The Terrace End Accident.

Manawatu Herald, 17 March 1904, Page 3

The Terrace End Accident.

THE INQUEST

An inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of the late George Evans was held on Tuesday at .the Palmerston- Hospital before' The Coroner, Captain J. Mowlem. James 8. Winton, guard in charge of the ballast train, said that when the accident occurred they were “ slipping ” the trucks, i.e., the engine ran down one line while the trucks following were detached and directed on to another. Witness and deceased were standing together on the cow-catcher of the engine facing the trucks. Witness went to uncouple the wagons. He bad a had hand, and deceased noticing this said “ let me do it for you.” The train was going at the rate of eight' miles an houY, and when the engine was relieved of the weight of the fifteen wagons it sprang ahead and deceased - lost bis balance, falling about throe yards in front nf the trucks, in the centre of the way. Before be could recover himself the waggons were upon him. Witness jumped off the engine and applied the Westinghouso brake but could not stop the trucks until seven had passed over the unfortunate man. Deceased apparently had been rolled about eight yards. Apparently he had been caught by the valve of the brake under the truck, whiotr had turned him over and thrown bis leg across the rail. When he was pulled out he was quite conscious. Witness rendered first aid and got him down to town as soon as possible. Deceased had been in charge of the loading at Terrace End for a considerable time Dr Maointiro said that deceased had a crushed leg, dislocation of the right hip, injury to the foot, and he Wgs also suffering severely from

.shock. He was put nuclei’ ether and the dislocation Wi<s reduced. Ho was too weak to justify amputation of tho leg higher up. Ho gradually sank, and died at 7 o’clock. His case was .hopeless from tho first. Evidence was also given by H. C. Smith, stati~:i;;i v ' i', and N. L. Kearnf, engine fireman, A verdict was refumecl that death was accidentally ear?sod ami that no blame was attributable to anyone, *