnight and commenced working at the face. They were putting up 3 set of supporting timbers, which are used to :■ relieve'the strain and prevent the coL lapse of the roof. Suddenly, at least twenty tons of papa rock dislodged itself from the - face. Four of the men jumped away, but Ward was caught near the side of the tunnel. He was jammed between a number of large rocks and his back was- broken. His four mates pet to work instantly to dig-him out,- and succeeded in extricating him after about twenty minutes’ frantic digging. The unfortunate man rallied for a few minutes and spoke to the others. He then died. Dr. Horton was sum-' ■moned from St. Helier’s Bay, but he could only say that death had; taken place. , The four men who had such a remarkable . escape were : • F. Barrett ■ (shift-boss), N. McDonald, - N. Souter, and J« Pricivich. Deceased was an experienced tunneller, and had worked in four other tunnels prior to being employed at St< Helier’s. Bay. It is unedrstcod that he hajs a brother at Tokomaru Bay. Work at the tunnel-head has been suspended. Deceased was a very popular workman, and the fatality has cast a gloom over the settlement -• The tragedy is the only one, that has occurred during the eight months that operations have been in progress. The tunnel is being put through in connection .with the Main Trunk line low-level deviation to Westfield. , An inquest was opened and adjourned yesterday afternoon by Mr J. W.- ; Poynton, S.M.