FATALITY AT QUARRY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5021, 1 September 1926, Page 2

FATALITY AT QUARRY.

HEAVY FALL OF STONE.

PAEROA RESIDENT KILLED.

A distressing accident occurred at the Paeroa metal quarry yesterday morning shortly after 10 o’clock which resulted in the. death of, Mr Samuel Silcock, manager of the quarry, who received such terrible , injuries that he died shortly after being admitted to the .Thames Hospital. It appears that Messrs Samuel Silcock, J. Patterson, and F. Richardson were working on the northern face of the quarry at ground level when a huge block of stone weighing about seven tons dislodged itself. A and dray was standing near the site, and us the stone, fell the distance of about Bft struck the dray and broke the axle. The stons then Uoke into several pieces, one of which, weighins about two tons, glanced off the draj and struck Mr Silcock, throwing him face downwards on to the metal. A mass- or loose took followed tn? d:>lodgement of the iar.;e piece of stone, anc the victim was overwhelmed. With the aid of a jack and crowbars. willing hands set to work to exLr.t.ate the injured m-vu By the time Dr. J. T. Smith, who was summoned by telephone arrived, Mr Silcock was freod horn his frightful position. A cursory examination of.the victim at tne, site revealed that his left leg was broken in several places-, thigh and shoulder crushed, and that severe internal injuries had been sustained.

After be.ing made as comfortable as possible Mr Silcock was carried on a stretcher to the railway station, where he was placed, on the train and taken to the Thames Hospital, the railway officials having delayed the train for the purpose. Although obviously in intense pain Mr Silcock bore his suffering with great courage and fortitude. CORONER’S INQUIRY.

An inquiry was held at Paeroa this morning, before Mu F. E. Flatt, district coroner.

Afoe.r evidence of identification had been taken an inspection of the quarry and the scene of the accident was ma,de. The inquiry was then adjoturned until 2 o’clock this afternoon to enable a jury to be impanelled.