JAMBED IN A LIFT

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8347, 6 February 1913, Page 7

JAMBED IN A LIFT

MAN’S FEARFUL DEATH. ACCIDENT AT E. W. MILLS AND CO.’S. An accident which resulted in almost instantaneous death to the victim occurred in tho machinery store of Messrs E. W. Mills and Co., Victoria street, a little before 11 o’clock yesterday morning, when James Hanratty was killed by being jambed in a lift. Deceased, who was a married man, was in charge of tho lift, and had been in tho firm’s employ for about twenty years. Some barrels of cement were being loaded into an express, and deceased was working the lift —an electric one — which was bringing the barrels down from tho top story. A plank had been placed in position so as to connect tho floor of tho lift with tho express. Hanratty was rolling the barrels along the plank into the express. To do this ho had to get on to his knees, as the bottom of tho lift was only about 2 feet 6 inches below tho top of the door of the lift well. When leaning slightly out of tho lift to give a barrel a push, tho lift started to move upwards. Hanratty tried to get right back into tho lift, hut ho could not do so in time, and was caught in a steep, ing posture between tho outer edge of the lift and the top of the lift well door. Tho deceased was so badly injured about tho abdomen that ho expired almost immediately. Drs, Fyffo, Begg, and Ewart were summoned quickly, but their services were then of no avail. Tho body had been jamhed right across the stomach, the head and shoulders being outside, and the legs inside the lift. After strenuous efforts the lift was lowered to allow the body to he released. It is not known how tho lift was set in motion. Tho body was removed to the morgue, and an inquest will be held in duo course. Deceased was about forty-five years old, and resided in Wadestown road. Ho leaves a widow and several children.